David Shaw founded IDEXX Laboratories in 1983 with a vision for bringing advanced diagnostics to veterinary medicine. He recognized that the same diagnostic technologies used in human healthcare could transform pet care.

Shaw took the company public in 1991 and built the foundation for the recurring revenue model that would later be perfected under Jonathan Ayers' leadership. His early focus on point-of-care diagnostics—tests that could be performed in the veterinary practice rather than sent to a reference lab—created an entirely new category in veterinary medicine.

Under Shaw's leadership, IDEXX developed its first generation of diagnostic instruments and established relationships with veterinary practices that would prove invaluable for future growth.