A clinical instrument company,
based in Waterloo.
Mandel builds measurement instruments for the eye. AMD is the first condition we shipped for, because it is the largest preventable cause of irreversible vision loss. Diabetic macular edema and glaucoma come next on the same platform.
To make early retinal disease
a routine front-desk measurement,
not a specialist referral.
The longer a measurement lives inside the specialist's room, the more vision is lost in the years it takes to get there. We move the measurement forward in time, and forward in the clinic.
Front-desk first
Every Mandel instrument is designed for the optometric assistant, not the retinal specialist. Class I by default.
Defensible numbers
Functional measurements, not interpreted images. Comparable across visits, across patients, across years.
Vision, then beyond
AMD is the first condition we ship for. Diabetic macular edema and glaucoma follow on the same measurement platform.
Built by the people who
have done this kind of work before.
A small team of optical engineers, clinical researchers, and regulatory operators, working alongside the University of Waterloo's vision science group.
Founder, CEO
One-line credential. e.g. "Former retina lab lead at the University of Waterloo. PhD in ophthalmic optics."
Co-founder, CTO
One-line credential. e.g. "Built the photometric measurement system from the ground up. Five years in optical engineering."
Clinical Director
One-line credential. e.g. "Practicing optometrist. Validated the workflow at three pilot sites."
Regulatory and Quality
One-line credential. e.g. "Led Class I submissions at two prior medical device companies."
Backed by the institutions
that brought the technology this far.
The core photometric measurement was developed in retinal research labs at the University of Waterloo. The team continues to work alongside the university's vision science group.
Mandel is part of the Velocity incubator, the University of Waterloo's startup engine. Velocity has incubated companies that have collectively raised over $1B.
From research lab to clinic floor.
A Class I medical device follows a defined regulatory pathway. POLI is on that pathway now.
Research validated
Underlying retinal measurement validated against existing functional tests in published lab work.
Device built, internal trials
First clinical-form-factor prototype. Internal testing against benchmark instruments.
Pilot deployments
Eight pilot sites across optometry and ophthalmology practices. Workflow trials, readout validation.
Class I approval and first commercial units
FDA and Health Canada Class I clearance. First commercial deployments to North American clinics.
Next conditions
Expand the same measurement platform to diabetic macular edema and glaucoma screening.
From a research lab,
to the front desk.
Mandel started in the retinal research labs of the University of Waterloo. The same measurement that the lab spent years refining is now the instrument that ships to clinics. Same science, different room.
Talk to the teamReach the team.
Partnership, investment, or clinical questions. Send a note and the right person on our side will get back to you. Or reach us directly using the addresses below.