Led · Series A · Apr 2023

Toku applies artificial-intelligence algorithms to retinal photographs, turning routine eye-exam images into a non-invasive screening tool for systemic diseases such as cardiovascular events, stroke and diabetes. The company’s platform looks for biometric markers in the retina and is designed to be compatible with widely used retinal cameras, enabling rapid deployment in optometry clinics and other care settings. Management claims that more than 80% of cardiac events and diabetes-related blindness could be prevented with earlier risk identification, a gap the technology aims to close. Proceeds from its recent financing will accelerate product development and commercialization, with strategic support from leading vision-care partners. National Vision will help integrate the software across its extensive retail network, while Topcon Healthcare will contribute data-science expertise and hardware integration. Toku ultimately envisions affordable, point-of-care retinal analytics that bridges eyecare and primary care, expanding access to potentially life-saving diagnostics.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2014

Ditto is a San Francisco-based e-commerce eyewear startup that lets customers record a short video from a smartphone or webcam to create a 3D virtual self (DITTO). Users can virtually try on designer prescription glasses and sunglasses in 180-degree views to assess fit and style before purchase. The site offers designer frames from brands including Persol, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Illesteva, and Paul Smith, and sells prescription lenses with free shipping and returns. The company has been issued two patents for its virtual try-on technology and plans to license that technology to partners. Ditto announced a partnership with National Vision to experiment with in-store kiosks at America’s Best locations. The startup intends to use the new funding to invest in its technology and grow its team to help scale the business; total funding raised now stands at $8.0M. Ditto provides a virtual try‑on service for eyeglasses, allowing users to upload 180‑degree videos and compare side‑by‑side snapshots to choose frames. The company combines social sharing features (posting to Facebook for feedback) with an online retail business that resells brands such as Persol, Chloe, Ray‑Ban, Tag Heuer and Vera Wang. Ditto offers a price range of about $110 to $1,800 and includes perks like free anti‑reflective lenses and free shipping. The founding team includes CEO Kate Endress (formerly in retail and finance, Stanford Business School) and engineers Sergey Surkov (Google) and Dmitry Kornilov (Nokia); the company has kept a roughly two engineers to one product person staffing mix. Ditto says it has patents pending on its underlying technology and has been approached by other e‑commerce sites to license the service. The company plans to use new funding to enhance the technology and to grow its own eyewear retail business, initially focusing on the U.S. while viewing the problem as global.