Virility Medical startup based in Israel products for enhancement sexual well-being
Please introduce yourself and Virility to our readers.
My name is Tal Gollan. I hold a Biomedical Engineering degree, and have been working for the past 15 years for medical device startup companies. While holding various positions, my fields of expertise are interventional cardiology and neuromodulation.
Virility Medical, an Israeli medical-device startup, is dedicated for the development and commercialization of device-based products for enhancement sexual well-being.
How did you get the idea of Virility?
In 2013, I decided I was ready to entrepreneur my first company. Since I was too familiar with the heavy clinical and regulatory burden required in Interventional Cardiology, I focused my interest on Aesthetics and Dermatology. Not surprisingly, many of the scientific articles I read described the application of Botox injections for various of conditions. However, one of the articles described the use of perineal Botox injections for the treatment of Premature Ejaculation. I soon realized that instead of modulating the perineal muscles using intimidating Botox injections, a similar effect can be achieved by applying electrical stimulation to the skin.
Why did you decide to start with Virility?
After working in medical startup companies in various positions for almost 10 years, I thought entrepreneurship was only a natural next step in my career.
What is the vision behind Virility?
There’s really no need to take prescription drugs, and specifically anti-depressants, to treat premature ejaculation, or to enhance one’s performance. Our vision is to commercialize device-based technology for the treatment of sexual disorders and enhancement of sexual well-being.
How difficult was the start and which challenges did you have to overcome?
Raising seed money was definitely a big challenge. VCs usually have a specific investment model, which includes prescription products with reimbursement codes. The proposed solution was a consumer product, paid out-of-pocket. Moreover, consumer products require further marketing resources which lead to additional and significant equity dilution.
Who is your target customer?
Our target customer is any adult man, who is interested in enhancing his performance and sexual well-being, whether for medical or recreational purposes.
What is the unique selling proposition (USP) of Virility?
Our USP is that the design of the product was derived from the user’s own needs. Currently, the standard treatment for premature ejaculation is oral anti-depressant medications. These drugs carry significant side-effects, and make it very difficult to enjoy sexual spontaneity, as you have to take them 3 hours before intercourse.
On the other hand, our product is very safe, effective, and has an immediate (on-demand) effect, which allows for sexual spontaneity. It’s very easy to use, and, just like a condom, it’s intended for a single-use and is disposable. The product will be available for purchasing online, while maintaining customer’s anonymity.
Please describe your typical workday.
My daily activity is derived from my position as the company’s Chief Technology Officer, as well as a Board member. Under the leadership of David, Virility’s CEO, I often deal with issues of design and engineering, aspects of regulation and clinical research, as well as strategic planning.
Where do you see yourself and Virility in five years?
In five years, we see Virility leading a paradigm shift in the treatment and management of sexual disorders. Rather than drug and hormonal treatments, electrical stimulation has the potential to provide much safer, immediate and significant impact on sexual well-being. Furthermore, Virility has the knowledge and intellectual property to design and commercialize more products for sexual well-being, including a product for female sexual arousal disorder.
What 3 tips would you like to give to other startup founders?
Founding and leading a medical startup is highly demanding and comes with a personal cost. Your dedication would probably have significant impact on your partner and rest of the family. Make sure they too, understand it.
Make your decisions carefully. Wrong decisions made during early stage will come back to haunt you at a later stage.
Think as a shareholder. Evaluate your professional performance not only from the perspective of your position at the company, but also as a shareholder.
Thank you Tal Golla for the Interview
Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.
