A Power Duo

Every successful collaboration includes these common traits: two distinct players, one shared interest, and clear communication. In the healthcare industry, when providers and pharmaceutical companies collaborate, they can pave the way for life-saving solutions.

Yet, despite shared interests, pharmaceutical companies (Pharma) and healthcare providers (HCPs) often struggle to connect. This is especially true for smaller Pharma companies and early-career HCPs who may lack the extensive resources or networks to establish important partnerships.

Pharmaceutical companies invest millions of dollars each year to recruit diverse patients for clinical trials, while HCPs often struggle to connect their patients with these opportunities. Without a successful collaboration between HCPs and Pharma, patients miss out on cutting-edge treatments.

This is where Golgi-CONNECT comes in: a two-sided marketplace application that connects HCPs and Pharma in a streamlined and meaningful way.

“The industry is ripe for this badly needed innovation,” said Jennifer Harris, co-founder of the startup.

Let’s take a closer look at how this app was created and its vision for the future.

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About Golgi-CONNECT

Golgi-CONNECT was born in 2023 when Harris, a pharmacist and former employee at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recognized the inefficiencies in traditional Pharma-HCP collaboration and communication along with co-founders, Patricia Ryan and Julia Brain

Harris realized that HCPs were missing out on key opportunities, while Pharma companies struggled to find the right collaborators. Golgi-CONNECT seeks to bridge this gap. The app’s five modules (clinical trials, investigator-sponsored research, advisory boards, new product data, and new product arrivals) provide HCPs and Pharma companies a space to find exactly what they’re looking for.

Think of it as a matchmaking app, but for the pharmaceutical and healthcare world. HCPs create a profile and define their needs. Pharma companies pay to post their opportunities and Golgi-CONNECT’s smart algorithm then creates a list of matches between the two different users based upon shared interests.

“While overall the feedback from both HCPs and Pharma has been overwhelmingly positive, we are very encouraged by the enthusiasm by Pharma who will be the paying side of the marketplace,” said Harris.

Golgi-CONNECT also levels the playing field, supporting smaller Pharma companies and early-career HCPs. Pharma companies with limited sales teams or HCPs who are just starting out and may lack publications or research connections can now easily connect using the software.

“Golgi-CONNECT was designed to evolve the paradigm of one-way outreach of Pharma to HCP to a two-way communication flow where HCPs are empowered to define their interests,” continued Harris.

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Building with Lithios

Golgi-CONNECT partnered with Lithios to bring their platform vision to life, working closely at every stage to develop a seamless, user-friendly tool. From discovery to intuitive design, the collaboration transformed Golgi-CONNECT into a robust, two-sided SaaS marketplace.

The resulting platform is a flexible and efficient solution for HCP and Pharma matching. Lithios worked with the startup’s team to align the software’s features with Golgi-CONNECT’s mission of utilizing technology to encourage collaborations that advance patient care.

“Lithios’ experience in building other matching platform applications has been invaluable as we consider specific features and has definitely enhanced the functionality while shortening the overall development timelines,” said Harris.

Additionally, Lithios provided essential guidance in structuring the app’s administration functions, setting up roles and permissions to ensure the platform operates smoothly for users on both sides.

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The Pilot Program

Harris and the rest of the Golgi team are currently working on a pilot program that includes a structured three-part survey for both HCPs and Pharma companies. The first survey phase will help the team identify what’s working well and any challenges each side may be experiencing. Once initial matches are made, a midpoint survey will focus on profile setup, HCPs’ selection of interests, and Pharma’s creation of opportunities, providing key insights into the matching and notification process.

These survey results will guide Lithios and the Golgi team to make targeted adjustments, enhancing user experience and functionality of the app. A final survey will gather overall feedback on usability and satisfaction, ensuring the app is fine-tuned for a wider launch.

Golgi-CONNECT is also part of the Center for Entrepreneurship Development’s’ (CED) eighth GRO Incubator cohort, which has supported the team with planning out future investment strategies. The team will showcase their progress at the GRO Demo Day on November 14.

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What’s Next for Golgi-CONNECT

Looking ahead, Golgi-CONNECT has the potential to expand in many exciting directions. The team plans to launch the app in the U.S. oncology therapeutic sector, marking a significant milestone for the platform. Their presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June (2024) showcased the app’s method and visions and was attended by nearly 50,000 oncology professionals. Following this launch, the startup plans to expand to other therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, infectious diseases, and neurology.

Another opportunity for growth is to expand outside of the U.S. As a global platform, Golgi-CONNECT can help form collaborations across borders, progressing international patient care. Future updates will enable HCPs to add more specific patient information, including how far they’re willing to travel, making connections even more targeted and effective.

Harris also shared that the team is already considering additional modules such as continuing medical education (CME), patient referrals, and medical congress planning.

“The possibilities are endless, and we hope that Golgi-CONNECT will simplify and streamline many administrative aspects of physicians' and other healthcare providers' busy schedules so they can focus on their patients,” said Harris.

Ultimately, Golgi-CONNECT paves the way for transformative partnerships in healthcare, bringing together two distinct parties with one shared interest and a foundation of effective communication. It’s the perfect mix for advancing medical innovation and improving patient care for years to come.

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