Partnership Led Growth project | Philips
📄

Partnership Led Growth project | Philips

Step 1: Product Selection

Product: Philips Heart Print

An innovative solution designed to help people become more aware of their current heart health status and take proactive steps towards improvement or management.

Philips is building a new category in healthcare and the product they are building is the preventive and continuous healthcare space.

Tech product ✅

It is a web app based healthcare assessment (english) for cardiovascular health.

pre-PMF

📍 So, why am I still choosing this product?

In phase 1, the product was rolled out to 10k users. Product need and the science behind the accuracy of the product have been validated.

For the next phase, the team is working on improving the product design and user experience based on feedback. And the growth problem is to identify the right partners via whom end users can discover the product.

📍 Why chose the partnership route to get new users?

Going directly to end users and asking them to pay for a product that is not in the top of their needs will be challenging. Approaching intermediary partners via whom the product can be discovered by end-users can help reach a larger audience whilst providing appropriate value to both the partner and their customer base.



Step 2: User journey

Screenshot 2024-05-18 at 3.36.56 PM.png

Now, if we're planning to reach end users via partnerships, it would be a good idea to understand how the partner delivers value to their customer base. Accordingly, create product experiences tailored to the needs and motivations of their customer base. These modifications can be done in:

  1. First fingerprint scan / Assessment
  2. Explore other heart health investigative journeys

Step 3: Litmus Test

Question

Yes/No

Explanation

Demand Gap: Are you finding it difficult to acquire new customers or enter a new market?

Yes.

Philips wants to identify the right partners for distributing their product and acquiring new users via the partners’ customer base.

Adoption Gap: Are you looking to drive power usage?

No.

Eventually yes. At the moment, we need to focus on ways to sell the product and get people to experience the value of it.

Retention Gap: Do you have customers making requests for product integration?

No.

It’s too early and irrelevant to look at customer requests for this product.

Do you have Product Market Fit?

No.

The team has confidence in the need and science behind the product. The current challenge is to figure out how to get to PMF by testing and validating the product design, communication, and channel strategy for distribution.


Step 4: Identifying the right partner

ICPs

  • 30-50 year old white collar workers
  • The ones with ageing parents, young kids, and a lot of pressure on them.
  • Socially under stress, work stress, in an income group that can put them into financial distress if a health scare emerges.

ICP 1: Family Guy

Cares about his family’s health but neglects his own. Is responsible for taking care of aging parents as well as his family. Busy with work and family commitments due to which he doesn’t get time to take care of himself.

ICP 2: Concerned Adult

Recently got a health check up done and discovered that many parameters are on the borderline for risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, unhealthy cholesterol, etc. They are driven to improve on their healthcare markers

ICP 3: Sedentary Corporate Slave

Leads a stressful and sedentary lifestyle. Feels too overwhelmed to take better care of health by making significant changes.

Brand values

  • Customer first: Philips focuses on understanding and meeting the needs of its customers through innovative solutions.
  • Quality and integrity: The company is committed to delivering high-quality products and services while maintaining the highest standards of integrity in all its actions.
  • Meaningful innovation: The company aims to develop innovative solutions that make a real difference in people's lives, focusing on improving healthcare outcomes and promoting sustainability.
  • Team up to win: Philips encourages collaboration, both internally and with external partners, to achieve success and create value for customers.


Current market


Geography: Urban cities in India where majority of the population is working in white collar jobs.

Industries: Medical and diagnostics, Sports and Fitness, Wearables, Insurance, Non-healthcare where ICPs are present.


List of possible partners

Note: This is a starting point, the list can be more exhaustive based on further research.

Medical and diagnostics partner category

Philips __ Ownpath (2).png

Sports and Fitness, Wearables categories

Philips __ Ownpath (3).png


Insurance category

Philips __ Ownpath (4).png


Non-healthcare category where ICPs are present

Philips __ Ownpath (5).png


Top 5 channels where ICPs are present based on user research and calling

  1. Cult.fit
  2. Decathlon
  3. Playo
  4. Tech parks / Coworking spaces
  5. Gated communities

Partner fitment test

Questions

Cult.fit

Decathlon

Playo

Tech parks/coworking spaces

Gated communities

Is our goal aligning?

1

0.5

0.5

0

0

Do we have customer requests?

0

0

0

0

0

Does our ICP match?

1

0.5

0.5

1

0.5

Do our brand values match?

1

0.5

0.5

0

0

Can I increase the price of the product after the partnership?

1

0.5

0.5

0

0

Will the partnership let me enter new markets?

0

0.5

0.5

0

0

Score

4

2.5

2.5

1

0.5


What does cult.fit gain from this partnership?

  1. Based on certain heart health metrics, personalized workout plans can be suggested.
  2. It will become another metric users can track pre, post, during workouts.
  3. Cult can segment its users based on their heart health data and recommend nutritionists, running shoes, health coach, etc in a more targeted way.
  4. With the help of leaderboards for specific cohort groups (based on centres/locations/group classes), cult can motivate their users towards the path of improvement.
  5. Cult can provide digital assessments for users to self monitor the month-on-month impact of their workouts on heart health parameters like VO2 max, HRV, heart rate, etc.



Step 5: Outreach strategy

List of PoCs for outreach

  1. Head of Growth
  2. Sr. Manager - Growth
  3. Lead Product Manager - Member experience and retention
  4. Business Lead - Wearables category



Head of Growth

Sr. Manager - Growth

Lead Product Manager - Member experience and retention

Business Lead - Wearables category

Do they have high intent to make the partnership successful?

1

0.5

1

0.5

Would their motive align to make the partnership successful?

1

0.5

1

0

Are they likely to respond quickly?

0.5

1

1

0

Have they worked on partnerships before?

0

0

0

0

Do they have the bandwidth to pull off the partnership?

0

1

1

0

Can they align various stakeholders and teams to build the partnership?

1

0.5

1

0.5

Score

3.5

3.5

5

1

First outreach message

Email and/or LinkedIn outreach

Sub: Philips & Cult.fit | Partnership

Hi [name],

I’m [Priyanka] from the Growth & Partnerships team at Philips Innovation - India. At Philips, we've been working with research groups and healthcare professionals to develop innovative tech solutions that will change the landscape of preventive healthcare in India.


We recognize Cult.fit's dedication to helping people stay active and healthy. Our solutions can enable your users to track the impact of exercise on their heart health, positioning Cult.fit as a pioneer in using innovative tech to deliver fitness outcomes and improve well-being.

If this interests you, I'd be happy to discuss further over a call or meet.


Thanks and Cheers,

[Priyanka]

[My designation | Company name]

[My LinkedIn]

FES job matrix



PoC

Functional job

Emotional job

Social job

Head of Growth

Develop and execute growth strategies.

Analyze data to identify growth opportunities.

Optimize customer acquisition and retention.

Feel a sense of achievement in driving business growth.

Avoid feeling stagnant or complacent.

Be perceived as a strategic leader and innovator.

Gain recognition for contributing to company success.

Sr. Manager - Growth

Implement growth initiatives.

Manage and mentor growth team members.

Monitor and report on growth metrics.

Feel motivated by achieving growth targets.

Avoid feeling overwhelmed or unsupported.

Be seen as a capable and reliable leader.

Gain respect from team members and peers.

Lead Product Manager - Member experience and retention

Design and optimize user experience.

Develop strategies to improve retention.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Feel fulfilled by creating meaningful user experiences.

Avoid feeling disconnected from user needs.

Be recognized as a user-centric product leader.

Gain trust and credibility among stakeholders.

Business Lead - Wearables category

Develop and execute business plans for wearables.

Identify and pursue new opportunities in the wearables market.

Manage partnerships and collaborations.

Feel excited by the potential of wearable technology.

Avoid feeling uncertain about market trends.

Be seen as a knowledgeable and influential leader in the wearables space.

Gain respect and recognition from industry peers.


Follow up strategy

Channel 1: Email (1 week after initial email)

Hi [name],

Hope you're doing well. I wanted to follow up on my previous email about the potential partnership between Philips and Cult.fit.

By leveraging our technology, you can:

- Gain a competitive edge and differentiate Cult.fit in the market.

- Significantly enhance user experience and retention.

- Foster engagement and loyalty to the Cult.fit brand.

- Position yourself as an innovative leader in the fitness and wellness industry.

The reason why we're choosing to partner with you is -- we both are committed to improving people's lives through health and fitness.

Even if you can't help directly, I would greatly appreciate it if you could introduce me to the appropriate person to continue this discussion.

Thanks,

[Priyanka]

[My designation | Company name]

[My LinkedIn]

Channel 2: LinkedIn outreach (1-2 weeks after initial email)

Reach out to different team members and tailor the message to them based on their motivations.


Approach not more than 5 team members for each message.

Type 1 (Motivation: Person values data because they own and drive key business metrics)

Hi [Name], Priyanka here from Philips Innovation - India. Reaching out to discuss an exciting partnership opportunity that would positively change the way your users look at fitness.

Our innovative solution empowers you with valuable data-driven insights into your users' heart health, enabling you to make informed decisions to drive business growth and key metrics.

I've been trying to reach your team about this. Can you help?

Type 2 (Motivation: Person values user experience and retention)

​Hi [Name], Priyanka here from Philips Innovation - India. Reaching out to discuss an exciting partnership opportunity that would positively change the way your users look at fitness.

Our technology empowers your users to track their heart health metrics and the measure effectiveness of exercise on their overall fitness. We believe this would foster engagement and loyalty to the Cult.fit brand.

I've been trying to reach your team about this. Can you help?


Type 3 (Motivation: Person values being an innovative leader)


​Hi [Name], Priyanka here from Philips Innovation - India. Reaching out to discuss an exciting partnership opportunity that would positively change the way your users look at fitness.

Our technology empowers your users to track their heart health metrics and the measure effectiveness of exercise on their overall fitness. By adopting our cutting-edge heart health monitoring solutions, you can position yourself as an innovative leader and showcase Cult.fit's commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of your users' health and well-being.

I've been trying to reach your team about this. Can you help?

Channel 3: Cold call (2-3 weeks after initial email)

Prepare a script with

  • Short intro about self and company
  • The reason for calling: we're building something that might be of interest to you and add value to your users. refer to previous efforts of outreach.
  • Value proposition for cult fit
  • CTA: would like to discuss this partnership opportunity with the team. connect me to the concerned person.


Channel 4: In-person (3-4 weeks after initial email)

If we haven't still got any response, go to Cult.fit HQ in the city and ask for an appointment to meet XYZ. Carry a leave behind resource which can be passed on to XYZ team member in case the meeting doesn't happen or is scheduled for another date.


Step 6: First call design

Before the call

Cult Fit's goals

  1. Promote physical fitness: Helping people be more physically active and fit.
  2. Accessibility: Make fitness accessible to a wide audience by offering a variety workout formats, user-friendly app, and multiple locations across India.
  3. Innovation in Fitness: Continuously innovate in the fitness space by introducing new workout routines, incorporating technology, and using data to personalize fitness plans.
  4. Mental Wellness: Address mental health through mindfulness and meditation classes, as well as mental health counseling and resources.
  5. Preventive Healthcare: Shift the focus from reactive to preventive healthcare by promoting regular exercise and healthy habits to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.


Philips' goals

  • Preventive Healthcare: Emphasizing early detection and prevention of heart diseases.
  • Cardiovascular Health: Improving heart health through innovative solutions.
  • Data-driven care: Utilizing data for personalized and effective treatments.


Heart health is a strong indicator of overall fitness and health.

Goal alignment

Philips and Cult.fit share a common goal of helping people prevent health issues. Philips focuses on providing people with objective metrics to track their health status, while Cult.fit encourages and enables people to lead an active lifestyle, which is crucial for maintaining good health.

Why should Cult Fit consider Philips Heart Print technology for the partnership?


Competitive Analysis

Philips Heart Print

Wearables

Heart rate monitor apps

ECG/Echo

Usefulness

Tracks/alerts + provides guidance to improve/manage heart fitness.

Tracks/alerts but does not provide guidance.

Limited to heart rate and HRV at max. Not insightful about other heart health metrics.

Strong indicator of heart event but not proactive.

Convenience

Only requires a smart phone

Separate accessory that needs to be worn for tracking + charged regularly.

Only requires a smart phone

Need to visit a lab or hospital for scan.

Accuracy confidence

High

Varies from brand to brand

Varies

High

Cost

Inclusive with Cult Pass

Extra cost

Free/Freemium

Extra cost

Value Proposition


  1. Beyond Tracking: Philips Heart Print goes beyond simple tracking and alerts, providing actionable guidance to help users stay fit and prevent heart incidents.
  2. Seamless Integration: As a smartphone-based mobile app, Philips Heart Print eliminates the need for separate accessories, charging, or hospital visits, offering a convenient and user-friendly experience.
  3. Targeted Recommendations: Segment users based on heart health data to offer relevant suggestions for upselling/cross-selling nutritionists, running shoes, and health coaches, enhancing user experience and engagement.
  4. Engagement tool: Foster a sense of community and encourage users to improve their heart health through cohort-based leaderboards for specific centers, locations, or group classes.



During the call

Conversation script for the first call

[Me]: Hi [PoC Name], thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I'm [Your Name], [Your Role] at Philips. I'm excited to discuss the potential partnership between Philips and Cult.fit.


[PoC]: Hi [Your Name], it's great to connect with you. I'm looking forward to learning more about how our companies can collaborate.


[Me]: Great! Our main objective is to integrate Philips Heart Print, our innovative heart health tracking solution, into Cult.fit's platform. This will allow your users to track their heart health metrics, receive personalized workout plans, and enhance their overall experience. We believe this partnership could be truly beneficial for our mutual customers.


[PoC]: That sounds interesting. Can you tell me more about how this integration would work and the timeline you have in mind?


[Me]: Absolutely. Our team will work closely with yours to ensure a seamless integration of Philips Heart Print into your platform. We propose a pilot testing phase followed by a full-scale implementation. The personalized workout plans and targeted recommendations based on heart health metrics will help optimize your users' fitness journeys and keep them engaged.


[PoC]: I can see how this could be valuable for our users. How does Philips Heart Print differentiate itself from other heart health tracking solutions?


[Me]: Philips Heart Print goes beyond simple tracking and alerts. It provides actionable guidance to help users prevent heart incidents. As a smartphone-based app, it eliminates the need for separate accessories or hospital visits, making it convenient and user-friendly. Additionally, the longitudinal health data collected can help Cult.fit provide more effective, data-driven recommendations over time.


[PoC]: Data privacy and security are crucial for us. How does Philips ensure the protection of user information?


[Me]: At Philips, we prioritize user privacy and data security. We adhere to strict data protection regulations and employ advanced security measures to safeguard user information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of data privacy throughout our partnership.


[PoC]: That's reassuring. What would be the next steps if we decide to move forward with this partnership?


[Me]: If you're interested in proceeding, I propose scheduling a follow-up meeting with relevant team members from both our organizations. We can discuss the technical details, implementation plans, and establish key performance indicators to measure the success of our partnership. We'll also set a timeline for delivering the integrated solution, marketing materials, and a joint press release.


[PoC]: That sounds like a good plan. We'll need some time to review the information and discuss internally, but we'll get back to you soon with our thoughts and next steps.


[Me]: Of course, I understand. Please take your time, and feel free to reach out if you have any further questions. I'm confident that this partnership will create a unique and impactful offering in the fitness industry, benefiting both our companies and our mutual customers.


[PoC]: Thank you, [Your Name]. We appreciate your time and the opportunity to explore this collaboration. We'll be in touch soon.


[Me]: Thank you, [PoC Name]. I look forward to hearing back from you and working together to create a successful partnership. Have a great day!


After the call

Subject: Summary of Our Discussion - Philips Heart Print and Cult.fit Partnership

Hi [PoC Name],

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the potential partnership between Philips and Cult.fit today. Sharing a summary of the key points we covered during our conversation.

Partnership Objective

Integrate Philips Heart Print, our innovative heart health tracking solution, into Cult.fit's platform to provide personalized workout plans and enhance user experience.

Benefits for Mutual Customers

  • Empower Cult.fit users to conveniently track and improve their heart health.
  • Optimize users' fitness experiences and results through personalized workout plans and targeted recommendations.
  • Increase user engagement and retention through leaderboards and digital assessments.


Philips Heart Print Differentiation

  • Goes beyond simple tracking and alerts by providing actionable guidance to help users prevent heart incidents.
  • Smartphone-based app eliminates the need for separate accessories or hospital visits.
  • Collects longitudinal health data to enable more effective, data-driven recommendations.


Data Privacy and Security

Philips prioritizes user privacy and data security, adhering to strict data protection regulations and employing advanced security measures.


Next Steps

  1. Schedule a follow-up meeting with relevant team members from both organizations to discuss technical details and implementation plans.
  2. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the partnership.
  3. Set a timeline for delivering the integrated solution, marketing materials, and joint press release.We understand that you need some time to review the information and discuss internally.


Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or require additional information. We are excited about the potential of this partnership and believe it will create a unique and impactful offering in the fitness industry.


Thank you again for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.


Best regards,

[Priyanka]

[My designation | Company name]

[My LinkedIn]


Step 7: Company buy-in and alignment

1. Stakeholder concerns:

  • Return on investment (ROI) and overall financial impact of the partnership.
  • Alignment with company's strategic goals and vision.
  • Potential risks and challenges associated with the partnership.
  • Impact on brand reputation and customer perception.
  • Scalability and long-term sustainability of the partnership.
  • Competitive advantage gained through the partnership


2. Product team concerns:

  • Technical feasibility of integrating Philips Heart Print into Cult.fit's platform.
  • User experience and ease of use for customers
  • Compatibility with existing features and functionalities.
  • Data privacy and security measures for handling sensitive user information.
  • Maintenance and support requirements for the integrated solution.
  • Potential impact on product roadmap and development priorities


3. Marketing team concerns:

  • Alignment with Cult.fit's brand messaging and positioning.
  • Potential for co-branding and joint marketing initiatives.
  • Impact on customer acquisition, engagement, and retention metrics.
  • Effective communication of the partnership's value proposition to target audiences.
  • Competitive differentiation and unique selling points of the integrated solution.
  • Budget allocation for partnership-related marketing activities.

4. Sales team concerns:

  • Impact on sales processes and cycles.
  • Training and enablement requirements for sales representatives to effectively pitch the integrated solution.
  • Potential changes to pricing and packaging strategies.
  • Compatibility with existing sales tools and resources.
  • Ability to meet sales targets and quotas with the new offering.
  • Potential for upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
  • Handling customer objections and concerns related to the partnership.
  • Coordination with Philips' sales team for joint selling efforts.


Pitch deck

Philips & Cult.fit Partnership.pdf


Step 8: Building Trust

Strategy for building trust


  1. Consistently deliver high-quality work and meet deadlines.
  2. Demonstrate expertise in health technology and data-driven solutions.
  3. Prioritize data privacy and security, adhering to industry standards.
  4. Be flexible and adaptable to Cult.fit's needs and preferences.
  5. Align goals and communicate a shared vision for the partnership.


Strategy for Improving Transparency with Cult.fit

  1. Maintain open and honest communication channels.
  2. Regularly share updates, progress, and challenges faced.
  3. Provide clear explanations for decisions and actions taken.
  4. Proactively address issues or delays and propose solutions.

Strategy for Increasing Engagement with Cult.fit

  1. Actively seek Cult.fit's input and feedback throughout the partnership.
  2. Schedule regular check-ins with key stakeholders.
  3. Involve relevant stakeholders in key decisions and problem-solving.


Step 9: Plan and Launch GTM

👉 What is the problem you are solving for?

People not being aware of their heart health in the early years (30s and 40s) that are crucial for prevention of heart incidents.

👉 Is there demand for your offering?

Post COVID, people are more conscious about their health.

There is also a concern looming about people in much younger years having a heart incident. No one wants to be a victim of heart disease in the prime years of their life.

👉 Who's your brand offering for?

Indians in their 30s and 40s who are working in white collar jobs.

They have ageing parents and/or kids + spouse.

They are either socially under stress, have work stress, or in an income group that can put them into financial distress if a health scare emerges.

👉 Where does your ICP spend most of their time?

  • Office (Tech parks, coworking spaces, individual office spaces)
  • Travel (own vehicle, ola/uber, metro, airports)
  • Social media (Youtube, Instagram, X, Facebook)
  • Whatsapp (personal / work communication)
  • Gyms, group classes (majority - cult.fit)
  • Restaurants / Cafes / Pubs (family outing, friends meet, work get togethers)


Value matrix


What's their biggest problem?

Where do they go for solution?

What value do you provide them?

How can you communicate that value?

Attract

Lack of easy means to track heart health.

Wearables, ECG/Echo, Doctor

Insights into current heart health.

Standees and Posters outside Gym centres, Social posts from cult channels, In-app announcements.

Engage

Lack of personalized guidance on how to take care of heart health.

Health coach, Fitness trainer

Personalized guidance on what to do.

Micro experiences on product, Initial fitness assessments, Cult pass benefits page.

Delight

Ability to track effectiveness of exercise on heart health.

Cult.fit

Improvement in heart health over a period of time.

Personalized reports, Leaderboards, Sharable insights, Badges.


Co-marketing strategy


Since Philips is reaching end users via Cult.fit as a partnership channel for distribution, the value experience is for Cult.fit users.

Hence, it would make sense for Cult.fit to carry out the marketing efforts.


Philips' support and contribution towards execution of marketing efforts:

  1. Collaborate with Cult.fit's marketing team to create a consistent brand message that highlights the benefits of the integrated solution.
  2. Co-sponsor offline events, such as health camps or fitness challenges, to engage users and promote the partnership.
  3. Collect user feedback and roll out improved product experiences.
  4. Provide a clear roadmap for the integration of Philips Heart Print into Cult.fit's platform.


Co-marketing activity

GTM stage

Effort

Timelines

Press release announcing the partnership

Pre-launch

High

2 weeks for planning, 2 weeks for execution

Social media campaign across Cult.fit channels

Pre-launch, Launch

High

2 weeks for planning, 4 weeks for execution

Whatsapp marketing to churned Cult.fit users

Launch

Low

1 week for planning, 2 weeks for execution

Standees and posters outside Cult.fit gym centres

Launch

Medium

2 weeks for planning, 4 weeks for execution

Hoardings and banners in high traffic areas

Pre-launch, Launch

High

2 weeks for planning, 3 weeks for execution

Success stories and testimonials from users

Post-launch

Medium

2 weeks for planning, 8 weeks for execution

Offline events such as health camps or fitness challenges

Post-launch

High

Monthly execution (2 weeks planning, 2 weeks execution)

Create in-gym experiences that can be made viral through Word of Mouth/Referral campaigns

Post-launch

High

Quarterly execution (1 month planning, 2 months execution)





Fin.


































































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