Our roving reporter caught up with Stuart Moran, the CEO of RETRACTION Limited, when he has back home after his international travels.
Q: Why did you start RETRACTION Limited?
A: I have been working in handheld laparoscopic surgical instruments for almost all my working life. I started Surgical Innovations – the Leeds, UK based surgical device company – in 1992 with my father, Peter, a surgeon, and couple of other interesting people. We only had one product – a reusable retractor, the EndoFlex (or Diamond Flex as it later became known after we licensed the technology). I always wanted to take this development to the next level and I believe I have achieved this with REVEEL.
Q: How did you start RETRACTION Limited?
A: I was visiting a good friend of mine in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, United States and we literally sketched an idea on the back of napkin. The friend, John Cox, became the Chairman of RETRACTION Limited, one of its investors and long-time supporters. Over the years the napkin developed into a series of international patents and on the back of this intellectual property, we were able to start RETRACTION Limited.
Q: Why did you found RETRACTION Limited in Hong Kong?
A: Hong Kong is a great place to live and work so when Benjamin Chan, Managing Director of MediConcepts, director, shareholder, and investor in RETRACTION, suggested that we secure SERAP funding from the Hong Kong government – which we successfully achieved – the only snag being that I had to move to Hong Kong to manage the business. As it turned out, it wasn’t much of a snag at all – it was a great move and a great place to found a medical device start-up!
Q: What do you like about Start-ups?
A: I love small business. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am a “control freak” – I like to be able control to the small stuff as well as look at the bigger picture: this is what start-ups and small businesses are all about – the trick is being able to “get out of the weeds” long enough to take a strategic vie. You also have to have the faith in oneself (and nerves of steel to match) to keep going when one hits the tough times and drive things through to fruition.
Q: Why do you think Hong Kong is a cool place to start a business?
A: Hong Kong is a great place to live and work. Doing business here is easy. You have great infrastructure and Western-style business culture, yet you have China and the massive manufacturing resource right on your doorstep.