Where are they now - Dan Myers

The former GT QB is now CEO of Alimera after being laid of by Novartis.

The former star quarterback at Georgia Tech gathered some colleagues and former Novartis co-workers around a flip chart in the basement of his home. A business plan emerged for a company that would seek out and commercialize eye-care products. Big pharmaceutical companies wouldn't be interested in developing such products because of their smaller profit potential, but Myers thought a smaller company could create a niche.

None had signed non-compete clauses with Novartis. Together they raised $1.7 million locally to help start the company and hoped to raise at least $30 million more.