Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer
Tears For Life
• Tears for Life is a medical diagnostic equipment company that is developing an innovative, non-invasive, and convenient screening tool that can detect breast cancer in women’s tears.• Founded Tears for Life as a collaborative venture between a breast surgical oncologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and MBA students at the University of Arkansas’ Walton College of Business.• Led Tears for Life to unprecedented success in numerous national and international business plan competitions that resulted in raising nearly $100,000 in cash prizes and significant publicity in the press.• Responsibilities included development of the business plan, company strategy, business model, market and competitive analysis, production, pricing, distribution, research and development, personnel, sales, and marketing strategies, assembling an outstanding management team and board of advisors, overseeing intellectual property protection, FDA clearance, negotiating coverage with commercial and government payors, and forging strong partnerships with organizations such as the Susan G Komen Foundation.• Led an attempt to gain additional funding for research and development through negotiations with several venture capital and angel investment firms as well as pursuing research grant applications.