Team

Tim Willis

CEO, Managing Director & Founding Partner

Mr. Willis is a Founding Partner of MED1 Ventures. Tim has more than 30 years of ophthalmology industry experience having founded or help found 8 companies. Tim is a seasoned business executive and entrepreneur and inventor having raised $195 million in funding, over 30 issued patents, and responsible for the development and launch of 55 ophthalmic products that today represent over one and half billion dollars in annual sales. Mr. Willis’ previous to MED1 Ventures served as CEO and Founder of TearScience creating a new company and market for the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye. During his tenure TearScience developed an award winning diagnostic and treatment system, grew the company to over $35M in total revenue and 110 employees worldwide while obtaining regulatory clearance in over 30 countries. Tim has served as President, CEO, Vice President and Director as well as held roles of senior leadership, corporate and business development, marketing, and R&D at several major healthcare corporations. Mr. Willis sits on the Board of Directors of several companies, Christian Non-profit and University Board. He is a member of the ASCRS, ARVO, and Licensing Executive Society and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Steve Bacich

Chief Technology Officer & Founding Partner

Mr. Bacich is the Chief Technology Officer and Founding Partner of MED1 Ventures. Steve has more than 20 year of medical device industry experience with over 15 years focused on women’s health. Mr. Bacich completed several venture and public funding rounds in total raising over $250 million. Steve has over 50 issued US medical device patents and has brought over 25 products to market. He has served as an advisor to several medical device companies across several disciplines including cardiology, women’s health and ophthalmology. Steve is the acting CEO of Aardvark Medical and Partner in CrossBay Medical. Previously, Steve was the President and CEO of Arbor Surgical Technologies, Inc. when the company was sold to Medtronic, Inc. Prior to this, Steve served as President & CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Conceptus, Inc. (CPTS), where he led the company in a major turnaround, significantly increasing shareholder value, and introduced a revolutionary gynecological product to the US and international markets. During his tenure, CPTS was awarded one of the fastest growing companies on the NASDAQ with a market capitalization increase from $10M to $380M. Prior to joining CPTS, Mr. Bacich spent seven years as a Co-founder of Imagyn Medical, Inc., a medical device manufacturer of gynecological products for infertility and endoscopic procedures. Steve has held Board Positions in other healthcare companies including Adiana Inc. (sold to CYTC) and Pain Concepts (asset sale to SYK).

Kent Geer

Managing Director – Finance & Investor Relations

Mr. Geer is a former partner with Ernst & Young. Kent has more than 30 years of experience and track record serving numerous public and private companies in a variety of industries including biotechnology, medical device, pharmaceuticals and other technology companies. During his tenure, Mr. Geer was the audit practice leader for Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Services Group and was the market team leader for the technology industry practice. In Mr. Geer’s 20+ years as a partner with Ernst & Young, he served the advisory and audit needs of more than 150 companies ranging in size from pre-revenue venture backed start-ups to companies with more than $1B in revenue. Mr. Geer serves on the Board of several public and private companies as well as non-profits.

Diethart Reichardt

European Business Development

Mr. Reichardt is a business executive with over 35 years of experience in sales, marketing, and European business and general management expertise. Diethart has served in leadership positions for several global medical device and pharmaceutical companies in ophthalmology and women’s health. During his 20+ year career with Allergan and as a global division head and corporate vice president of Allergan he built the company’s European business from founding to over $500 million in sales. Mr. Reichardt also served as Vice President and Managing Director International for ChromaVision Medical Systems, Europe President for Ocular Sciences (created the fastest growing ophthalmic business in its segment in Eurrope), Director Business Development Northern Europe, Japan and the US of Sauflon Ophthalmics, UK and most recently as Sr. Corporate Vice President EMEA for TearScience. Mr. Reichardt is fluent in three languages and serves on the Board of several private companies. Diethart received a degree in International Business and General Management from INSEAD in Fontainebleau France.

Dr. Valdemar Portney

Optical Advisor & Principal Scientist

Dr. Portney has been involved in the ophthalmic industry for 30+ years serving also on the ISO and ANSI standards committee and is a fellow of the America Academy of Optometry. Val’s expertise is in the area of vision science and physiological optic. Val is the inventor and project leader of the first multifocal IOL approved by the FDA as well as many other devices for optical inspection and medical optical device for vision correction. Dr. Portney holds more that 70 patents and has published 19 scientific papers.