Meet Dr. Tony Jacob, Texas Entrepreneur & Investor
Early Texas Beginnings
Dr. Tony Jacob's Texas story began in East Texas, specifically in Orange, located right on the Texas-Louisiana border. After graduating from optometry school at the University of Houston (U of H), he started his professional career in Orange around 2008. While there, he worked for an industrious optometrist and her husband who demonstrated strong business acumen, allowing him to observe how they purchased and completely turned around a clinic.
His time in East Texas was cut short due to hurricane concerns, specifically a hurricane in 2008 or 2009 that influenced his decision to leave the area and seek more stable ground in Central Texas.
Central Texas Expansion
After leaving East Texas, Dr. Jacob settled in New Braunfels, positioned between San Antonio and Austin. During this transition, he worked at a commercial location in Laredo, driving three hours one way to see patients over weekends.
Before moving to New Braunfels, he had purchased his first building in Lockhart, Texas. He found this building while driving through town on his way to Austin. Initially, he bought it as a rental income property, later discovering it had previously been an ophthalmology clinic. In May 2010, he opened his first optometry practice in this Lockhart building.
The Lockhart practice was profitable from the first month and reached $1 million in revenue within approximately 18 months.
Kyle and Beyond
In 2013, Dr. Jacob expanded to Kyle, Texas, about 12 miles from his Lockhart clinic. Unlike with his first location, he leased rather than purchased the building in Kyle due to financing constraints at the time. He hired an associate doctor since he couldn't be in two places at once.
The Kyle location faced initial challenges, including cash flow issues and the need to replace his associate doctor after about 18 months. Despite these hurdles, the practice grew to become the largest in Kyle "in short order," as stated in the documents.
Years later, he purchased land in Kyle and eventually moved the practice into a 28,000-square-foot building, with his clinic occupying 9,000 square feet—triple its previous footprint.
Texas-Wide Network Development
Between 2017 and 2021, Dr. Jacob's Texas presence expanded significantly. After joining Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) in 2017, he implemented three key frameworks: Culture Index for personnel management, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for operations, and a strong financial model.
His Texas operations grew to 11 locations, with revenue increasing sevenfold during this four-year period. Throughout 2020, his business weathered multiple challenges including pandemic-related shutdowns, a severe Texas weather event, and even a ransomware attack.
Texas Investment Portfolio
Beyond his optometry network, Dr. Jacob maintains investments in various Texas enterprises:
Velocis Secondary Partners (Dallas): A firm specializing in secondary real estate markets
Eckard Enterprises (Allen): A company focused on mineral rights investments
Milk + Honey Spa (Austin): A premium wellness destination
Free Rein Coffee Company (Austin): A specialty coffee brand
Waterloo Sparkling Water (Austin): A sparkling water brand
Legacy in Texas Healthcare
In 2021, Dr. Jacob's optometry network was acquired by VSP (described as "the largest vision insurance company in the United States") in what he described as "the largest private transaction in the state of Texas for optometry." The deal closed in approximately 30 days.
His success in building and scaling a healthcare enterprise across multiple Texas towns demonstrated his ability to develop consistent operational standards while allowing each location to reflect the unique character of its local community.
Through his journey from a single Lockhart clinic to a multi-location enterprise, Dr. Tony Jacob created a significant impact on optometry services across Texas communities.