Savvy
Real Patients (formerly Savvy Cooperative) is a HIPAA-compliant patient insights platform connecting a verified community across 2,500+ health conditions with pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare companies for paid research engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSunnyside, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Savvy does
Real Patients (formerly Savvy Cooperative) is a patient insights platform founded in 2016 by Jen Horonjeff, PhD and Ronnie Sharpe that connects individuals living with health conditions to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare technology companies seeking structured patient input for research and product development. The company operates a verified patient community spanning 2,500+ health conditions, including rare diseases and chronic illnesses, with 16,666+ patient experiences contributed cumulatively. Co-founders, both chronic illness patients themselves, built the platform to address what they identified as systematic underrepresentation of authentic patient perspectives in healthcare development decisions. The company rebranded from Savvy Cooperative to Real Patients in 2025-2026 to better reflect its patient-experience mission while retaining the same operating team and values.
The platform's core technology consists of a patient profile verification system, an activity-matching algorithm that routes patients to relevant research opportunities based on health conditions, and HIPAA-compliant data protection infrastructure with bank-level encryption. Patients create verified profiles through self-service signup, are matched to research engagements, and participate through three paid activity types: 30-minute research surveys ($75 each), 1-hour video focus groups ($150 each), and quarterly advisory boards ($500 each). The platform enforces consent-based data sharing where personal contact information remains protected and only de-identified responses are shared with approved research partners.
Real Patients operates a B2B2C transactional revenue model, earning transaction fees on each completed patient engagement. Enterprise sales are conducted through direct, founder-led relationships with pharmaceutical and healthcare buyers, supplemented by earned media coverage in healthcare publications including STAT News, FierceBiotech, CNBC, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and industry conference participation. The named customer roster exceeds 20 enterprise clients concentrated in pharmaceutical (Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Roche, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, GSK, Takeda, Gilead, Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Regeneron, Moderna, Biogen), medical devices (Medtronic), and technology (Amazon, Salesforce). The company has received non-equity or small-equity support from MassChallenge and Indie.vc in 2020, with no disclosed institutional venture funding rounds.
Savvy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Savvy
- Legal name
- Real Patients
- Website
- https://savvy.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Real Patients (formerly Savvy Cooperative) is a HIPAA-compliant patient insights platform connecting a verified community across 2,500+ health conditions with pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare companies for paid research engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Savvy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Patient Insights and Healthcare Market Research
- NAICS
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6213)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Patient Community, Peer Support & Social Engagement (HLACAEAK)
Keywords
Where Savvy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyside
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Savvy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Patient Insight Studies: Healthcare organizations pay for access to verified patient insights through surveys, focus groups, and advisory boards. Companies sponsor research opportunities and compensate Real Patients for facilitating patient participation and delivering structured insights.
- Research Study Facilitation: Real Patients matches pharmaceutical and healthcare companies with patients for research studies, earning fees for each completed engagement. Payment varies by activity type and duration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Research Survey - 30 minute engagement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Focus Group - 1 hour video call |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Advisory Board - Quarterly meetings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Savvy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Real Patients (formerly Savvy Cooperative) operates a patient insights platform that connects a verified community of patients across 2,500+ health conditions with healthcare organizations including pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device manufacturers. Healthcare buyers pay per engagement to access patient participation in research studies (30-minute surveys at $75), 1-hour focus group video calls ($150), and quarterly advisory board meetings ($500). Patients earn compensation for sharing experiences on their own schedule while the company facilitates matching, consent, and HIPAA-compliant data sharing.
Product overview
Real Patients (formerly Savvy Cooperative) is a single unified patient insights platform that connects patients with healthcare organizations. The platform enables patients to share experiences through multiple participation channels including research studies, surveys, focus groups, and advisory boards. Patients can earn rewards for participation while maintaining privacy and control over their shared information.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Real Patients Platform A patient insights platform that connects a verified community of patients across 2,500+ health conditions with healthcare organizations (pharma, biotech, medical device, and digital health companies) for paid research studies, surveys, focus groups, and advisory boards. Patients self-verify their profiles, opt into matched opportunities, and earn compensation while maintaining control over their data via HIPAA-compliant, consent-based sharing.
- Research Study Participation (30-minute survey) A 30-minute survey-based research engagement where verified patients answer questions about their health condition and experiences. Healthcare organizations pay $75 per completed survey, and patients receive compensation through direct deposit, PayPal, or gift cards, typically processed within 5 business days of completion.
- Focus Group Participation (1-hour video call) A 1-hour video call focus group where selected patients discuss their condition and treatment experiences with healthcare organization researchers. Healthcare organizations pay $150 per focus group; participation requires real-time video engagement and offers deeper, conversational insight than surveys.
- Advisory Board Participation (Quarterly meetings)
Quantifiable outcome
- 16,666+ patient experiences shared on platform
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Savvy
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Savvy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Savvy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PfizercoreMajor pharmaceutical company utilizing Real Patients platform for patient experience research and insights to inform drug development decisions.
- MerckcorePharmaceutical company engaging Real Patients for patient-centered research to understand treatment experiences and inform pipeline decisions.
- Johnson & JohnsoncoreHealthcare conglomerate using Real Patients for insights across pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer health research.
- AbbViecorePharmaceutical company leveraging patient insights for immunology and specialty medicine development.
- AstraZenecacoreGlobal pharmaceutical company utilizing Real Patients platform for oncology, biopharmaceuticals, and rare disease research.
- Bristol-Myers SquibbcorePharmaceutical company engaging Real Patients for oncology and immunology patient insight research.
- SanoficoreFrench pharmaceutical company using Real Patients for diabetes, rare diseases, and vaccine patient experience research.
- RochecoreSwiss pharmaceutical company engaging Real Patients for oncology and biotechnology patient insights.
- Eli LillycorePharmaceutical company using Real Patients for diabetes, oncology, and neuroscience patient-centered research.
- NovartiscoreSwiss pharmaceutical company leveraging Real Patients for innovative patient insight methodologies.
- Novo NordiskcoreDanish pharmaceutical company using Real Patients for diabetes and obesity treatment patient experience research.
- GSKcoreUK pharmaceutical company engaging Real Patients for vaccines, oncology, and infectious disease patient insights.
- TakedacoreJapanese pharmaceutical company using Real Patients for rare diseases and gastroenterology patient experience research.
- GileadcoreBiopharmaceutical company engaging Real Patients for HIV, liver disease, and infectious disease patient insights.
- AmgencoreBiotechnology company using Real Patients for cardiovascular, oncology, and inflammation patient research.
- BayercoreGerman pharmaceutical and life sciences company engaging Real Patients for healthcare innovation research.
- MedtroniccoreMedical technology company using Real Patients for patient-centered medical device design and experience research.
- Boehringer IngelheimcoreGerman pharmaceutical company engaging Real Patients for respiratory, cardiometabolic, and oncology patient insights.
- RegeneroncoreBiotechnology company using Real Patients for ophthalmology, allergy, and oncology patient experience research.
- ModernacoremRNA biotechnology company engaging Real Patients for vaccine and therapeutic patient insights.
- BiogencoreNeuroscience biotechnology company using Real Patients for multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and rare disease patient research.
- AmazonminorTechnology company partnering on healthcare innovation initiatives and patient experience programs.
- SalesforceminorTechnology company engaging Real Patients for healthcare technology partnerships and ecosystem development.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Savvy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Evidation Health: Evidation operates a large-scale patient data and real-world evidence platform connecting individuals with health research opportunities. Comparable to Real Patients in selling patient insights to pharma and healthcare, but operates at significantly larger scale across both consumer health and clinical research.
- PatientsLikeMe: PatientsLikeMe (acquired by UnitedHealth Group) operates one of the largest patient communities and sells de-identified real-world data and insights to pharma. Directly comparable model to Real Patients in patient community plus pharma insights, though at significantly larger scale and now backed by a major payer.
Direct peers
- Inspire: Inspire runs one of the largest online patient communities and partners with pharma for patient insights and research recruitment. Directly comparable to Real Patients in operating condition-specific patient communities and monetizing them through enterprise pharma partnerships for qualitative research and real-world evidence.
- WEGO Health: WEGO Health operates a network of patient influencers and advocates that pharma companies engage for insights, advisory boards, and patient-centered research. Directly comparable to Real Patients' model of connecting pharma with verified patients for paid research engagements.
- Health Union: Health Union builds condition-specific online patient communities and provides pharma with patient insights, market research, and advertising solutions. Comparable to Real Patients in monetizing engaged patient communities across multiple health conditions through enterprise pharma relationships.
Emerging players
- Inato: Inato is a clinical trial recruitment platform that helps pharma sites and sponsors find eligible patients for trials. Comparable to Real Patients in using a patient-centric matching model to serve pharma research needs, though focused specifically on clinical trial recruitment rather than qualitative insights.
- Antidote (formerly TrialReach): Antidote is a digital health company that connects patients with clinical trials through a matching platform. Comparable in its mission to bridge patients and pharma research opportunities, though with a clinical trial focus rather than Real Patients' qualitative research and insights emphasis.
- CureClick: CureClick recruits patient ambassadors to drive clinical trial awareness and enrollment, monetizing through pharma sponsors. Comparable to Real Patients in using a patient-driven model to deliver value to pharma research buyers, though with a focus on trial awareness rather than paid research engagements.
- Clara Health: Clara Health is a patient recruitment platform for clinical trials using patient navigators and matching technology. Comparable to Real Patients in patient-centric matching for pharma research, but with a primary focus on trial enrollment rather than qualitative insights.
Others
- Sleepio / Big Health (now Big Health): Big Health develops digital therapeutics and engages patients in clinical-grade health interventions, with pharma partnerships. Tangentially comparable to Real Patients in using patient engagement infrastructure to serve pharma, though focused on digital therapeutic delivery rather than insights and research.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Savvy social profiles
Digital presenceSavvy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Savvy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Savvy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Savvy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Savvy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Savvy
What does Savvy do?
Real Patients (formerly Savvy Cooperative) operates a patient insights platform that connects a verified community of patients across 2,500+ health conditions with healthcare organizations including pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device manufacturers. Healthcare buyers pay per engagement to access patient participation in research studies (30-minute surveys at $75), 1-hour focus group video calls ($150), and quarterly advisory board meetings ($500). Patients earn compensation for sharing experiences on their own schedule while the company facilitates matching, consent, and HIPAA-compliant data sharing.
Is Savvy a public or private company?
Savvy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Savvy founded?
Savvy was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Savvy based?
Savvy is headquartered in Sunnyside, United States, in the North America region.
How does Savvy make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Patient Insight Studies are the primary driver. The others are research Study Facilitation.
Who are Savvy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Evidation Health and PatientsLikeMe. Direct peers are Inspire, WEGO Health and Health Union. Emerging players are Inato, Antidote (formerly TrialReach), CureClick and Clara Health. Sleepio / Big Health (now Big Health) is listed as an others.
Does Savvy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Savvy.
What industry is Savvy in?
Savvy's product category is Patient Insights and Healthcare Market Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACAEAK, Patient Community, Peer Support & Social Engagement. Its NAICS code is 6213 and its SIC code is 8000.