But that goal requires three things. TissueInformatics first had to create a software platform that can electronically quantify the traits and functions of a tissue sample. In the meantime, Johnson is going after revenue with new specialized software applications that run on the company's existing software platform. The first of these newly crafted applications, which characterizes and quantifies skin features, was launched yesterday. The idea to launch these new applications while continuing its long-term pursuits was conceived and carried out in the last six months.
Investors like to see a modicum of revenue along the way.
But the tightly focused baby-step approach has taken several months to work out. First, Johnson tapped his marketing team to identify potential niches for the company and its products. Then, he hired Mark Braughler as his senior vice president of business development. Braughler was charged with bringing these new ideas to reality. Just two weeks after he was hired in September, Braughler told Johnson and the rest of the company's senior managers that he needed to put together a product development team that recognizes the company's limited resources and could prioritize what products and projects to pursue and when to pursue them.