Greg Kunst

About Greg Kunst

I’ve spent 20+ years building things that didn’t yet exist — new markets, new therapies, new companies — across ophthalmology and life sciences. My interests span digital health, AI, medical devices, diagnostics, pharma, and biotech across all specialties, as well as early-stage incubation and life sciences venture capital.What has never changed is how I show up.I lead from the front — present, embedded, and setting the tone through action, not instruction. I build teams, not org charts, hiring for character and grit over credentials, then trusting exceptional people to do exceptional work. I run toward ambiguity, having opened markets across Asia and Latin America from scratch, scaled Glaukos from zero to $300M across 20+ countries, and built Aurion Biotech from 5 people to a globally recognized company with a Japan product approval and fully enrolled U.S. Phase 2 trial. And I obsess over execution — because vision without it is just a wish.“You have to define the right destination, but then obsess over every detail of how you get there.”I keep myself grounded by the patient. A disease that is no longer a life sentence — that is someone’s father, someone’s child. That is what gets me up in the morning.“Integrity isn’t a strategy — it’s the foundation.”Career highlights: Global Marketing Director at Alcon (Novartis), leading glaucoma surgery and retina pharma. Six years at Glaukos driving worldwide commercial, market access, and BD. CEO of Aurion Biotech — raised $200M+, earned the 2022 Prix Galien Top Startup Award and 2025 Fast Company Most Innovative Company. Currently CEO & Board Member, Valitor, Inc.Recognition: EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2024) · PSBJ Healthcare CEO of the Year (2023)Board & Advisory: Valitor · Biomimetix · Pr3vent · FELIQS · SIME Diagnostics · BYU School of Life Sciences If you are building something that matters — or investing in those who are — I’d welcome the conversation.“Define a vision bold enough to matter. Surround yourself with people who challenge you. Never confuse motion with progress.”

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member

   Valitor

   Oct 2025 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

Education

• Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management

  MBA, General Management and Strategy

  2004 — 2006

• Novartis

  M2 Leadership Program - The Role of the Leader

  2013 — 2013

• The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth

  Novartis ADVANCE Program, Strategy and Communications

  2014 — 2014

• Brigham Young University

  B.S., Economics

  1997 — 2002