Shermer Pharma, a biotech startup, has developed a molecule that has been approved by the FDA to cure Alzheimer's with 90% efficacy. The founders have asked how they should sell their product and whether it will be profitable. Friedrich analyzed the questions, setting up frameworks to discuss whether Shermer should sell the product itself or via partners, and created a 5-year financial worksheet to examine profitability. The organized analysis approach helped have a collaborative discussion and ensure accurate evaluation of the issues.

1. Here was the question that I asked:
"Our client, Shermer Pharma, is a venture
backed startup biotech. Over the past 15 years,
it has been developing a molecule that has been
approved by the FDA to cure Alzheimers with
90% efficacy. The founders of Sherma have
approached our firm to ask:
1. How should we sell our product?
2. Is the product going to be profitable?"
To the left, you can see Friedrich (not his real
name) was taking copious notes.

2. Above, Friedrich set up his analytical framework for the
first question, "Should the client sell the product
themselves or via a partner?"
He proceeded to lift up this paper, and show me the
framework, and we had a visual map to follow during
the case. Helped make the process very collaborative.
Nice work!

3. For discussing the second part
of the problem, Friedrich set up
a 5-year financial worksheet.
Most case questions don't go
into this much depth, but this
one is a bit more difficult.
The organization kept him
focused and accurate. It also
helped me follow his math and
provide input where
appropriate.