Stephan Dorner is a founder member and Senior Global Business Development Manager at Linear Supply DX, a Los Angeles-based point-of-care testing company established in 2020. Stephan joined the company with experience in International Business Development to kickstart and develop the company’s client base in and outside of the United States for the production of rapid COVID-19 and other diagnostic tests.
Within the first six months after the establishment of Linear Dx, Stephan was successful in opening a large number of big accounts with medical facilities in more than 15 states in the United States, as well as in Japan, Jamaica, Israel, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. The corporation was also in negotiations with the government and city offices, religious organizations, a variety of prisons, significant enterprises such as the NBA, franchises, holiday resorts, and several North American airline carriers and cruise companies.
In addition, Stephan played a pivotal role in the negotiations between the Pilots and Airline Workers Union of Canada and the Canadian government in Ottawa. The purpose of these meetings was to propose that the Canadian airline industry purchase and use Linner Supply DX tests exclusively. Stephan spearheaded the negotiations that led these discussions. Linear Supply Dx has initiated a one-of-a-kind service that focuses on high-quality and rapid testing supplies, reliable services, and streamlined solutions to meet the testing needs of its customers not only in California but also in approximately 25 other states and ten other countries. This service was made possible by the robust global network of scientific partners and labs that the company maintains. The company had a total income of $5.5 million for the combined period. They provided over 150,000 antibody tests and 400,000 antigen testing and provided and performed over 100,000 on-site tests. These achievements prove Stephan’s dedication to advancing Linear Supply Dx’s position in the healthcare industry, hence assisting the company in becoming one of the most innovative businesses in the industry.
Stephan was appointed to develop connections in Japan with local gaming companies and media streaming businesses following MEC’s acquisition of Eden Games and Streamhatchet due to his remarkable work as an international sales representative. Stephan played a vital role in creating these commercial ties in Japan, thanks to his Japanese language ability and first-hand knowledge of business operations as a resident of the nation. He introduced the company to several large and small gaming developers, including entertainment conglomerates and video game developers and publishers Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh, Dance Dance Revolution, Pro Evolution Soccer) and Sega (Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Total War), as well as leading toy manufacturer Bandai, among others, with whom he developed strategic relationships. In this critical role, he explored numerous partnerships and potential joint venture options in the Japanese market, which was estimated to generate more than $1 billion in sales in 2019.
Living in Asia, and Japan in particular, made it challenging in the beginning to understand the significantly different cultural ways of conducting business, particularly in the field of Business Development, which requires the formation of long-term relationships based on trust and an understanding of one another. It took Stephan a lot of time and effort throughout his career to not only comprehend and be able to conduct business in an environment that is so dissimilar to what people in the western world are used to but also to transcend the language gap and the cultural and etiquette barrier.
Stephan Dorner hopes that the businesses he helps build will continue to expand in the years to come. Stephan aims his efforts at Linear DX will help the company thrive. He hopes that the company’s response to the pandemic would pave the way for widespread use of Point of Care home testing for various conditions, from sexually transmitted diseases and the flu virus to diabetes, liver enzyme levels, and cholesterol. Basically, the ability to conduct tests at home for a wide variety of conditions previously required a trip to the doctor’s office.
Stephan, a highly successful international sales representative and an exceptional business developer, emphasized the importance of remembering the fundamentals of business development and sales; which are founded on genuine human interaction and relationship building despite the proliferation of technological tools that purport to make doing business easier. While it’s simple to exchange contact information via social media or send a blind text, genuine connection, perseverance, and dedication are still required to forge lasting friendships and partnerships. Especially in business development, “making someone feel human and not just someone at the end of the phone or mail can make significant differences,” Stephan said.
