InnerOptic was founded in 2002 to commercialize the patented 3D Laparoscope technology, initially developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. InnerOptic's 3D Laparoscope systems will allow surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery as if they were performing open surgery, providing a view into the body with registered, real-time in vivo imagery that is both stereoscopic and head-tracked. InnerOptic will provide two types of products to the medical community:

• 3D Laparoscope devices are designed to assist surgeons with minimally invasive procedures, by acquiring and displaying true 3D data from inside the body.
  
  
• Their Cancer Detection System will offer more information to the examining physician than most other current cancer screening methods, in much less time—immediately—and at significantly lower expense, since the need for lab analysis of tissue samples will be greatly reduced.

Kurtis Keller and Nick England first started working towards the development and commercialization of these products in early 2003 when they started InnerOptic. Having developed the technology at UNC-Chapel Hill, they wrote their first SBIR grant proposal in 2003, but were not successful. Kurtis then took advantage of some entrepreneurship courses offered at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business and submitted another proposal, which they received in the Fall of 2003. Hoping to follow that success with a Phase II, InnerOptic’s proposal was rejected on the grounds that their company was too small. Taking advantage of the comments and taking their second try more seriously, Kurtis and Nick were issued a Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation in March of 2005. They have used this funding to develop their Vidsee line of products, which they have successfully marketed and sold, but more importantly they have worked towards the completion of their 3D laparoscope technology. The main obstacle they are facing is making the products affordable and capable of operating in a real life surgical environment.

The SBIR grants have been crucial in establishing the due diligence needed to pursue private funding for their projects. Currently InnerOptic is waiting for the verdict on a proposal they sent in to NIH aimed at integrating implementing technology for cancer detection. Their first attempt was rejected, but they are optimistic about the re-submittal. The funding they have received has allowed them to bring on three full time and two part time employees and move to a new facility in Hillsborough. Right now InnerOptic remains focused on developing their Laparoscope technology and Kurtis stresses the importance of keeping a main goal and not pursuing too many avenues at once. Kurtis has attended a number of SBTDC events which he has found very helpful and he plans to go to more in the future. Apart from the help he has received from the SBTDC, Kurtis stresses the importance of acquiring a good business attorney.