ABOUT THE FUND
The Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.

YANIE EYEWEAR
Tatyana Langford, Founder & CEO
Current Undergraduate Student, Robinson College of Business
[email protected]

Te’Andrea Langford, CMO
Alumni
[email protected]
PROBLEM
Lack of wearable devices made specifically to provide treatment and symptom-relief for people with severe dry eye disease.
SOLUTION
Multi-functional glasses that provide protection and relief for severe dry eye disease. Our lenses block harmful UV light, while side shields protect against wind and heat pads provide treatment to lacrimal glands.
BUSINESS MODEL
B2B and direct to consumer
TARGET MARKET
Severe dry eye disease patients and insurance companies
KEY COMPETITORS
Warby Parker, Zenni Optical
USE OF FUNDS
40% Legal
30% Prototype
30% Marketing
How did you meet your co-founder?
My co-founder is my sister and she became part of the business when I told her how I was struggling to connect my business with my target market of other businesses and consumers. She agreed to help me reach my target market and do much more.
How has your formal education played a role in becoming an entrepreneur?
Georgia State University has taught me that anyone can become an entrepreneur if they alter themselves to have a entrepreneurial mindset. Once you achieve that, you can identify problems all over the world and develop innovative and effective ways to solve them.
What advice can you offer to entrepreneurs?
Always make decisions in the best interest of your company, and don’t be afraid to walk away from propositions if they aren’t in your best interest.
What role has Atlanta played in your entrepreneurial journey?
Atlanta it a city full of resources for young entrepreneurs. I have taken advantage of that fact and platforms like Linkedin to connect with likeminded entrepreneurs. This has helped inform me of entrepreneur events taking place in the city, which I often attend for networking. I recently participated in a program called TIE Atlanta for student entrepreneurs. Its purpose was to connect young entrepreneurs with successful serial entrepreneurs for mentorship. The goal was to help students grow their business and at the end of the program, all companies pitch to real investors in hopes of winning funding. While I did not win any funding, I did meet an amazing entrepreneur that has been mentoring me since!
How has Georgia State supported you in your entrepreneurial journey?
Georgia State has helped by providing ample resources and programs to help me grow a business. I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but faculty at Georgia State helped me learn what steps to take to get the ball rolling on creating my business. Also, once I figured that I needed a prototype, GSU provided me with resources like free 3D modeling software and 3D printers to help me form a prototype to display for my future product. Finally, the university has provided me with programs like Launch GSU that connects me with likeminded entrepreneurs at my institution to help remain focus on improving my business. These have all played a part in making me the tenacious entrepreneur I am today.
Share a unique fact about yourself.
I like to write movie scripts.
FOUNDER INTERVIEW
COMING SOON
ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.