By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – One Chicago-based startup said state governments are being used to stifle rather than encourage innovation.
Aaron Dallek’s company Opternative offers an online eye exam that allows for a prescription for glasses or contacts in 24 hours. He said his startup is facing opposition from state optometry groups that prefer to maintain the status quo to protect their business.
They’re doing this by pushing bills through state legislatures to ban Dallek’s business model. His 22-employee company has hired eight lobbyists to combat the anti-competition bills.
“We’ve had to fight the optometric community who has been working hard to protect their own economic interests,” he said.
He said startup technologies often face protectionist measures.
“Entrenched interests are trying to block innovation,” he said. “Same as other industries like Uber and Airbnb.”
Opternative is available in 33 states, including Illinois. The startup is banned from doing business in Indiana starting next month.
