simpleRx

Clemson University, Powers College of Business

Industry: Healthcare

MBA Founding Student Name(s): Jack Berg

Brief Description of Solution: By streamlining the prescription process, simpleRx aims to reduce administrative burdens and improve the patient experience. This ultimately supports better clinical outcomes by enabling faster and more coordinated care decisions.

Funding Dollars: $120,000

What led you to launch this venture? simpleRx was founded out of a deep frustration with, in part, the high and often unpredictable costs of prescription medications. When 1 in 4 Americans don’t pick up their scripts due to high costs, there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. While there are many current “solutions” out there, we noticed that many of them provide necessary, but limited, solutions for patients and physicians.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far with venture? I would say that the greatest accomplishment simpleRx has had over the last few months has been that we’ve built a team that is knowledgeable, driven, and excited about disrupting a more than $400 Billion industry. We’ve done a lot in the last few months, but we still have a long way to go.

What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced in creating your company and how did you solve it? Navigating the intricate laws and regulations of the healthcare industry has been the most significant. Compliance with regulations like HIPAA and data privacy laws required careful planning to ensure we handle sensitive health information. This challenge ultimately has and is continuing to shape our company’s foundation. It is making us a stronger, more agile team, ready to tackle other complex aspects of healthcare technology.

How has your MBA program helped you further this startup venture? My MBA program has been invaluable in helping me refine our business model and understand the complexities of healthcare regulations and technology. The courses I have taken so far have taught me how to strategically plan, fund, and scale a business effectively. Additionally, networking opportunities through the program have introduced me to potential advisors and partners.

What founder or entrepreneur inspired you to start your own entrepreneurial journey? How did he or she prove motivational to you? Elon Musk’s pinpoint focus on first-principles thinking has motivated me to break down all the hurdles our team faces and think through why we think what we think and if there are any other possible solutions out there besides the current solutions. By taking into account a broader spectrum of what is possible, you open your mind to more innovative approaches to the problems you face.

Which MBA class has been most valuable in building your startup and what was the biggest lesson you gained from it? Early on in our program, we had a class focused on business strategy, which I found very interesting. One of the main points of the class was that there is no one right answer to a problem you face. Also, a solution to a problem you face might already be a solution in another industry, so when you face a problem you should look around and find similar problems and see how they are remedied elsewhere.

What professor made a significant contribution to your plans and why? Without Matt Klein, simpleRx would still just be an idea. His encouragement, network, and willingness to meet outside of class (amongst many other things) have propelled me to starting simpleRx within the first few weeks of being in the MBA program.

How has your local startup ecosystem contributed to your venture’s development and success? Our local startup ecosystem has been a fantastic source of support and resources. Networking events and mentorship opportunities have connected me with experienced entrepreneurs and advisors who’ve shared valuable insights on navigating the healthcare space. The sense of community has helped us secure partnerships and stay motivated through the early challenges.

What is your long-term goal with your startup? simpleRx is on a mission to make the prescription process more affordable and streamlined. Our goal is to play a part in lowering the scripts left at the pharmacy counter from 1/4th to 1/10th within 7 years.

Looking back, what is the biggest lesson you wished you’d known before launching and scaling your venture? Healthcare technology has a lot of hurdles (financially and regulatorily). Our team knew that going in, but we didn’t fully understand the depth of the level of hurdles. While you can speak to individuals in the industry and do research, you will never fully know all the things you need to know to start a venture. There are many things you won’t learn until you jump all in and start. So, speak to who you can, learn as much as you can, but most importantly, start!

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