Intrepid Eye Society

What Intrepid Eye Society does

Intrepid Eye Society (IES) is a private, for-profit professional membership organization founded in 2016 and based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It operates as a curated, invitation-only community of optometrists in clinical practice who are within 20 years of graduation and who are recognized as emerging thought leaders in the field. Prospective members must be nominated by two active members and approved by a member vote, and the society's stated mission is to advance excellence in optometry through innovative thought sharing on future medical therapeutics, diagnostics, practice development, research and development, and collaborative care with ophthalmology.

The society's product surface centers on a membership program, an annual Intrepid Innovation Summit (scheduled for April 22-26, 2026 in Miami, Florida), complementary webinars, roundtables, panels, and workshops, member-authored clinical publications and consensus articles, and the 'Inside Intrepid' channel co-produced with Eyes On Eyecare. Governance is exercised through a board of member-elected optometrists. The leadership team includes Selina McGee (founder, Culture Ambassador and Immediate Past President), Jacob Lang (President), Mark Schaeffer (Vice President), Jaclyn Garlich (Secretary), Melissa Barnett (Treasurer), and Bita Asghari (Vice Treasurer), with additional chairs overseeing continuing education, membership, and communications.

IES generates revenue through a formal Corporate Partnership Program (an IES Engagement Prospectus codifies sponsorship tiers) that monetizes the society's access to influential optometrists via thought leadership, educational content, and event programming. The society has assembled a roster of approximately 20 named corporate partners spanning ophthalmic pharmaceuticals (AbbVie, Bausch & Lomb, Harrow, Dompé, Tarsus, Orasis, Sun Ophthalmics, Nordic Pharma, Théa, Tenpoint), surgical and diagnostic devices (Alcon, Zeiss, Glaukos, InMode, Sight Sciences, BioTissue), and adjacent services (Eyes On Eyecare, Newton, Market Scope, Defeye). Membership itself is not publicly priced and the society is not actively recruiting, indicating a closed-network operating posture rather than a high-volume subscription business.

Name

Intrepid Eye Society

Legal name

Intrepid Eye Society

Website

https://intrepideyesociety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Intrepid Eye Society is a private, invitation-only professional membership organization for emerging thought-leader optometrists, founded in 2016. It generates revenue primarily through corporate sponsorships from eye care pharma and device companies while delivering educational events, publications, and content partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Optometry Membership / Continuing Education

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ophthalmic/Optometric Assisting (EDAOAJAK)

Keywords

• Professional optometry membership
• Continuing medical education
• Clinical thought leadership
• Optometric peer network
• Healthcare corporate sponsorships

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnership / Sponsorship: Intrepid Eye Society generates revenue through corporate partnerships and sponsorships with pharmaceutical, medical device, and eye care companies. The society offers an engagement prospectus outlining partnership tiers and opportunities for corporate partners to align with the organization's thought leadership initiatives, educational content, and events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Intrepid Eye Society is a selective, invitation-based professional membership organization for emerging thought leaders in optometry. It offers membership access, continuing education through webinars and an annual Innovation Summit, peer-driven clinical content via the Inside Intrepid channel and member publications, and a corporate partnership program through which pharmaceutical and eye-care companies sponsor the society's initiatives.

Product overview

Intrepid Eye Society is a professional membership organization for emerging thought leaders in optometry. The society offers a portfolio of professional development resources including membership access, complementary webinars, roundtables, interviews, panels, and workshops, an annual Innovation Summit, the Inside Intrepid channel on Eyes On Eyecare, and member publications. The society also maintains a corporate partnership program for industry collaboration. The organization focuses on advancing optometry through innovative thought sharing on medical therapeutics, diagnostics, practice development, research and development, and collaborative care with ophthalmology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intrepid Eye Society Membership Selective, invitation-based professional membership for optometrists in clinical practice within 20 years of graduation. Members are nominated by two active members, complete an application, and are approved by member vote. Membership grants access to the society's peer community, educational content, and thought-leadership programming.
• Webinars and Educational Events Continuing-education programming consisting of complementary webinars, roundtables, interviews, panels, and workshops hosted by the society for optometrists' professional development.
• Intrepid Innovation Summit Annual multi-day optometry professional conference featuring educational sessions, with the 2026 edition scheduled for April 22-26, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
• Inside Intrepid Channel Dedicated media channel on the Eyes On Eyecare platform featuring clinical discussions and professional dialogue among Intrepid Eye Society members.
• Member Articles and Publications Member-authored clinical insights and consensus publications on optometry topics including presbyopic drops, dry eye treatments, and practice development.
• Corporate Partnership Program Tiered engagement program enabling pharmaceutical, medical-device, and eye-care companies to sponsor the society's thought leadership, educational content, and events in exchange for association with its member community.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AbbViecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAbbVie is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society. As a major pharmaceutical company in the eye care space (with products including Restasis and other ocular therapeutics), AbbVie supports the society's initiatives in exchange for association with the society's thought leadership platform.
• AlconcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAlcon is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society. Alcon provides surgical and vision care products and supports the society's educational and thought leadership initiatives.
• Bausch & LombcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBausch & Lomb is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, supporting the society's initiatives as a leading eye health company offering contact lenses, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, and surgical products.
• BioTissueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBioTissue is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, specializing in ocular surface disease treatments including Prokera products.
• DefeyeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDefeye is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society.
• Dompé (Oxervate)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDompé Pharmaceutical ( maker of Oxervate / cenegermin for neurotrophic keratitis) is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society.
• Eyes On EyecarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEyes On Eyecare hosts the 'Inside Intrepid' channel, a dedicated media partnership featuring dynamic discussions from Intrepid Eye Society members. This is a co-content development partnership that amplifies the society's educational reach.
• GlaukosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlaukos is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society. Glaukos is a pioneer in MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) technologies.
• HarrowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarrow is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, offering ophthalmic pharmaceutical products including Ilevro, Nevanac, and other eye care therapeutics.
• InModeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInMode is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, providing aesthetic and medical technologies including Optima IPL for dry eye.
• Market ScopeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarket Scope is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, providing market intelligence and industry reporting for the eye care sector.
• NewtonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNewton is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, providing practice management and EHR solutions for eye care practices.
• Nordic PharmaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNordic Pharma is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, providing specialty ophthalmic pharmaceutical products.
• OrasisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrasis is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society. Orasis manufactures CSF-1 (neosinef), an FDA-approved presbyopic eye drop.
• Sight SciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSight Sciences is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, offering TearCare and other surgical and medical device solutions for glaucoma and dry eye.
• Sun OphthalmicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSun Ophthalmics (a division of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries) is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, providing ophthalmic pharmaceutical products.
• TarsusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTarsus is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, developing products including Xdemvy (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) for Demodex blepharitis.
• Tenpoint TherapeuticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTenpoint Therapeutics is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society, developing cell-based therapies for ocular disease.
• ThéaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThéa is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society. Théa is a European ophthalmic pharmaceutical company with products for ocular surface disease.
• ZeisscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerZeiss is listed as a corporate partner of Intrepid Eye Society. Zeiss provides diagnostic imaging, surgical显微镜, and vision care technology products to the eye care industry.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Academy of Optometry (AAO): Premier optometric organization focused on advancing clinical excellence through fellowship, research, and the annual Academy meeting. Comparable to IES in its emphasis on thought leadership and clinical advancement within optometry, with overlapping membership profiles.
• International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE): Global organization advancing contact lens education through educator membership and curriculum resources. Comparable to IES as a membership organization advancing optometric specialty education and thought leadership.
• American Optometric Association (AOA): The largest US-based professional membership association for optometrists, advocating for the profession, providing continuing education, and convening members. Directly comparable to IES as a member-driven optometry organization, though much larger and broader in scope.
• SECO International: Long-running optometry congress and education company producing major annual conferences and continuing education. Comparable to IES's Innovation Summit in delivering high-profile optometry education and industry gatherings.
• National Optometric Association (NOA): US professional association serving optometrists with a focus on diversity, professional development, and community impact. Comparable to IES as a membership organization for optometrists, though oriented toward a different demographic mission.
• Vision Council: Industry trade association representing optical industry manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Comparable to IES as an organized voice for the vision care ecosystem with industry partnership and event programming.

Others

• Review of Optometry: Long-standing clinical and business publication for optometrists providing continuing education, news, and thought-leadership content. Comparable as an optometry content ecosystem that overlaps with IES educational programming.
• Optometric Management: Optometry practice and clinical publication offering continuing education and industry resources. Comparable as a content-driven thought-leadership platform serving the same optometry audience as IES.

Emerging players

• Eyes On Eyecare: Digital media and career platform for optometrists producing job boards, podcasts, and editorial content including the Inside Intrepid channel. Comparable as an optometry content and community platform and an explicit IES media partner.
• International Keratoconus Academy (IKA): Specialty organization advancing keratoconus and ectatic disease through education, research, and clinician collaboration. Comparable as a focused optometry/eye care professional society that overlaps with IES member expertise areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intrepid_eyes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intrepid-eye-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/intrepideyesociety

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Intrepid Eye Society