Create new treatment for chronic vascular disease: check.

Move headquarters to Dallas: check.

Drawing inspiration from family, Koya Medical created a new treatment for the common ailment and relocated its innovative thinking from California to North Texas.

According to the Vein and Vascular Institute, one out of three Americans over the age of 45 has a vein disease, and until now, the most common treatment for the limb swelling that often accompanies venous diseases required patients to be hooked up to a machine that was plugged into the wall. And until earlier this month, Koya Medical, the first company to develop an alternative treatment, was headquartered in California. 

“We cut the cord with Dayspring,” said Damian Rippole, CFO, at the grand opening of Koya’s new headquarters in the Design District on June 10.

Dayspring is non-pneumatic, which means it doesn’t require air pressure for support, and, by wearing a small, lightweight Lithium-ion battery, people can move while using it. They can take a walk around the block, go shopping, go to a game—in other words, live their lives. 

“It’s our first commercial product, and we have three more products in the pipeline,” said Rippole. 

Photo: Koya

Explosive growth

Koya has been on a growth trajectory since being founded in 2018 by Andy Doraiswamy, who was inspired to develop a new treatment for chronic vascular disease when watching his father struggle after treatment for prostate cancer.  

“He had been a very active person, and it was challenging for him to be so restricted when he was recovering. I thought, there has to be a better way to deal with lymphedema without slowing him down,” said Doraiswamy. 

It’s common for cancer patients to develop lymphedema, or swelling of the limbs; Doraiswamy knew that being able to unplug from the wall could help thousands of people. Koya’s other target patient population is individuals who have chronic vascular disease. 

Vascular surgeon Tom Maldonado, based in New York City, joined Koya as chief medical officer. He’s also a member of the Medical Advisory Board. And he concurs—Koya is doing something brand new that will directly impact individuals’ quality of life. 

“This is a disruptive technology,” he said. “This is something that is different from anything that is out there, and it’s making a direct impact on patients’ lives every day.” 

‘Busting at the seams’

When Doraiswamy started the company in California in 2018, he and his first few employees wondered how they would ever fill 9,500 square feet, but fast growth meant they were soon “busting at the seams.” When they began looking for a bigger space, a few cities made the short list, including Charlotte, North Carolina. But it all came together in the Big D. 

“Dallas is the place to be, and the city proves that time and time again,” said Erika Ivie. 

She should know. Ivie has lived here for eleven years and was instrumental as the team looked for a new home. Its new headquarters is a shiny, new 35,000 square foot facility. 

The team cited what so many companies have discovered about Dallas—a key location for supply chain efficiency, space to grow, and a strong talent pipeline. “We’re also so impressed with the ecosystem and the emphasis on healthcare and growth,” added Rippole. 

Photo: Nicole Ward

Jobs … and a mission

Ivie says the company expects to hire 300 to 400 people as it settles in and builds out. Roles will include billing, engineering, supply chain, and human resources. But they won’t be starting from scratch; twenty to twenty-five people and their families followed Doraiswamy when he found their new headquarters location. 

Jarren Baldwin, vice president of technology and operations, has worked with Doraiswamy since 2014 and was one of those people who jumped at the chance to come to North Texas.

“We’re building something very special, and I think everyone who moved down buys into that,” said Baldwin. “We’re all on a journey, and I think it’s important—not just what you’re doing, but who you’re doing it with. We all care about each other, and we want to change lives.”

Dallas Regional Chamber Vice President of Economic Development, Life Sciences, Kelly Cloud, says attracting a company like Koya is both proof of Dallas’ return on investment and a down payment on future growth. 

“Word is getting out. We’ve been very intentional with how we communicate to companies in the life science space. When you look at things like talent, supply chain efficiency, and cost, it’s hard to beat Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Cloud. 

Voices contributor Nicole Ward is a data journalist for the Dallas Regional Chamber.

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