- Create a first draft of your business model using the business model canvas.
Key Partners
- Dr. Cheedy Jaja (SL IRB)
- SCAAN/Other local organizations
- Local Hospitals and Officials related to Free Healthcare Initiative
Key Activities
- Applying for funds through various grants.
- Optimizing test strips in the lab.
- Conducting field work in Sierra Leone.
- Redefining integration tactics as we go.
Value Proposition
- Detect sickle cell disease so further treatment can be given and received.
- Contribute to lowering overall healthcare expenditures in Sierra Leone
- Lower the child mortality rate in low to middle income countries.
Customer Relationships
- Gain the trust of locals in Sierra Leone.
- Have locals seek to get tested.
- Help them receive consequential treatment, if necessary.
Customer Segments
- Hospitals and local health clinics (patients in Sierra Leone)
Key Resources
- Financial: Local funding agencies in SL, grants and awards from US organizations
- Production: 3rd party manufacturer and antibody suppliers
- Logistics: Local aids and clinicians in SL
Channels
- Through hospitals and local health clinics in Sierra Leone.
- Potentially to consumers directly (price would be higher)
- Potential non-SL entities with similar sickle cell related problems (other organizations of adjacent countries in the region may reach out)
Cost structure
- Materials used for the test strip.
- Manufacture of the test strip.
- Shipping, marketing, etc. (all other associated costs)
Revenue Streams
- Selling the device
- Both in bulk to hospitals/clinics and potentially to consumers
- Explain all of the major costs involved in your venture – what are they for, how much will they be, how did you determine those costs? Think about Cost of Goods Sold…but also any other primary costs that will be needed to run your venture.
| Part Number | Part Name | Description | Manufactured Size | Size per strip | % Used (per strip) | Units | Supplier | Cost per Part | Unit Cost |
| 1 | FF80HP Nitrocellulose Membrane with Adhesive Polystyrene Backing Card | Where the antibodies will be deposited and where the beads and sample will travel through the strip | 12500 | 2 | 0.0002 | cm^2 | General Electric Healthcare Life Sciences, 10547020 | $216.00 | $0.03 |
| 2 | CF5 Absorption Pad | Where the sample and beads will be collected at the end of the strip | 11000 | 1 | 0.0001 | cm^2 | General Electric Healthcare Life Sciences, 8115-2250 | $154.00 | $0.01 |
| 3 | Fusion 5 Sample & Conjugate Release Pad | Where the blood sample will be placed on the strip, wash step, and beads | 12500 | 0.9 | 0.0001 | cm^2 | General Electric
Healthcare Life Sciences, 8151-6621 |
$147.80 | $0.01 |
| 4 | 400 nm Blue LATEX Bead Conjugation Kit | Beads that will be conjugated with anti-HbA antibody to detect HbA in sample and control line, colors each line blue to show detection | 100000 | 1 | 0.0000 | uL | Innova Biosciences,10 reaction mini kit,
1000-0100 |
$423.75 | $0.00 |
| 5 | Rockland: Anti-Hemoglobin n beta A near N-terminus | HbA Test Line Antibody | 50000 | 1 | 0.0000 | uL | $145,000.00 | $2.90 | |
| 6 | Donkey anti-Goat IgG (H+L) Cross-Adsorbed Secondary Antibody | Control Line Antibody | 100000 | 1 | 0.0000 | uL | $35,000.00 | $0.35 | |
| 7 | Polyclonal goat Anti HbA | Antibody on beads | 75000 | 0.3375 | 0.0000 | uL | $18,500.00 | $0.08 | |
| 9 | Anti-HbS 2 | HbS Test Line | |||||||
| 10 | Slide-A-Lyzer™ MINI Dialysis Device | Used to dialyze rabbit polyclonal anti-HbA antibody, removes sodium azide from antibody and transfers it into a suitable buffer for bead conjugation | 500000 | 0.3375 | 0.0000 | uL | Thermo Fisher Scientific, 10K MWCO 0.1 mL, 69570 | $612.00 | $0.00 |
| TOTAL COST PER STRIP | $3.36 |
We also need to consider the cost of training employees, importing the device, networking, and other various bumps in the road that are likely to occur. It takes a lot to get a venture off of the ground so we must consider these costs as well. The price estimate for the device listed above will also likely be lower as we plan to outsource manufacturing and produce in bulk. But, it is a good estimate and clear layout of the materials we are currently using in the lab.
- Choose one existing social enterprise that you feel aligns well with your venture – explain what it does, why you like it, and in what ways it is similar to your venture.
Sickle SCAN is a point of care test that also is meant to aid in the rapid diagnosis of sickle cell disorders. Evidently, this aligns well with our venture, as our devices are meant to tackle the same issues. Both are working to lower the high mortality rate due to sickle cell anemia; other options for testing require complex lab equipment and reliable access to electricity. In low to middle income countries, this is not a realistic option. Therefore, both our product and Sickle SCAN work to tackle the same issue. Having similar goals to our venture, Sickle SCAN is admirable for its drive to develop life saving diagnostic technologies that address global healthcare; we align well with their core values. However, our product differs in that we do not require a 200-fold blood dilution step, which raises the cost per Sickle SCAN strip test. While Sickle SCAN is less costly than sending samples to centralized laboratories, they are not affordable enough to have much success in LMIC. Our test eliminates this dilution step, allowing them to work best on newborns: our target age group (Sickle SCAN)