Research for medtech startup - ambagesdesign.com

UXR for Medtech startup

Our March drop of research results on our startup's target audience

Method

Surveys + Interviews

Timeline

Q1 2025

Tools

Figma × Google Apps × Recording software

The challenge

We needed clear, actionable insights into what truly drives people to maintain medical therapy, and where existing tools fail, so we could shape Pillbie’s features around real user needs. We also wanted to map the competitive landscape and identify potential early adopters.

The approach

We applied a Convergent Parallel mixed-method design: a broad survey to capture quantitative patterns and targeted interviews to explore qualitative insights in depth. This allowed us to identify both the what and the why behind adherence behaviors. The framework came from the EIT Health Patient Innovation Bootcamp, which we adapted to focus on therapy habits, preferred reminder tools, and willingness to adopt new adherence aids. By running both methods in parallel, we could compare and cross-validate findings to ensure reliability.

What we discovered

From 52 survey participants and 3 in-depth interviews, we found:

72% already rely on phone reminders for taking medication.
38% reported still missing doses at least once a week, despite using reminders.
22% use physical pill boxes; those who do report the highest adherence rates.
65% would consider switching to a new solution if it offered both convenience and reliability.
Users are most motivated by ease of use and minimal daily friction rather than gamification or reward systems.

Takeaways

Push notifications must be a core, highly reliable feature.
Hardware integration (like a smart dispenser) can address gaps left by phone reminders alone.
The product should prioritize a simple, low-effort daily routine over complex engagement features.

Impact

This research provided a data-backed blueprint for the product:
Validated the need for strong notification logic in the app.

Confirmed market potential for a combined mobile + hardware solution.
Offered behavioral insights that directly informed early UX flows and feature prioritization.
Created a foundation of user contacts for further product testing and early adoption.