In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with James Bates, the Founder & CEO of AdviNow Medical, a company leveraging AI and augmented reality to transform healthcare. James shares his incredible journey—from leading billion-dollar tech businesses to raising $20 million to build his own game-changing startup.

We dive into the realities of scaling a business, the challenges of raising capital, and how James navigated industry pushback to bring innovation to healthcare. He also shares lessons in resilience, leadership, and team-building, giving founders and entrepreneurs a firsthand look at what it really takes to disrupt an industry.

💡 Memorable Quotes from James Bates:

🔹 “AdviNow allows doctors to be doctors once again.”

🔹 “I thought I was resilient before I founded this company—I had no idea what resilience meant.”

🔹 “If all you're saying is, ‘this is too hard, it’s taking too long,’ then you just have to ignore it.”

🔹 “Technology adoption in healthcare is seen as a risk, not a benefit—and that’s a big problem.”

🔹 “If you can tell me why my vision isn’t valid, I want that conversation. But if you’re just telling me to give up, I won’t.”

Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale, a tech enthusiast interested in AI’s role in healthcare, or someone who loves real startup stories, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

🚀 Episode Title:

👉 From Startup to Scale: James Bates on Raising $20M & Revolutionizing Healthcare

🎧 In This Episode, We Cover:

✔️ What inspired James to launch AdviNow Medical

✔️ The challenges of raising $20M and convincing investors

✔️ How AI and AR are transforming healthcare

✔️ The biggest obstacles he faced in scaling his business

✔️ The importance of building the right team

✔️ Key lessons in resilience, leadership, and overcoming setbacks

💡 Memorable Quotes:

🔹 “70% of the cost of a medical encounter is the doctor, but 66% of their time is spent on things that have nothing to do with their medical licensure.”

🔹 “Healthcare is 20% of the GDP, yet most medical practices don’t make money. That’s a major red flag.”

🔹 “If you want to build something big, you need an unwavering vision and relentless pursuit of it.”

🔹 “Technology is supposed to make things easier, but in healthcare, outdated systems are holding us back.”

🔹 “The biggest challenge isn’t the technology—it’s changing the mindset of an industry stuck in its ways.”

🔗 Connect with James & AdviNow Medical:

🌐 Website: www.advinow.com

📧 Email James: james.bates@advinow.com

📧 General inquiries: info@advinow.com

🔗 LinkedIn: