Kal is a scientist, entrepreneur, institutional investor, and philanthropist. He studied quantum physics and advanced mathematics, and earned a PhD in Materials Sciences and Engineering from the University of Florida. Kal was the commencement speaker at the college of engineering at the University of Florida in 2019. He holds thirty (30) patents in the medical field and is the inventor of the enVista IOL sold by B&L and Eternity and Eternity Natural IOLs sold by Santen, Inc. Kal has provided grants to support academic scientific research and received the University of Florida MSE Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007. He is the founder of the Catalyst Technology Innovation Group (CTIG) and a venture partner at Zühlke Ventures. Prior to CTIG, Kal founded and led several companies including Surgidev Corporation (Ciba Vision and Bausch & Lomb), Advanced Vision Science, Inc. (Santen Ltd), Tenon Medical, Inc., Key Medical Technologies, Inc., and ClearSight LLC (Sharklet technologies/Peaceful Union Private Equity Group). Kal acted as an advisor for mergers and acquisitions with Warburg Pincus.
Other selected achievements and philanthropic contributions:
•Worked with Direct Relief International to bring multimillion dollar donations to "Centre d'Hématologie et d'oncologie Pédiatrique-IBN ROCHD"- Morocco
•Donor of antique art to San Francisco Museum of Vision in an effort to increase awareness for the fight against blindness
•Candidate for Technology Pioneer of the Year (2012) at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland (Adoptics AG)
•2000 Humanitarian Award, Surgical Eye Expeditions (S.E.E. International) for the fight against blindness worldwide (Surgidev)
