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Case Study: How Thrivable Helped an Agency Move Faster and Smarter in Preparation for their AOR Pitch

Adam Zandman
Market Research
Recruiting

Project Overview
Marcus Thomas, an international ad agency and recognized leader in creative, media, PR, social media, digital strategy, and technology, was preparing for a high-stakes Agency of Record (AOR) pitch. To build a compelling case for a new diabetes medical device, they needed rapid, high-quality insights from healthcare professionals (HCPs), specifically physicians and educators specializing in diabetes. These expert perspectives were essential to shaping a winning strategy, developing product positioning, and crafting compelling messaging for the pitch.
The Challenge
Marcus Thomas faced a common yet difficult hurdle, securing high-quality insights from a targeted group of healthcare professionals (HCPs) within an extremely tight timeframe to build a winning pitch. They needed insights from physicians and educators specializing in diabetes, to ensure their strategy was rooted in expert perspectives. However, traditional recruitment methods can be slow, and as a representative from Marcus Thomas noted, connecting with HCPs, especially a very specific subset, is never easy.
Beyond access, they needed a research partner who could do more than just recruit respondents. They welcomed Thrivable’s category expertise. They needed guidance on how to structure the research effectively to extract the most valuable insights. That’s why they turned to Thrivable, a partner that could deliver both speed and expertise, ensuring they spoke with the right HCPs and asked the right questions to keep their pitch on track.
How Thrivable Responded
Thrivable immediately solved the challenge by leveraging its pre-qualified database of healthcare professionals, including Endocrinologists, PCPs, CDCESs, and NPs, who specialize in diabetes. These weren’t just any respondents. They were core experts with direct relevance to the product in question. By tapping into Thrivable’s HCP database, Marcus Thomas was able to skip the time-consuming process of sourcing and vetting participants, effectively shaving 1-2 weeks off the typical timeline.
But Thrivable’s role went beyond just delivering speed. Our deep diabetes and healthcare expertise allowed us to guide Marcus Thomas through the research process, ensuring they asked the right questions and collected insights that truly informed their strategy. This level of thought partnership helped the agency refine its approach, increasing the impact of the insights they received.
"Thrivable is not just quick, but they deliver quality. We reached the exact people we needed to speak with, all of whom were experts in their fields". – Edwige Winans, Research Director
The Result
By partnering with Thrivable, Marcus Thomas shaved 1-2 weeks off their research timeline, a crucial advantage in the fast-paced world of agency pitches. But speed wasn’t the only win, they had confidence in the insights they gathered, knowing they came from highly qualified healthcare professionals with direct expertise in diabetes care.
Armed with precise, high-quality insights, Marcus Thomas crafted a compelling, research-backed pitch that set them apart from the competition. As a result, they advanced to the next round of the Agency of Record (AOR) selection process, positioning themselves as a strategic leader ready to drive the client’s success.
In the fast-paced world of agency pitches, every moment matters. Thrivable not only delivered insights faster but also ensured that the agency had the right insights, powered by real healthcare professional expertise.
Looking for ways to accelerate your next pitch or research project with expert-backed insights from HCPs treating diabetes or obesity? Our team at Thrivable is here to help. Contact us today to explore how we can support your next research project.
About the author

Adam Zandman
Adam, Thrivable's Marketing Director, is a passionate advocate for improving the patient experience, driving companies to prioritize the patient voice in their decisions