Background

Christine Johnston has extensive experience working in the healthcare benefits industry. The industry often does not provide employees with the best pharmacy experience for their needs and employers often pay much more for their employees’ prescriptions than necessary.

Christine enrolled in the Lindenwood MBA program (anticipated graduation Summer 2024) with the goal of learning how to start her own company that would disrupt current pharmacy benefit practices. During the Fall 2023 semester, Duree Center Director Jim Mosquera selected her to represent Lindenwood at a regional university business pitch competition.

Preparing for the competition helped Christine define her company's story arc and refine her Unique Value Proposition. During that preparation, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Jeff Nock began mentoring Christine.  

Mentor Impact

In the six months between September 2023 and February 2024, Jeff has supported the following milestones for Christine's venture: 

• Christine and her co-founder Kelly Prymicz, PharmD, launched Foundational Pharmacy Strategies (a Women-Owned Business Enterprise based in Missouri).
• Created a brand new, disruptive data analytics model identifying employees that need better care, while drastically reducing employer pharmacy benefit expenses.
• Developed a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Partnership highlighting PBMs offering innovative solutions to the market.
• Created a sales pipeline of cutting-edge employee benefit brokers.
• Flawlessly executed a B-to-B sales strategy that resulted in three major contracts that in the short term will generate over $100K in revenue.  Anticipated 2024 revenues should reach $1M with more prospects close to signing.
• Developed a well-conceived logistical onboarding process for new clients.
• Designed a personnel growth plan needed to scale their business while ensuring top quality service.

Many fast-growing startups don’t take the time to consider the short- and long-term impact of company culture. Foundational Pharmacy Strategies has prioritized the importance of creating a diverse, inclusive, empathy focused culture.

These outcomes demonstrate the disruptive vision Christine and Kelly have, their hard work, and the Duree Center’s commitment to supporting innovative startups in the St Louis region.

Testimonial

"The support that I have received from Jeff, my mentor, and Jim, the director, at Duree has been invaluable to the success of our company.  Starting a business is complex, and there are a lot of details to consider.  Jeff helped me think through all the details.  Most importantly, though, when the growth was slower than I expected, Jeff put things in perspective.  He kept me from giving up.  I can’t thank him enough.  Now Kelly and I are on a path to have a successful Women Owned Business Enterprise in a male dominated industry."

Christine Johnston

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