BILL LINK
FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL
FLYING L PARTNERS
WHY: One of OC’s top medtech investors, and well-known ophthalmic entrepreneur, executive, and venture capitalist. Leads Newport Beach-based outpost of venture firm Flying L Partners; also serves as managing director of San Francisco-based Versant Ventures. Known locally for founding ophthalmology companies that were later successfully sold, for investments in local companies including Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: TARS) and Inari Medical Inc. (Nasdaq: NARI), and for prior membership on the boards of Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE: EW), and Glaukos (NYSE: GKOS).
BY THE NUMBERS: Backer of Vialase, local glaucoma-focused medtech startup whose executives helped create the LASIK innovation that revolutionized refractive surgery, and served as chairman from 2019 to 2021; the company’s first round in 2019 raised $8.1 million. On board of Aliso Viejo’s RxSight Inc. (Nasdaq: RXST), which counts valuation nearing $900 million.
IN THEIR WORDS: Speaking of OC, Link said “there is always room for improvement, but I think we have a solid, established medical device and biopharma ecosystem especially in ophthalmic inventions.”
