Taurus Vascular

Matt, Melanie

Taurus Vascular is developing a minimally invasive catheter solution for addressing the most pressing complication of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: endoleaks.

We have been hard at work this summer, and we want to show off our awesome founders! Meet the startups in Class 11 of OwlSpark and Class 2 of BlueLaunch. Our #FounderSpotlightSeries continues with Serendipity Picnic from Rice University BlueLaunch!

Taurus Vascular is solving the #1 complication following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR): endoleaks. We are pioneering a new era of aortic aneurysm treatment by developing a safe, effective, and easy-to-use, minimally invasive catheter-based delivery system and implantable shunt that will improve long-term outcomes for patients with aortic aneurysms. 

Our founding team, Matt Kuhn and Melanie Lowther, came together with a shared vision to reimagine the way serious illnesses like aortic aneurysms are treated and help patients live longer healthier lives. When diving into problem discovery, we realized just how significant a risk the complication of endoleaks poses for patients and the absence of comprehensive solutions. 

OwlSpark has been an incredible experience thus far. This program has provided me with a roadmap and a supportive ecosystem to navigate the path from innovation to commercialization. We've loved getting to know our fellow founders. Hearing how they are applying concepts has helped me leapfrog my own learning and application. One of the most valuable aspects of the OwlSpark Accelerator has been the hands-on experiences it offers. Through workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities, we have gained practical knowledge and skills that are crucial for building and growing a startup. 

One of the most pressing needs on our minds is raising funds to support our work through our next value inflection point. We're approaching this in a couple of ways: 1) NSF SBIR Phase I grant for non-dilutive funding, 2) pitching at competitions and others for monetary awards, and 3) raising a Seed Round from angel and institutional investors. OwlSpark has provided guidance that helps in all 3 of these realms. In this current challenging fundraising environment has made it critical for startups like ours to demonstrate strong value propositions, innovative solutions, and the potential for significant market impact.

Fun Fact: The name Taurus is meaningful to us for a number of reasons: 1) astrological sign of a favorite time of year (and because, space nerd), 2) "Taurus" sounds like "torus" which is similar to the shape of our device, 3) we're a Texas based company, so a bull makes sense in our logo, 4) part of our logo is the Taurus symbol: the shape of the bull head (circle) and horns looks a lot like a vein pressed up against an aneurysm.