Every company has an origin story, but few of those stories begin with the founder’s future husband almost losing his hand. That’s the case with KeriCure. While studying as a graduate student at the University of South Florida, Kerriann Greenhalgh’s soon-to-be husband got a minor cut on his hand.
“We tried everything on the market, but it all failed,” said Greenhalgh. “He got this really horrible infection and almost lost his hand.”
Then, Greenhalgh had an aha moment. “I realized I could take the [drug delivery] technology I'd been working on and put that over his wound to prevent this infection.”
Greenhalgh licensed part of the drug delivery system she’d been working on at USF, and for the next few years worked on adapting the nanoparticle technology for wound care. In 2011, she formed KeriCure, a biotech company with products that form a clear seal around wounds and moisturize while preventing water, sweat and germs from getting in. The products mimic the elasticity of the skin, allowing it to safely stretch without breaking or losing its seal.
Hitting the market in 2013, KeriCure began by focusing its products on consumer wound treatment. They sold products over-the-counter through stores like Publix, Kroger and Richard’s Foodporium. It wasn’t long until customers began asking if KeriCure would work on their pets. Greenhalgh, who owns four rescue dogs, decided to add a product line geared towards animals.
Today, KeriCure is focused on growing its medical product line.
“Dermatology offices, plastic surgeons, medi-spas and elder care facilities are a big push for us this year,” Greenhalgh said.
Not all liquid bandages are created equal. Greenhalgh said KeriCure stands out by simplifying its ingredients—only ultra-purified water and a proprietary polyacrylate polymer are included.
“Most over the counter products are filled with nasty chemicals,” she said. “Some of them have acetone, which is nail polish remover. We try not to do anything to get in the way of the natural healing process. We provide moisture to the wound and we keep bacteria out. If you do those two things right, you will heal without any cosmetic complications.”
KeriCure has raised $1.25 million in funding to date. In a recent funding round led by New York City-based Quake Capital, the company secured a $200,000 investment, which includes entry into a three-month accelerator program.
Despite the success, Greenhalgh doesn’t necessarily aim to grow KeriCure into the next big name in bandages.
“Our main focus is to license and eventually get the acquisition with the larger biotech or a pharma company that really have the established brand name and sales infrastructure to take our technology and our products to the next level,” she said. “We’ve never been a branding company. We’re not looking to be the next Band-Aid. We want to partner with companies like Band-Aid to provide new and innovative products and technology.”
