Daphna sat down with Robert Gielow, founder of Mentry Pharma, to discuss what it really takes for foreign supplement and longevity companies to enter the pharmacy markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He explains why many brands misunderstand the German-speaking market: distribution and pharmacy listings alone do not create demand, pharmacies are not straightforward sales channels, and sceptical consumers require multiple trust-building touchpoints before making a purchase.
The conversation explores the practical realities of regulation, market access and enforcement, the differences between brick-and-mortar and online pharmacies, and why many market entries fail when companies focus on sales projections rather than customer acquisition and long-term retention. Gielow also discusses the challenges of consumer education, the influence of misinformation on social media, and the widening gap between rigorous scientific evidence and the content that attracts the greatest online attention.
Finally, he argues that prevention remains undervalued across healthcare systems and that longevity does not have to depend on expensive interventions. Instead, he makes the case for focusing on the fundamentals: regular movement, good nutrition, quality sleep, strong relationships, and learning to listen to the body’s signals.
https://www.mentry-pharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgielow/
00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup
02:16 Meet Robert and Mentory Pharma
04:18 How Mentory Pharma Started
08:31 Why Distribution Alone Fails
11:04 Pharmacies Aren't Salespeople
13:59 Why Brands Fail in Germany
19:12 Regulation Reality Check
25:39 Influencers vs Real Science
28:17 What Even Is Longevity
28:42 Vitamin D Rules Clash
31:09 Enforcement Reality Check
32:49 Why Prevention Lags
35:39 Pharma Shifts to Prevention
38:07 Markets Ahead of Europe
43:25 Longevity for the Rich
46:08 Back to Simple Habits
50:34 Building Credible Brands
55:26 Rapid Fire Takeaways
57:55 Closing Reflections
