Kim Laurens Markwat’s journey from student entrepreneur to leading Light Tree Ventures exemplifies the transformative power of passion and innovation.
Inspired by a pivotal business trip to China in 2012, Kim co-founded Light Tree Ventures, specializing in LED light therapy devices for healthcare solutions. Today, Light Tree Ventures operates globally, focusing on research and development in the medical technology industry. Kim shares his insights and firsthand experiences in this interview, outlining Light Tree Ventures’ journey and vision for the future.
IMAGE: KIM LAURENS MARKWAT
1. Kim Laurens Markwat, Can you share your journey from starting your consultancy firm to co-founding Delft Engineers and eventually establishing Light Tree Ventures? What inspired you to venture into entrepreneurship?
While at Delft University, I took a course in Young Entrepreneurship, which inspired me to start my consultancy, Markwat Consultancy, in 2015. Alongside two fellow mechanical engineers, we founded Delft Engineers in 2017, focusing on product development.
After a successful business trip to China in 2018, where we identified a demand for international development teams, we merged Delft Engineers with Kaiyan Medical to form Light Tree Ventures. Today, Light Tree Ventures is a global leader in LED light therapy device manufacturing, with headquarters in the Netherlands, manufacturing facilities in China and India, and a sales office in the USA.
2. Could you tell us more about Delft Engineers and its role in the product development landscape of the Netherlands?
Delft Engineers was a boutique product development company. Our competitive advantage was that we did product development mainly with students from various technical studies (mostly studying in Delft). This approach and business model were very interesting for our clients, as we could innovate for an affordable price.
We undertook projects for startups and corporates. Standardization in our product development process enabled us to work with students and still deliver high-quality work. This model was different from traditional product development companies
3. Establishing Light Tree Ventures marked a significant milestone in your entrepreneurial journey. Could you elaborate on how the idea for Light Tree Ventures came about and the vision behind it?
Establishing Light Tree Ventures marked a significant milestone in our entrepreneurial journey. The idea for Light Tree Ventures emerged from a need for focus within Delft Engineers.
While working on various projects, ranging from app development to mechanical development, we found it challenging to plan our capacity and hire full-time employees due to the fluctuating workload.
When the opportunity to start Light Tree Ventures arose, we seized it as a chance to focus solely on the research, development, and manufacturing of LED light therapy devices. This clear focus made the company’s growth more manageable.
4. Can you do the same with this response: With offices in multiple countries, including the Netherlands, China, India, and soon the USA, how do you navigate the challenges of operating a global business, and what strategies do you employ to ensure the success of Light Tree Ventures on a worldwide scale?
With offices in multiple countries, including the Netherlands, China, India, and the USA, navigating the challenges of operating a global business is essential for Light Tree Ventures’ success. To ensure smooth operations worldwide, our founding team consists of four people, with one co-founder stationed at each location. This ensures that we have eyes on the ground to address challenges promptly.
We maintain consistent process flows by ensuring that each location has its own ISO13485 certification. This certification is vital for our organization as it governs the design, development, and production of medical devices. Having standardized processes in place allows us to maintain control and oversight of our company’s operations, from sales to production.
Our international team is the backbone of our business. Their daily dedication to excellence drives our company forward and makes managing multiple locations achievable.
5. Beyond LED light therapy devices, Light Tree Ventures is also investing in the Beauty, Medical, and Healthcare sectors. What opportunities do you see in these sectors, and how do you envision Light Tree Ventures making a difference in each of them?
At the moment, there is a lot of (clinical) research going on in the light therapy field, indicating an excellent future for the development of this market. However, people often lack the knowledge of how to bring their ideas to market, whether it’s due to a lack of experience in product development, understanding the regulatory pathway, or having the necessary capital to start.
We embrace individuals and companies with new ideas and offer them support, taking a different approach compared to our competitors. Additionally, we serve as a ‘one-stop-shop,’ meaning that when people or companies work with us, we can handle the entire process from ideation to product delivery. This ensures they can focus on marketing and sales while we manage product development and manufacturing.
With this approach, we see significant opportunities in the Beauty, Medical, and Healthcare sectors, and we aim to make a difference by helping bring innovative ideas to market.
6. As a thought leader in the industry, what do you believe are the most significant challenges and opportunities facing the medical technology sector today, and how is Light Tree Ventures positioned to address them?
In the field of healthcare innovation, we position ourselves as leaders, navigating through a mix of challenges and opportunities with each step forward. Our first focus is on overcoming significant obstacles. Regulatory compliance stands as a major challenge, requiring us to carefully navigate a complex web of laws and standards to bring our products to market.
Nonetheless, we approach this task with unwavering diligence, ensuring that all efforts meet the highest standards. Amidst these challenges, we are guided by a sense of optimism driven by groundbreaking research. The potential impact of innovative treatments and therapies is a testament to our steadfast commitment to progress. Yet, the escalating costs of healthcare pose a formidable threat to our advancements.
Our mission is clear: to develop technologies that are both cost-effective and unwavering in quality. Within this challenge lies our most significant opportunity—redefining the healthcare industry’s possibilities. Our strategy focuses on expanding and entering new markets and continents to broaden our reach and expand our influence.
However, we maintain vigilance and adaptability, prepared to respond to shifting trends and capitalize on emerging opportunities. At Light Tree Ventures, innovation is more than a goal—it is our driving force. Let us collectively embrace the challenges ahead, seize the opportunities that await, and pave the way toward a future filled with vitality and well-being.
7. Finally, looking towards the future, what are your long-term goals for Light Tree Ventures, and how do you see the company continuing to pave the way for innovation and wellness in the coming years?
First, our primary goal is to keep developing meaningful devices for various industries that improve people’s lives. Light Tree Ventures aims to become a market leader and achieve a significant percentage of the market.
Innovation is our key driver in maintaining our position at the top of new markets and ensuring the high-quality development of new devices. Our international presence enables us to stay ahead of the latest market trends, serve our clients wherever they are based, and develop innovative products.
Thank you for your time, Kim!
Kim: Thank you for having me.
IMAGE: KIM LAURENS MARKWAT
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