When longtime friends Alex Bucklew and John McAdory met for lunch in 2023, the conversation turned to a problem McAdory, a pharmacist, encountered daily—patients struggling to navigate the complex world of prescription drug discount cards. Dozens of cards exist, many promising savings, yet there was no easy way to know which one actually offers the best price. That realization sparked an idea that would grow into SimpleScript, a tech startup now part of the 2025 CoBuilders cohort powered by Innovate Mississippi.
After months of exploring the concept, Bucklew and McAdory reached out to Innovate Mississippi for guidance in 2024. “We met with them once, kept refining our plan, and eventually realized we needed technical help to make it real,” Bucklew said. The duo partnered with two software developers, Allen Mixon and Thomas Black, forming a four-person team that combined business, pharmacy expertise, and software development skills. By early 2025, the team had built an early version of the app, enough to demonstrate the potential of their “Expedia for drug discount cards.”
That prototype led to a pivotal moment: competing in the Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology (MCity) pitch competition in Vicksburg. SimpleScript placed in the contest, earning an invitation to join Innovate Mississippi’s CoBuilders accelerator, a 12-week program that invests $25,000 in each selected startup. “That funding came at the perfect time,” Bucklew said. “We had gone as far as we could bootstrapping the project, and the capital gave us room to move forward.”
For Bucklew, the CoBuilders experience has been more than just funding and training—it’s been accountability, mentorship, and momentum. With guidance from mentors Tasha Bibb of MSU @ MCity and Bryan Carter of THINK Creative Intelligence, the SimpleScript team has focused on refining their product and preparing for Pitch Day on November 11, where they’ll present to investors at Innovate Mississippi’s Accelerator Conference.
“We’re operating on the clock, and we know that. We don’t have time to slack off, so we’re constantly moving forward, working towards that November 11 deadline,” Bucklew said.
SimpleScript’s app aggregates data from major prescription discount programs, such as GoodRx, enabling users to instantly compare and select the lowest price for their medications. Even insured consumers, Bucklew noted, often find they can save money using these cards. The app’s intuitive interface, developed under McAdory’s pharmacy guidance, already rivals those of established discount programs. They’ll generate revenue through a combination of advertising, data partnerships, and revenue-sharing agreements with the discount card providers themselves.
“It’s been inspiring to watch the SimpleScript team put in the hard work to truly understand their market and customers. They’ve made meaningful connections that I believe will unlock exciting opportunities and position them for long-term success,” said Trevor Acy, senior project manager with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach at MSU Vicksburg, which is the sponsoring partner organization for this startup.
Looking ahead to 2026, the team plans to launch the SimpleScript platform and scale aggressively. Based in Mississippi—where Bucklew lives in Madison and McAdory in Louisville—the founders say the state offers both a skilled workforce and a close-knit innovation community.
“We have people here who genuinely want to see Mississippi succeed,” Bucklew said. “That kind of support system is invaluable for a startup like ours.”
