Dr. Reza Zadno is a serial entrepreneur and investor who joined InterWest's life sciences team in early 2012. As a successful ophthalmology and cardiology entrepreneur, he has a special interest in medical devices. Dr. Zadno sources new investments, works with existing InterWest portfolio companies and helps to refine the firm's investment strategy in devices.

He was the founder, President and CEO of Visiogen (acquired by Abbott-Medical Optics), which developed an accommodating intraocular lens to treat cataracts and presbyopia. Earlier in his career, he co-founded PercuSurge (acquired by Medtronic), which pioneered the field of distal protection devices that provide treatment of occluded carotid arteries and saphenous vein grafts. InterWest was an early investor in PercuSurge.

Immediately prior to joining InterWest, Dr. Zadno was a Venture Partner at New Leaf Venture Partners. He was previously at Three Arch Partners working as Entrepreneur-in-Residence where he founded Visiogen. Earlier in his career, he was with Cardiac Pathways (acquired by Boston Scientific), which markets mapping and ablation systems for the treatment of arrhythmia. Dr. Zadno started his career at Raychem Corporation, now Tyco. He holds a Ph.D. from Ecole des Mines de Paris and has filed more than 100 U.S. patents.

A Word from Reza

"As the baby boomers age, there are massive opportunities for entrepreneurs to extend and improve the quality of life by applying new technologies to serious conditions. I joined InterWest because of their record of investing in leading-edge technology. I've been fortunate to be the founder of two successful device companies. I'm looking forward to using my own experience to help InterWest and other entrepreneurs execute their vision for the next generation of health care. My partners and I at InterWest are deeply committed to working with founders over the long haul to help them nurture and build successful life sciences companies."