# Scott Xiao

> Scott Xiao is the co-founder and CEO of Luminopia, a Boston-area digital therapeutics company whose lead product turns watching cartoons in a VR headset into an FDA-approved treatment for amblyopia, the leading cause of vision loss in children. He left Harvard with classmate Dean Travers to build the first VR-based therapeutic ever cleared by the FDA, partnering with Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks for content and with Boston Children's Hospital and MIT for the science.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Luminopia
- **Organizations:** Luminopia, Harvard University
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Neuroscience studies (left to build Luminopia), Harvard University
- **Known for:** Built the first VR-based therapeutic ever to receive FDA approval (Luminopia One, De Novo pathway)., Forbes 30 Under 30 (Healthcare)., MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35.

## Career timeline

- **2017** — Co-founded Luminopia with Harvard classmate Dean Travers after a CS project prototype impressed the Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at Boston Children's Hospital.
- **2021** — Published a randomized controlled trial in 105 children; Luminopia One submitted for FDA De Novo clearance.
- **2021** — Luminopia One received FDA approval - the first VR-based therapeutic cleared for any medical condition.
- **2023** — Closed a $16M Series A round; total funding reaches roughly $34M. Named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2023.
- **2025** — Named to Modern Healthcare's 40 Under 40.

## Achievements

- Built the first VR-based therapeutic ever to receive FDA approval (Luminopia One, De Novo pathway).
- Forbes 30 Under 30 (Healthcare).
- MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35.
- Modern Healthcare 40 Under 40 (2025).
- Luminopia One named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2023.
- Secured content partnerships with Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and NBC (100+ hours of programming).
- Raised roughly $34M in total funding, including a $16M Series A.

## Latest updates

- **2025** — Named to Modern Healthcare's 40 Under 40.
- **2026-03** — Real-world data from the Prescription Luminopia Registry continues to show the FDA-approved therapy improving vision in children with amblyopia.

## Links

- Website: https://luminopia.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaoscott
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tutkxKFMBoI

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/scott-xiao
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-03