Sproxil
Encyclopedia
Sproxil is a venture capital
-backed for-profit company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that provides a consumer SMS
verification service through its Mobile Product AuthenticationTM (MPA) service.
. The code is then sent via SMS to a country-specific short code
, and the consumer receives a reply almost instantly indicating whether the product is genuine or not.
Sproxil’s services are currently being used by several pharmaceutical companies in the fight against counterfeit drugs. The drug market, according to the World Customs Organization
, estimates to be a $200 Billion a year industry. The problem of counterfeit drugs is particularly acute in emerging markets, where the World Health Organization
estimates that 30% of drugs are fake and may be very harmful to consumers.
published a video discussing the role Sproxil's service in the fight against counterfeit drugs in Nigeria
.
Sproxil - along with Pfizer
, Vodafone
, and WaterHealth International - has committed to the Business Call to Action (BCtA), a global leadership initiative made up of companies that apply their core business expertise to the achievement of the eight internationally-agreed Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs).
Sproxil CEO Ashifi Gogo was praised by former United States
President Bill Clinton
, who described Gogo’s work as a “genuinely remarkable achievement.”
In February 2011, Sproxil announced that it had received $1.8 million in funding from Acumen Fund
. Funding is being used to help the company expand into India
.
Johnson & Johnson
and GSK (GlaxoSmithKline
) are using Sproxil services in Africa as is the Nigerian distributor of Merck KGaA
named Biofem.
In June 2011 Sproxil launched operations in India and in July 2011 Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board
(PPB) also adopted text message-based anti-counterfeiting systems and endorsed the Sproxil solution.
Entrepreneur SmartCamp Competition
2010 MassChallenge
Finalist
2010 Mobile Infrastructure Award, MITX
2010 People’s Choice Award at Accelerate Michigan
2010 Prize Winner, African Diaspora Marketplace
2010 Audience Choice Award Life Sciences at Xconomy Xsite
2009 Outstanding Commitment Award in Global Health, Clinton Global Initiative University
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
-backed for-profit company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that provides a consumer SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
verification service through its Mobile Product AuthenticationTM (MPA) service.
Activity
Sproxil’s service works by placing a scratch-off label on products, and then when consumers purchase a product, they scratch off the label to reveal a unique, random code. This is a form of mass serializationMass serialization
Mass Serialization is the process that manufacturers go through to assign and mark each of their products with a Unique identifier such as an Electronic Product Code . The marking or "tagging" of products is usually done in the manufacturing process through the use of various combinations of human...
. The code is then sent via SMS to a country-specific short code
Short code
Short codes are special telephone numbers, significantly shorter than full telephone numbers, that can be used to address SMS and MMS messages from certain service provider's mobile phones or fixed phones...
, and the consumer receives a reply almost instantly indicating whether the product is genuine or not.
Sproxil’s services are currently being used by several pharmaceutical companies in the fight against counterfeit drugs. The drug market, according to the World Customs Organization
World Customs Organization
The World Customs Organization is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. With its worldwide membership, the WCO is recognized as the voice of the global customs community...
, estimates to be a $200 Billion a year industry. The problem of counterfeit drugs is particularly acute in emerging markets, where the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
estimates that 30% of drugs are fake and may be very harmful to consumers.
Recent activity
In 2010, NAFDAC, the Nigerian food and drug administration, endorsed the Sproxil platform and the service has been widely deployed throughout Nigeria. In April 2011, CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
published a video discussing the role Sproxil's service in the fight against counterfeit drugs in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Sproxil - along with Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
, Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
, and WaterHealth International - has committed to the Business Call to Action (BCtA), a global leadership initiative made up of companies that apply their core business expertise to the achievement of the eight internationally-agreed Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs).
Sproxil CEO Ashifi Gogo was praised by former United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who described Gogo’s work as a “genuinely remarkable achievement.”
In February 2011, Sproxil announced that it had received $1.8 million in funding from Acumen Fund
Acumen Fund
Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. Its aim is to help build financially sustainable and scalable organizations that deliver affordable critical goods and services that improve the lives of the poor...
. Funding is being used to help the company expand into India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
and GSK (GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
) are using Sproxil services in Africa as is the Nigerian distributor of Merck KGaA
Merck KGaA
Merck KGaA is a German chemical and pharmaceutical company. Merck, also known as “German Merck” and “Merck Darmstadt”, was founded in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668, making it the world's oldest operating chemical and pharmaceutical company. The company was privately owned until going public in 1995...
named Biofem.
In June 2011 Sproxil launched operations in India and in July 2011 Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board
Pharmacy and Poisons Board
Pharmacy and Poisons Board - Kenya- Pharmacy and Poisons Board :The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is the Drug Regulatory Authority established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Chapter 244 of the Laws of Kenya....
(PPB) also adopted text message-based anti-counterfeiting systems and endorsed the Sproxil solution.
Awards
2010 Honorable Mention Global Finals, IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
Entrepreneur SmartCamp Competition
2010 MassChallenge
MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a non-profit organization that connects entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch and succeed immediately. Primary activities include running an annual global startup competition, documenting and organizing key resources, and organizing training and networking events.-...
Finalist
2010 Mobile Infrastructure Award, MITX
2010 People’s Choice Award at Accelerate Michigan
2010 Prize Winner, African Diaspora Marketplace
2010 Audience Choice Award Life Sciences at Xconomy Xsite
2009 Outstanding Commitment Award in Global Health, Clinton Global Initiative University
See also
- mass serializationMass serializationMass Serialization is the process that manufacturers go through to assign and mark each of their products with a Unique identifier such as an Electronic Product Code . The marking or "tagging" of products is usually done in the manufacturing process through the use of various combinations of human...
- World Customs OrganizationWorld Customs OrganizationThe World Customs Organization is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. With its worldwide membership, the WCO is recognized as the voice of the global customs community...
- Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development GoalsThe Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...