By: Joshua Finley

For over 30 years, John Ashley has launched dozens of new medical technologies in the San Francisco Bay Area’s vibrant startup scene. But his latest venture, Auctus Surgical, is perhaps the most meaningful.

Auctus Surgical is developing a breakthrough implant for children with scoliosis that allows for flexibility and movement after surgery. Scoliosis, the abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, often requires invasive fusion surgery that drastically reduces mobility. But Auctus’ implant, inserted through small incisions, straightens the spine while maintaining motion.

A Calling to Improve Lives

John didn’t start his career in medicine. He initially pursued business and finance after completing his education. But over his successful 30-year medical device career, a passion for creating transformative health technologies emerged.

Now, John is driven by a personal connection to scoliosis. A close family friend’s daughter had scoliosis as a child, resulting in a loss of her active lifestyle after corrective surgery. “It was devastating to see all that taken away from her,” John says. “Any movement would be an incredible benefit to her life.”

Seeing firsthand the impact scoliosis had motivates John. “When I’m pitching this solution, there’s never a time where somebody doesn’t share a story about how scoliosis affected their loved one,” he notes. “What we’re doing is super important and exciting.”

A Wealth of Experience to Draw From

For John, founding Auctus Surgical is the culmination of his life’s work. He recounts his early days as a young startup employee tasked with developing new spine products. The urgency and ownership of those early experiences stuck with him.

“It’s mine to make or break. So, I started working 7 days a week, 60-80 hours to make it happen,” John recalls. His perseverance paid off. That first startup’s spine product generated significant revenue, while the company grew from 5 to 150 employees.

Since then, John has leveraged his regulatory, clinical testing, intellectual property and team-building skills to successfully develop products at startups and mature medical device firms. Several companies he worked with had IPOs and over $1 billion in shareholder value.

Now John is focused on empowering Auctus’ team to deliver a highly valued scoliosis solution. “I’ve got great, deep expertise across product development. My focus is building and empowering a talented team that can synergistically deliver high-value outcomes,” he says.

An Innovative Approach to Transforming Lives

Auctus’ implant for scoliosis represents a leap forward. It straightens spines with a technique that maintains flexibility. The minimally invasive device uses magnetic technology so doctors can adjust and customize results over time without additional surgeries.

“Kids can maintain their active sports and lifestyles with this implant. And it can grow with them,” John explains. He envisions children regaining their freedom of movement and parents and doctors gaining a powerful new tool.

The motivation and experience John brings makes him confident in Auctus’ success. “I’ve launched dozens of new technologies, had 7 companies acquired and over $1 billion in shareholder value generated,” he says. “I know what it takes to build a talented team and deliver innovative products that create real value.”

Thirty years into a fulfilling career developing life-changing technologies, John remains fiercely devoted to his work. Auctus Surgical’s scoliosis implant aligns perfectly with his personal drive to create flexible, non-invasive solutions that restore movement and transform patients’ lives.

Join John Ashley in empowering children to reclaim active lifestyles. Make an impact by investing in this transformative technology. To learn more about John and Auctus Surgical, visit his LinkedIn Profile here.

Published by: Holy Minoza