SM: When you launched, what was your thesis regarding your ability to solve the various problems you identified? PF: Initially we were very focused on the consumer side. That was our perspective, and we felt it was the primary problem which needed to be solved. We approached the challenge from two key perspectives.
SM: What roles did you play when you took that journey with LastMinute.com? PF: I did a bit of everything. Initially it was business development.
SM: Take me back to where your story begins. What is your background? PF: I was born just outside of London. My father is a professor of chemistry and my mother is an ancient history high school teacher.
SM: How did you finance this company? Is it also a venture-funded company? SS: It was funded by a select few angel investors and a private equity firm.
SM: Your background is not in technology. Where does your company’s technology come from? What you are suggesting is not an easy problem to solve. SS: It is definitely not an easy problem to solve. Form follows function. The most important thing is to lay out and articulate our approach to the marketplace and show
SM: It sounds as though physicians need to be on some form of EMR system to use Phytel. Is that correct? SS: No. If we had architected our solution to be dependent on EMR, then we would only have access to 5%-10% of the marketplace. We can access EMR data, and we will do more
SM: What happened after you sold Accordant? Did you have to stay as part of the deal? SS: It was a very friendly, good arrangement when we were purchased. I was enthusiastic about sticking around. They wanted me to stay and I was excited to do so. My right-hand person continues to lead Accordant today.
SM: What was your value proposition? SS: Our value proposition was straightforward. Those diseases cost an enormous amount of money and they were out on the fringe, so nobody was really paying attention to them.