ORLANDO—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) has announced its inaugural BRIGHT IDEAS Pitch Competition. The competition is designed to provide recognition, mentoring, and monetary reward to new or early-stage entrepreneurs with an idea or innovation that will improve eyecare treatment or devices. The application deadline is Friday, July 8, 2022. The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). It was founded in 1947 for the “upholding, broadening, fostering, promoting and aiding of optometric education; the profession of optometry and its practitioners.”

The organization provides financial support for optometric research and vision and eye health education to improve patient clinical care. In order to be eligible, the applicant’s BRIGHT IDEA innovation must:
 
  • Be focused on eyecare
     
  • Have raised less than $5MM in funding (investments and grants)
     
  • Have annual revenues of less than $100,000
     
  • Be less than three (3) years old
Those who advance to the final pitch will do so live during the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting, Academy 2022 San Diego, which will be held Oct. 26-29, 2022, in San Diego. Participants must be present to compete.
 
For more information and to apply, prospective applicants should visit the information site here.
 
The BRIGHT IDEAS Pitch Competition is presented by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation in collaboration with the Innovation Council.
 
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) inspires excellence in optometric practice by fostering research and disseminating knowledge in vision science through its journal, Optometry and Vision Science, and the extensive continuing education and programming presented at its annual meeting.