From bachelor thesis to start-up: from the idea of improving compliance

It was clear to me quite early on that my bachelor thesis would deal with dry eyes. I myself have been suffering from more or less severe and typical symptoms such as burning, itching, tearing, pressure and pulling pain around the eyes for years.

As a specialist who has been working in the optical industry for a long time, I know exactly which eye drops and remedies would help and yet I am one of those people, like many of our customers, who only occasionally look after their eyes. I use various eye drops and gels containing hyaluronic acid from time to time, usually when the burning sensation is unbearable.

The good old three-step eyelid hygiene routine (warming, massaging, cleansing), yes... I used to do it regularly every evening (and really every evening!) for a whole two months. But then at some point, day "X" came after the two months and now I still do the eyelid hygiene regularly - every few weeks. After all!

Many of our patients are just as neglectful as I am. That's no wonder. After all, who has the time and inclination (especially the inclination!) to carry out the procedure conscientiously every evening and sacrifice around 15 minutes of their valuable time? "Hats off!" to anyone who does it. What's more, the symptoms usually improve and, as is the case in life... you stop when it's at its best.

This experience prompted me to look for study reports on compliance with eyelid hygiene for my bachelor's thesis, all of which confirm that this basic therapy is effective if it is used regularly. This is exactly what is difficult, as these studies also prove^1,2,3. Together with my fellow student, Anja Tischhauser, we came to the conclusion that it would be great to find a possible way to improve compliance with our bachelor's thesis.

The frame is blown up

After hours of intensive brainstorming and market research, we were not convinced by existing eyelid hygiene applications and products that could even remotely improve compliance. We were looking for a product that would simplify conventional eyelid hygiene and make it easier and more efficient to perform - a toothbrush for the eyes, so to speak. Our first thoughts were actually to modify an electric toothbrush, for which we even attended a basic 3D printing course. However, our technical skills were not up to the task, as neither Anja nor I had paid enough attention in school physics lessons (which we both attended several years ago) to be able to make a modification.

In addition, we did not have the time to acquire the necessary knowledge and such an independent development would go beyond the scope of our bachelor's thesis. This is why we did research in the field of dry eye for our thesis, but with an existing product that we obtained from a well-known online store. Due to our small sample size, the research with the device in question yielded few significant results, but all the more reason to believe in the potential and benefits that such an advanced product can have.

Business studies - not as dry as you think

It therefore played right into our hands that we were asked to work on a possible business idea for a semester at the same time as starting our coursework in the business administration module. As a result, we also dealt intensively with a possible product development and a suitable business model. The idea of revolutionizing eyelid hygiene deepened and solidified through several interesting advisor meetings with industry experts and discussions with potential customers about problems and solutions.

The otherwise seemingly dry business studies turned out to be refreshing, innovative and interesting and we immediately wondered whether we had chosen the wrong degree program after all. Furthermore, the positive and negative feedback as well as the cooperation with all three lecturers involved in this workshop gave us valuable initial suggestions and tips on the path to entrepreneurship, which is why we started looking for further courses in this spectrum offered by the FHNW.

What the FHNW also has to offer

Every year during the winter vacations, the module Winter School Entrepreneurship⁴ (or the counterpart Summer School Entrepreneurship during the summer vacation) in cooperation with Innosuisse, which offers "first-hand insights into the dynamic working world of entrepreneurs".⁴ offers. During a one-week intensive course, business-related issues such as the business plan and business model, capital, customer and employee acquisition are examined in a practical way. The big question: "Am I even suitable as an entrepreneur?" can also be addressed.

The exciting thing about such an entrepreneurship course is that different founders, some of whom are FHNW graduates themselves, present their own experiences in various areas of entrepreneurship. In addition, all FHNW students can take part in these courses, so that the exchange of experiences with both the entrepreneurs giving the presentations and with students from other courses is invaluable and instructive.

All the input you gather during this intensive week can be incorporated into your own business idea and pitched at the end. A special incentive is that - if you can convince the jury with your business idea at this pitch - you will receive a prize for the Start-up Challenge of the FHNW and the Start-up Forum Aargau⁵ is nominated. This is exactly what we achieved by participating in the Winter School.

Start-up and challenge for product development

The nomination for the FHNW Start-up Challenge was therefore one more reason to put our idea into practice. But that's easier said than done. In theory, we now knew more about where we wanted to go, but in practice, as already mentioned, neither Anja nor I had the necessary know-how to develop a product, let alone manufacture one.

So it's a good thing that the optometry course is affiliated to the University of Applied Sciences as a health profession. Where else, if not here, would you find tech-savvy tinkerers? Without further ado, we scoured the FHNW's "World Wide Web pages" and searched for contact points that might be suitable for working with us.

We came into contact with Stefan Kobler and Pascal Schleuninger via the Institute for Product and Production Engineering at the FHNW. Both teach at the FHNW and thought that this potential collaboration was worth a project assignment, although it is rather unusual for self-students to be the clients of such a project. So we were able to win over students Daryl Hartman (Mechanical Engineering) and Armando Martinoli (System Electronics) for our product idea. They are now our tinkering hands with the necessary knowledge, who have been developing a functional model for us since September 2024 as part of their own student research project.

Speaking of the Start-up Challenge - there was something else...

We have achieved a first, albeit small, milestone on the way to becoming a founder with our nomination for the Start-up Challenge of the FHNW and the Start-up Forum Aargau 2024. Anyone who is nominated for this has the chance to be one of the first five places and win prize money of between CHF 500 and CHF 4000. The entry requirements include submitting a one-minute video and a summary of your project. The top 5 will then be selected by the Canton of Aargau's location promotion agency and UBS.

The award ceremony took place on 24.10.2024 in the FHNW campus hall in Brugg-Windisch. With our start-up idea meye-well, we were of course not the only ones to be selected as one of the five best start-ups of the Start-up Forum Aargau 2024. Great ideas such as "Zämä cho", "Talentbridge", "Pump Soda", "Meyer Curls", "Metalfusion" and many more were a great competition. That's why we were quite surprised when, after places 5 to 3 had already been awarded, our start-up idea meye-well was suddenly called out for 2nd place. Stunned, overwhelmed, delighted and proud, we were congratulated on stage and presented with a certificate for 2nd place, with which we won prize money of CHF 2000.

A matter for the future

Receiving this award in recognition, especially outside the optics and optometry industry, is incredibly gratifying. We are aware that the decision to embark on the path of start-ups and entrepreneurship presents us with not just one, but many major challenges.

In the fall, we decided to take part in the advanced Innosuisse Business Concept 2 module, which we were entitled to attend thanks to our participation in the Winter School. This is the "big brother" of the Winter and Summer School and over several weeks it gives you the opportunity to exchange ideas with inspiring entrepreneurs, founders and those who want to become one. As this course is not only attended by students, the exchange of experiences was even more valuable and we learned a lot about our next steps. For example, that an important next step must be to make the transition from functional model to MVP (minimal viable product) in order to put our product through its paces on the market. In order to close the gaps in our knowledge in areas such as technology, finance, etc., we must either look for specific training opportunities or find suitable co-founders. We also need to find potential manufacturers, partners and investors who are willing to support us. These are just some of the next steps on our future path. But despite all the major challenges that await us in the future, the journey so far has already encouraged us to stick to our business idea and pursue the course of start-ups and entrepreneurship.

List of sources

1. Alghamdi YA, Camp A, Feuer W, Karp CL, Wellik S, Galor A. Compliance and Subjective Patient Responses to Eyelid Hygiene. Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice. 2017;43(4):213-217. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000258
2. Geerling G, Tauber J, Baudouin C, et al. The International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Report of the Subcommittee on Management and Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52(4):2050. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6997g
3. Guillon M, Maissa C, Wong S. Eyelid Margin Modification Associated With Eyelid Hygiene in Anterior Blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice. 2012;38(5):319-325. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e318268305a
4. Prof. Dr. Rolf Meyer, Dario Meyer, Fiona Trachsel. Winter School Entrepreneurship - On the way to your own company. Winter School Entrepreneurship - On the way to your own company. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.fhnw.ch/de/studium/wirtschaft/winter-school-entrepreneurship
5. Stefan Philippi. FHNW Startup Challenge - We support high-flyers. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.fhnw.ch/plattformen/fhnw-startup-challenge/

About the author: Susann Köhler, B.Sc. Optometry student - University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland.