James Bates AdviNow Medical | From Startup to $20M Scale
In this episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All, we’re joined by James Bates, the founder and CEO of AdviNow Medical—a trailblazing AI startup that’s reshaping how healthcare works. From billion-dollar tech leadership roles to raising $20M to launch something brand new, James shares a raw and insightful look at what it takes to scale in one of the toughest industries.
“AdviNow allows doctors to be doctors once again.” – James Bates
🚀 The Spark That Created AdviNow Medical
After stepping away from his career in automotive and sensor tech, James turned his attention to a completely different space—healthcare. What he found shocked him: most medical practices weren’t even profitable. That insight led him to build a system that automates everything except the care itself.
“66% of a doctor’s time is spent on things unrelated to their medical license.”
AdviNow Medical uses artificial intelligence to handle documentation, coding, and admin work—allowing doctors to focus on patients again.
💸 Raising $20M: A True Startup Test
James breaks down what it took to secure $20M in funding, including:
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Educating a skeptical market on AI in medicine
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Adapting after the pandemic flipped his go-to-market strategy
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Staying the course despite resistance from inside the industry
“I thought I understood resilience—until I became a founder.”
👥 From Tech Leader to Team Builder
James highlights the importance of assembling a great team early on. A well-timed opportunity allowed him to bring in top talent and scale his workforce to 100+ people at peak.
“You can have amazing tech, but without the right people, it won’t go anywhere.”
🔧 Breaking Through Healthcare Resistance
Bringing new tech to healthcare comes with major friction. James explains how hospitals often treat innovation as a threat rather than a benefit—and how he’s worked around that mindset to get adoption.
“In healthcare, even great solutions face pushback because the system is so risk-averse.”
🧠 Final Advice from the Founder
So, what does it take to bring a big vision to life? James shares:
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Resilience as the make-or-break founder trait
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Why clarity of mission is more important than external praise
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And how to filter feedback from those who don’t share your vision
“If the only criticism is that it’s hard or slow—ignore it.”
🔗 Connect with James & AdviNow Medical
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🌐 Website: www.advinow.com
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💼 LinkedIn: James Bates
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📧 Email: james.bates@advinow.com
🎧 Listen Now:
👉 James Bates AdviNow Medical | From Startup to $20M Scale
Whether you’re in healthcare, tech, or entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-listen for anyone building bold ideas in complex industries.
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