Transforming Healthcare Management: The Journey of Alison Taylor and Trevor with Jane App.
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders, Alison Taylor and Trevor, were motivated by their personal experiences in the healthcare industry, where they identified a gap in the market for a user-friendly, multi-disciplinary platform that could address the specific needs of healthcare practitioners.Problem that their product solves
Jane solves the problem of inefficient practice management in healthcare settings, particularly for professionals like massage therapists and psychologists. The end users are healthcare practitioners who need a comprehensive solution to manage scheduling, billing, and patient communication effectively. Solving this problem is important as it allows practitioners to focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks, improving overall patient experiences.Their unfair advantage
Jane's focus on profitability and sustainable growth allows it to thrive even during market downturns, setting it apart from many competitors in the practice management software space.Strategies
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Operational Forecasting
Alison Taylor and her co-founder Trevor implemented a rigorous operational forecasting strategy from the very beginning of their business. They committed to not spending more than they made, ensuring that they would meet their financial forecasts each year. This approach not only kept them profitable but also instilled a culture of accountability and careful financial management within the company. They communicated this strategy clearly to their investors, emphasizing that they would not accept inflated forecasts, which ultimately led to a happy and satisfied board.
User-Centric Product Development
In the early stages of developing Jane, Alison Taylor leveraged her experience in physiotherapy to identify gaps in existing practice management software. She collaborated with Trevor Johnston to create a user-friendly platform that addressed the specific needs of health professionals. They actively sought feedback from early adopters, which allowed them to refine the product before its official launch. This user-centric approach ensured that Jane was well-received by its initial clients, leading to rapid growth.
Launch Stage
Building a Comprehensive Software Solution
During the launch stage of Jane, Alison and Trevor recognized a significant gap in the market for practice management software that catered to multiple healthcare disciplines. Instead of launching a minimal viable product (MVP) with limited features, they decided to build a complete system that integrated electronic medical records and online booking functionalities. This decision was driven by their understanding that a robust solution was necessary to meet the diverse needs of their potential customers, which ultimately set them apart from competitors.
Community Engagement through Word-of-Mouth
Jane Software, co-founded by Alison Taylor and Trevor Johnston, relied heavily on word-of-mouth marketing to grow its user base. Instead of investing in a traditional sales force or extensive marketing campaigns, they focused on building a strong community among their users. This strategy proved effective as 80% of new business came from referrals, and they signed three accounts for every demo. Their approach emphasized customer satisfaction, leading to a high approval rating on Glassdoor and strong engagement from their practitioner clients.
Referral Growth Strategy
As Jane App launched, they discovered that their growth was significantly driven by referrals from satisfied customers. Trevor noted that about 50% of their customers would refer two other practices, creating a compounding growth effect. This insight led them to focus on customer satisfaction and service quality, ensuring that existing users were happy enough to recommend Jane to their peers.
Learn more about Jane
From Clinic to 600 Employees: Jane App's Entrepreneurial Journey
See Jane Run: How a B.C. startup ignored the tech bubble hype – and is thriving through the crash