Listen to this articleKeranova is proud of being the first team in the world capable of doing something totally different in ophthalmic surgery, and something that is going to change procedures, like other major improvements in the last two or three decades. They have recently raised a $4.56 million funding round to first make a prototype which will replace the lab demonstrator and be operated via an integrated interface, and then to start preclinical trials in order to get approval for clinical trials in approximately 2 years. Below is our interview with Fabrice Romano, CEO of Keranova. Fabrice was the founder of another successful startup (before this venture), EyeTechCare (>$55M raised), which is used for treating glaucoma non-invasively with ultrasound.
Q: What is Keranova? Could you tell us Keranova’s startup story?
A: KERANOVA was born in an academic lab, based in the Université Jean Monnet (Saint-Étienne – France), with multidisciplinary teams that met to work together on a new method for improving accuracy of ophthalmic surgery, and take benefit from reducing manual steps through automation. This team contacted me to help them in order to add the value of the discovery to the company. When I saw the technology 18 months ago, I immediately identified the extensive application possibilities, and decided to join the team and create a start-up company with them.
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Q: Could you please give us more insights into Keranova’s functionality?
A: It is too early to disclose any technical detail on the innovation. The market segment is crowded. But the surgical equipment that we are going to develop is already able to dramatically reduce the amount of manual steps in eye surgery. This means more accuracy, more repeatability, less risk, much less time, and cost savings. The machine will be operated by the surgeon in the operating room. The innovation is unique and is a game changer, much like in aircrafts before and after reactor propellers. Both are flying, but the performances are totally different.
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Q: What’s the achievement Keranova is most proud of?
A: To be the first team in the world capable of doing something totally different in ophthalmic surgery and something that is going to change procedures, like other major improvements in the last two or three decades.
Q: You’ve recently raised a $4.56 million funding round, what are your plans?
A: To make a first prototype which will replace the lab demonstrator and which will be operated via an integrated interface, and then to start preclinical trials in order to get approval in approximately 2 years in France for starting clinical trial.
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Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
A: The increase of automation in ophthalmic surgery, where surgical equipment will become not only an instrument but a real assistant for the surgeon, doing more and more things instead of him, with more accuracy and reproducibility.
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