INNOVATORS VS COVID 19

Revolve: Creating Healthcare Software Solutions

Published

3 years ago

03/04/2021

Kossi Adzo

We talked to Przemek Grzywa, Co-CEO and Co-founder of Revolve, about software solutions in the healthcare industry and this is what he said about it.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times?

Przemek Grzywa: Fortunately, we are healthy and well. I needed to reshape my lifestyle and we stayed home for the big part of 2020 but that’s just about it. The biggest challenge was big holidays like Easter and Christmas, traditionally spent with the extended family in Poland. We were forced to isolate and meet in smaller groups, which was unfortunate.

Tell us about you, your career, and how you founded Revolve.

Przemek Grzywa: I am a made and not born-entrepreneur. I have always believed in entrepreneurship, although I did not think I would become one myself. This has been possible thanks to the years devoted to building communities of young entrepreneurs in Poland and the European Union (volunteering in both Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice and European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs). However, my professional career was connected with the corporate world. I spent 10 years working in the heavy industry and serving different roles in sales and marketing departments. When I lost my job 6 years ago I joined my present co-founders and we have initiated Revolve Healthcare. A company that helps healthcare companies outsource the process of software design and development.

How does Revolve innovate?

Przemek Grzywa: Most of the time we innovate by building innovative products for our customers. Part of our customers are startups and for startups, innovation is like bread, it is the blood of their business. With every new startup, we help to disrupt the new market with and for our customers. This is how we innovate. For example last year we helped Smart4Diagnostics from Munich disrupt the diagnostics field. This year, thanks to the SmartX grant scheme, we are working together with our partners from the UK to develop a mobile app and connect it with a smart knee sleeve to collect and display the data.

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your business finances?

Przemek Grzywa: Fortunately, we were able to grow last year, both on the financial side and by increasing the number of our employees. The challenge was leaving the office and moving the whole company to the home office for almost the whole year. Some of our customers did stop or pause the projects but fortunately, others decided to continue the work.

Did you have to make difficult choices regarding human resources and what are the lessons learned?

Przemek Grzywa: We were lucky that we neither have to fire anybody nor to cut down the salaries. The biggest challenge though was hiring and onboarding new team members fully online. The lesson learned is that.. it can be done remotely and online!

How did your customer relationship management evolve? Do you use any specific tools to be efficient?

Przemek Grzywa: The specifics of our company is that we work with our customers remotely anyway. Open communication, trust, and proper processes are crucial to make it successful. We use Slack for daily communication, Google Meet, Zoom or Microsoft Teams for daily meetings, and Atlassian tools (or Google Sheets) to manage the projects.

Did you benefit from any government grants, and did that help keep your business afloat?

Przemek Grzywa: To some extent yes, we were able to suspend the payment of social security contributions for three months. But that was it.

Your final thoughts?

Przemek Grzywa: I believe that the pandemic will change the healthcare we know. Covid-19 has drawn an unprecedented amount of attention to telehealth. CB INSIGHTS reports that telehealth deals are rising at a record-setting pace. Also, diagnostics healthcare startups by integrating easy-to-use at-home kits will make diagnostics more convenient, efficient, and affordable. Device manufacturers by partnering with remote monitoring startups will help establish and process results on-site in patients’ homes. The personalized and home-based healthcare system is approaching fast.