Lean Startup in a Regulated Environment

Mureen Allen

Lean Startup in a Regulated Environment

Mureen Allen, MD, MS, MA, FACPSVP, Clinical & Affordability Lead

Friday, April 7, 2023

The Lone Intrepreneur

How do you follow the principles of lean startup in a highly matrixed and regulated environment?

Project Trajectory Bumps on the Road

Customer Discovery

Customer Validation

Minimal Viable Product

Finding Your Customer• Customer Discovery

– Family, friend, co-worker– Internet disease forums– Online website– Adult day Care– Goggle advertisements– Craig’s list

Finding Your Customer• Key Barriers to Success

– Timing – Networking– Restrictions to online

medical content– Think outside the

corporate box

Validating Your Idea• Customer Validation:

– Summarize initial idea or concept– Validate with interviews– Update thinking

Validating Your Idea• Key Barriers to Success :

– Not truly validating your idea– Not understanding the market– Not updating thinking

Your Minimum Viable Product• Use the data collected from

customer discovery and validation

• Scale the MVP• Iterative development and design• Set expectations

Your Minimum Viable Product• Key Barriers to Success

– Corporate sponsor– Network for adoption– Forget timelines

Major Barriers to Success!• Legal Oversight & Compliance

– Customer Discovery and Validation• Confidentiality• Compensation • Existing customers

– HIPAA • Privacy & security• Medical history

– Medical fora• Providing medical advice

– Website• Online disclosure• Public solicitation

Current Status• 6 months later:

– Legal review of agreements– Piloting with a larger application– Customer deployment

Conclusion• Difficulties and challenges in adopting LS

principles especially a lone intrepreneur• Lessons learned

– Be bold!– Think outside the corporate box!– Legal from day one!– Timelines – Really?

Contact Information

Mureen Allen, MD, MS, MA, FACPSVP, Clinical & Affordability Lead

OptumMureen.allen@optum.com

908.696.2875