Duke Rohlen, Founder and CEO of Ajax Health, and Regina Herzlinger, a Harvard Business School professor, dive into healthcare innovation. They discuss Rohlen's 'Chassis and Growth Drivers' model designed to align incentives for innovation and financial success. The duo debates the $1 billion bid for Cordis and its potential impact. They explore the high stakes of funding models, the challenges of adapting technology, and the critical role of leadership in overcoming hurdles within the medical tech industry.
Duke Rohlen's 'Chassis and Growth Drivers' model for Ajax Health emphasizes innovative product development by securing substantial private equity partnerships to boost financial returns.
Rohlen's strategy to revitalize Cordis through targeted innovation demonstrates how investing in growth drivers can effectively turn around stagnant medical technology companies.
Deep dives
Challenges in the MedTech Startup Landscape
Creating a successful startup is inherently challenging, with statistics showing that around 600,000 startups are launched annually in the U.S. and about 10% fail within the first year. In the medical technology industry, these challenges are heightened due to factors such as stringent regulatory requirements, the necessity of clinical trials, and issues related to capital intensity and reimbursement. As a result, fewer medtech ventures advance to late-stage development, reflecting the industry’s tough landscape. This reality underscores the need for innovative business models to facilitate survival and growth within the sector.
The Ajax Health Model
Ajax Health introduces a groundbreaking approach to navigating the complexities of the healthcare landscape, emphasizing the importance of innovation beyond traditional models. The company enables talented scientists and engineers to focus on developing better healthcare solutions without getting bogged down in operational details and funding challenges. By securing substantial initial investment from private equity, Ajax Health allows its team to prioritize innovation rather than continuously seeking smaller funding rounds. This model showcases a promising path for overcoming barriers typically faced in healthcare venture financing.
Transforming Stagnant Companies
Duke Rolien’s strategy for revitalizing Cordis, a previously stagnant medical technology company, exemplifies the power of targeted innovation. By acquiring a company that was underperforming and investing heavily in its potential growth drivers, Rolien aimed to position Cordis for a significant turnaround. This new approach facilitates the simultaneous development of iterative and transformative technologies, allowing for a diversified growth strategy that can enhance the company’s market presence. The resulting transformation not only benefits Cordis but serves as a blueprint for similar enterprises facing stagnant growth.
Cultural Shifts and Leadership in Innovation
Duke’s leadership style fosters a dynamic culture that prioritizes rapid progress and adaptability within the organization, aiming to shift the mindset from maintaining the status quo to pursuing aggressive growth. This shift involves overhauling the existing management teams to infuse fresh, driven talent aligned with the new vision. Key challenges include managing diverse perspectives and resistance to change, which are common in legacy organizations. However, this cultural transformation is crucial for integrating innovation effectively and ensuring long-term success in the competitive healthcare landscape.
Entrepreneur Duke Rohlen creates California-based Ajax Health under a new model for innovation and business growth. Calling it the “Chassis and Growth Drivers” model, he structures it to create innovative new products to capture a higher portion of the financial returns. Partnering with major private equity firms, Rohlen considers a $1 billion bid to buy Cordis.
If Ajax’s bid is successful, they will invest an additional $300 million to fund an off-balance sheet accelerator, which will develop innovative new products to drive revenue growth. Should Rohlen and his partners invest the $1.3 billion to implement this model? Is Cordis the right opportunity for Rohlen and his team?
Ajax Health founder Duke Rohlen (HBS MBA 2001) and HBS Professor Regina Herzlinger join host Brian Kenny to discuss the key success factors for both start-up and established medical technology firms. The case “Ajax Health: A New Model for Medical Technology Innovation” showcases how to structure a firm—in any industry—to maximize innovation and financial returns by better aligning incentives for the different skill sets required.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode