A Boston startup that delivers eye exams to office workers from its RV recently expanded to Chicago to help people get exams in as little as 15 minutes.
2020 On-site announced that it's bringing its "mobile vision centers" to Chicago, where it's working with nearly 20 businesses like YMCA of Metro Chicago, GoHealth and Flexera Software to offer employees comprehensive eye exams at their place of work. The startup has worked with more than 300 companies in its hometown Boston, including Wayfair, Microsoft and Uber.
2020 On-site is offered to employees as a company benefit through a business' wellness program. It has essentially transformed an RV to a "high-end optometrist’s office," CEO Howard Bornstein said in a statement. The startup equipped the vehicle with state-of-the-art digital optometry equipment and added an in-vehicle retail store that enables customers to purchase contacts and glasses on board.
The idea is to make getting an eye exam as easy as possible, without needing to take off time from work to make an appointment. The startup expanded to Chicago because of its density of mid and large-sized businesses, Bornstein added.
“There are a large number of businesses with 200-2000 employees in Chicago, and that tends to be our sweet spot,” Bornstein said. “Chicagoans also tend to have very long commutes, which makes it hard for them to get to the eye doctor, making 2020 On-site a really convenient option.”
2020 On-site has raised nearly $8 million since it launched in 2014.
Chicago is home to another venture-backed eye care startup, Opternative, which offers an eye exam from the comfort of your home--using your computer and smart phone. Opternative is a service for renewing glasses and contacts prescriptions, and it isn't a substitute for a comprehensive exam, the company says.
2020 On-site, which is located inside Chicago health-tech hub MATTER at the Merchandise Mart, says it plans to continue expanding across the country.
