Caroline Cao Founder // Endo Guidance Technologies, LLC

As someone who doesn’t take “no” for an answer, I’m often confronted with having to cut through the criticisms that come with sharing new ideas as an entrepreneur. Being a professor of biomedical, industrial and human factors engineering at Wright State University, it’s all too easy for me to just focus on what I know. However, I’ve found that one of the best parts of starting a venture is having to learn new things. In this regard, my persistence and focus is certainly paying off.

In my academic career, I specialize in medical technology for minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery. I began to see a real need for fluoro-free, image-guided navigation with technology that is inexpensive, user-friendly, and safe. From there, I started doing the work to bring my vision online.

Today, my med-tech startup, Endo Guidance Technologies LLC, is making it possible for clinics to implement innovative sensing and display technology for minimally invasive surgery–specifically in remote, non-rigid environments such as the colon and the vascular system. We’ve been able to fulfill our original mission to create fluoro-free, image-guided navigation that is inexpensive, user-friendly, and safe by helping commercialize the technology developed in my lab at the university. As a result, I can say I have a newfound passion for entrepreneurship, especially from my experience with the ICorps@Ohio program.

While Dayton’s ecosystem is still somewhat risk-averse and limited on funding, it’s been amazing for collaboration and getting what I needed at the idea stage, and more and more resources are becoming available.

The advice I would offer to other entrepreneurs is to keep an open mind and be persistent. Success comes in many forms.

• Attended ESP Bootcamp
• Attended or presented at ESP Catalyst
• Utilize(d) an ESP EIR
• Attended TEC Programming
• Engaged with Partner Network