By: Joshua Finley
John Ashley’s 30-year journey developing innovative medical technologies began with a simple napkin sketch. Now, as founder of Auctus Surgical, his mission is transforming the lives of children with scoliosis worldwide.
John’s trailblazing career proves entrepreneurship can spark from the most humble beginnings. “I didn’t have a master plan early on. But I had a good sense of seizing opportunities when I saw them,” he reflects.
That ability to identify possibilities and boldly bring ideas to life characterizes John’s success. From scrappy startups to mature firms, he has shepherded dozens of products from concept to reality. His perseverance and ingenuity have generated over $1 billion in value and brought life-changing technologies to market.
Tenacity and Hands-On Experience
John credits his early days immersed in startups with instilling the drive and skills to thrive. At his first startup role out of MIT, John was tasked with developing a new spinal implant based only on a simple sketch.
“It was the quintessential ‘here’s the napkin sketch, go make it happen’ situation,” he recalls. Rather than shying away from the challenges, John embraced the urgency and responsibility. He spent long hours observing surgeries, gathering input, and refining designs alongside surgeon partners. This hands-on approach became integral to his success.
When initial patient testing showed promise, John doubled down. “I realized this was mine to make or break. So, I started working 7 days a week, 60-80 hours to make it happen,” he shares. The spinal implant ended up generating significant sales and propelling major company growth.
Photo Courtesy: John Ashley
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Navigating different roles and diverse companies has honed John’s versatility as a leader. At large established firms, he delivered solid results but felt confined. “At a big corporation you might observe a surgery once every few years,” John notes. “The startups let me be in the OR regularly, seeing what surgeons need.”
This exposure alongside business roles enabled John to understand problems holistically. When a startup partnered with a leading surgeon to launch a new company, John finally had free rein to drive a concept from scratch.
“There was nobody to delegate to. I did the designs, patents, assemblies—everything start to finish,” he explains. Though resource-strapped, the experience gave John invaluable skills. Just three founders brought an innovative new product from napkin sketch to FDA approval and successful acquisition.
Fulfilling Unmet Needs to Improve Lives
Throughout his career, John has immersed himself in understanding patients’ unmet needs—an essential prerequisite for impactful medical innovations. Now, at Auctus Surgical, he is driven by the promise of improving quality of life for children with scoliosis.
John has witnessed firsthand the hardships scoliosis can inflict after seeing the daughter of a close family friend endure major surgery that halted her active childhood. “It was devastating to see that taken away,” he shares.
Auctus aims to change that narrative. John lights up describing their breakthrough implant that straightens spines while maintaining flexibility. “Any movement would be an incredible benefit,” he explains. He is propelled daily by meeting with families and envisioning children with scoliosis reclaiming active lifestyles.
Photo Courtesy: John Ashley
Leading the Way in Patient-Focused Innovations
Looking back on 3 decades of medical innovation, John takes pride in bringing unconventional ideas to fruition. “I was never the one just pondering ideas. I’m the one who sees opportunities and makes them happen,” he remarks.
John stands behind Auctus’ scoliosis solution with the same maverick spirit that drove his early success. He leverages his extensive experience shepherding concepts from napkin sketch to finished product to lead Auctus’ talented team.
“I’ve launched dozens of breakthrough technologies over my career. Now I’m focused on delivering a high-value implant that can transform lives,” John says. His personal dedication to creating flexible, non-invasive medical devices drives him to open new possibilities for patients worldwide.
30 years in, John Ashley maintains the tenacious hands-on approach that sparked his journey. He remains committed to guiding Auctus’ implant from concept to reality, fulfilling the urgent need for mobility and possibility in children with scoliosis.
To learn more about John Ashley and his ventures, contact him via LinkedIn.
Published by: Holy Minoza
