UPDATE DECEMBER 2020: Nanodropper cofounders have been named to Forbes 30 Under 30
Curious about our startups?
Welcome to our blog series, “Meet a CoMotion Labs Member.” These posts offer a peek into the groundbreaking work CoMotion Labs startups do and why they do it here. Stay tuned for profiles about startups innovating in Software, IT, Fintech (CoMotion Labs @ Startup Hall); Life Sciences, Biotech, Medtech (CoMotion Labs @ Fluke Hall); and Emerging Tech, AR/VR, and Robotics (CoMotion Labs @ HQ). They all work in one of these three physical locations across UW campus, or participate via our virtual Lab in Spokane.
Meet Nanodropper!
The Nanodropper is a patent-pending, FDA-cleared, award-winning, universal adaptor for eyedrop medication bottles that creates smaller and more efficacious droplets to extend bottle-life, decrease cost, and ultimately increase access to expensive medications.
Members:
- Allisa Song, CEO
- Elias Baker, COO
- Jennifer Steger, Chief Scientific Officer
- Mackenzie Andrews, Chief Commercialization Officer
When: Joined in April 2019
Where: CoMotion Labs @ Startup Hall
Nanodropper won the $15K Grand Prize at the 2019 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge through UW Foster School of Business. Photo by Matt Hagen / UW Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship
What problem do you solve?
Current packaging of prescription eyedrops produces oversized drops that are up to five times the capacity of the human eye. The waste created by these oversized drops poses an enormous financial barrier to care for glaucoma patients who struggle to afford expensive brand-name medications, which can cost up to $500 per bottle. And, because glaucoma patients with poor vision and dexterity typically dispense seven drops for every one that makes it into their eye, these oversized drops lead many patients to run out of their medication before insurance will cover their next refill. Without an alternative, patients are left to choose between paying out-of-pocket for their medication or to not adhere to their treatment plan, knowing that each missed dose contributes to irreversible vision loss.
What’s the latest?
We were recently accepted into the Jones + Foster Accelerator program and we are preparing for our product launch in early 2020.
Why do you love CoMotion Labs?
Being able to plug into Seattle’s flourishing entrepreneurial community at a startup-friendly price point has been a game-changer for us.
Startup Advice:
Jennifer Steger: Embrace your inexperience and don’t be afraid to be in the wrong—ask lots of questions and learn from the experiences of everyone you meet while growing your startup.
Elias Baker: Always fact check and follow the evidence.
Allisa Song: Stay true to your core mission but remain flexible to adapt when presented with new information.
Mackenzie Andrews: If you’re starting a company, you already know how to design solutions. Focus instead on anticipating new problems that might arise.
All: Don’t assume that just because someone has more experience, their advice is faultless; trust but verify with a second—or third! —opinion.
Photo by David Ryder for ProPublica
Follow Nanodropper
Want to incubate your startup here?
About CoMotion Labs: CoMotion Labs, a self-sustaining membership-supported program of UW CoMotion, provides a multi-industry labs system hosting 90+ startups inside and outside the UW community. This incubator supports startups with learning programs, mentoring, networking, and space — in three locations across the UW Seattle campus and a virtual lab in Spokane. We host startups from a variety of industries including Software, IT, Fintech (CoMotion Labs @ Startup Hall); Life Sciences, Biotech, Medtech (CoMotion Labs @ Fluke Hall); and Emerging Tech, AR/VR, and Robotics (CoMotion Labs @ HQ).