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To fix things in the human body, you have to see them. This is what Olympus does. The legendary Japanese camera-maker, which in recent years divested its camera business and went full-tilt into medical devices, retains its core strength of optics and doubling down in its application to medicine.
My guest today is Abby Hunter-Syed, director of Olympus Innovation Ventures, the CVC arm initially set up with Touchdown Ventures, with whom it continues to work very closely.
We talk about advancements in the miniaturisation of optics, nano-sized sensors and non-invasive procedures, as well as how improvements in AI and compute are supercharging diagnostics.
For OIV, a big part of the strategic objective in their venture activity is to build an M&A pipeline for the corporate – something that in times past may have raised questions from startups, but Hunter-Syed says that things have changed, and that as long as the terms are fair and not restrictive to the startup’s upside, people welcome the potential exit opportunity that comes with an M&A goal.
She also talks about how in her view having an investment committee on the larger side is not necessarily a hindrance as others might see it, but rather an asset that helps assess risks in any investment, and the advantages that come with having a close relationship with a CVC as a Service provider.