MtoM #291: Surgeons Raise $1.6 Million for a Healthcare AI Startup

How do two orthopedic surgeons with no formal business training raise over $1 million to build a healthcare technology startup?

In this Milestones to Millionaire episode, Todd and Justin, orthopedic surgeons who trained together and are just three and a half years out of residency, share how they went from starting a small coffee company during COVID to raising $1.6 million for an AI-driven medical technology startup aimed at reducing physician overhead and administrative burden. Justin explains his decision to step back from a seven-figure hospital salary to build the company full time, while Todd continues working in full-time private practice, illustrating two very different risk tolerances within the same founding team.

They walk through how they structured the company, set up a Delaware C-Corp, used SAFE investments, and raised initial capital from friends, family, and fellowship alumni, all without an MBA or formal business background, leaning instead on AI tools, mentorship, and each other's strengths. They also discuss why physician-led startups statistically tend to outperform those built by outside innovators, since doctors understand the real pain points of practicing medicine firsthand.

Building something new in medicine takes more than a good idea. It takes physicians willing to step outside the clinical world entirely and learn an entirely different set of skills. One of the most underrated financial moves in medicine is working locum tenens. It pays significantly more on average, and you can work locums full time or on the side of your full time. When you work with CompHealth, the #1 staffing agency, they cover your housing and travel costs —which on top of higher pay, really adds up.

Locums also gives you more control of your career, allowing you to go where you want, when you want, with a schedule that works for you. It's the perfect way to get ahead financially while getting focused on what you love. Whether it's locum tenens or a regular permanent position, visit https://whitecoatinvestor.com/CompHealth and build your career your way with the power of CompHealth.

Celebrating your stories of success along the journey to financial freedom! Tune in every Monday to the Milestones to Millionaire Podcast, where we celebrate the financial achievements of our listeners and share practical tips for reaching your own milestones. We want to celebrate your milestones—no matter how big or small—and help inspire others to follow your lead. Every week, these episodes feature one listener who has recently achieved a milestone they are proud of and want to celebrate, and they give any advice they have for those who want to follow their example. Make sure to listen every Monday to be inspired by your fellow white coat investors.

Celebrate YOUR Milestone on the Milestones to Millionaire Podcast: https://whitecoatinvestor.com/milestones

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