Accompanied by Mark Jenkins, Occuity's Chief Operating Officer, I packed my bags and, bleary-eyed, headed off out the door. Ahead of us, an important 6 days with a diary full of meetings.
Our destination, Vienna, Austria, and the annual congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). ESCRS is an annual gathering that unites global ophthalmic distributors, industry experts, and key opinion leaders (KOLs) who share insights and innovations in the field of ophthalmology. It became clear we couldn’t miss the opportunity to capitalise on all these important people being in the same place at the same time. Our objective, continue to establish and strengthen our global network of distributors in preparation for the upcoming launch of Occuity’s groundbreaking handheld optical device, the PM1 Pachymeter and give the same distributors the opportunity to see our pipeline of future products including the AX1 Axiometer.
Over the course of six days, we had an ambitious schedule of 30 two-hour meetings planned. The intensity of our itinerary was a clear reflection of the deep interest that had already been generated around both the PM1 Pachymeter and the AX1 Axiometer.
Our discussions spanned continents, as we sat down with distributors representing territories ranging from Australia and New Zealand to Turkey, Spain, India, the United States, and Latin America, among others.
In the lead-up to the exhibition, we had agreed partnerships with two leading distributors that represented five important territories and set the stage for our trip nicely.
Almost as soon as we landed in Vienna, our meetings started and as the days unfolded an additional three partnerships were agreed upon and are now in the final stages of confirmation. Further details on these collaborations will be shared in the near future.
The journey doesn't end there of course. Promising conversations with several other distributors will continue and will help ensure that our innovative products are available in a large number of territories. The momentum we've gained at ESCRS is a testament to the shared dedication to advancing eye care we have seen from distributors we met and the belief in the transformative potential of our products in their markets.
With meetings scheduled from as early as 8 am and with some passing 10 pm, we were certainly busy, but also fortunate enough to be able to take a few hours here and there to discover a little of Vienna itself. The city offered a backdrop of history, culture, and architectural grandeur and as we navigated the cobbled streets and admired the stunning cathedrals and museums, we couldn't help but be inspired by the city's rich tapestry of art and innovation. Vienna seemed to play an important role in creating a very positive mindset and facilitated a forward-thinking outlook in everyone who attended.
Our time in Vienna was marked by a whirlwind of meetings, powerful demonstrations of our products, and several promising collaborations. Perhaps best of all, it allowed a huge number of important contacts to get hands-on with our products and see first-hand how easy they are to use and the quality of design and manufacture.
With the launch of the PM1 Pachymeter getting closer, the journey continues, and we're eager to see the impact that Occuity will have on the global landscape of ophthalmic care.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we forge ahead on our journey.