Startup Team: Optina Diagnostic

Vatornews: What are the complementary skills you each bring to the table?  

David: I bring vision and passion to the team. I have 20 years of experience in medical devices, fundraising, business model, management and successful exits. I have strong knowledge in startups, sales, marketing and medical devices. 

Jean-Phippe, with his hardware development skills and knowledge in R&D and patents brings rigor and scientific thinking to the team. He is detail oriented and highly engaged. 

Claudia's 15 years of experience in the field and knowledge in image analysis, machine learning, AI, product development, organized, action driven, hands on character carried the team to an upper level. 

Vatornews: What are the characteristics / qualities you look for in a founding partner? 

David: I like to work with engaged, talented, open and honest teammates. Beside the qualifications of the job, our team fills each others gaps. 

Claudia: We are looking for someone that definitively has a taste for adventure and passion! Someone that has good capacity to adapt, creative in their problem solving approach and good team player!

Jean-Phippe: A dose of experience in entrepreneurship in the team is helpful to lead the way. In our case David had previous experience starting a company from scratch until it was acquired by a major player, GE. Resilience is important as it can be a bumpy road.

Vatornews: How do you make sure you don’t get on each other’s nerves?

David: Through times of disagreement we have found common ground. Disagreements are what make us move forward, make decisions. We focus on the company vision and each has their own account abilities and responsibilities. We have a good understanding of everyone's strengths and weakness. I am okay with my weaknesses and we help each other during hard times. 

Claudia: Nothing to add, it is exactly what we are doing!

Jean-Phippe: I would add that everyone acts professionally and respects the other members of the team.

Vatornews: What are some lessons learned about working together?

David: We learned to be resilient! There are never too many follow ups. Until someone says 'no,' the door is always open whether it is for a grand, financing or from customers. We keep learning every day. 

Claudia: For sure we realized that we all are resilient! I would also add the fact that we realize that we are complimentary in our technical expertise and mainly in our personality. This allows the team to go forward in any circumstance because there is always at least one team member who can face a specific challenge and bring energy to accomplish what needs to be done.

Vatornews: What’s your advice about teams and founding partners to entrepreneurs looking to start a company?

David: It is a very long, stressful and fun adventure. Make sure you do it with similar minded people but with different skills.

Claudia: Make sure all the team is ready to jump in the adventure… because starting a company is an adventure, from my point of view! Be passionate in what you are doing and have fun in your day to day activities!