Summary

In this episode of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce sits down with John Bowman, founder and CEO of Sure Med, to explore the realities of building a company from the ground up. John shares lessons from early failures, the importance of preparation, and what it takes to scale a business through constant pivots.

They also dive into the evolving overdose epidemic and how SureMed is working to equip physicians with better data and tools to make safer decisions for patients.

Show Notes

John’s early journey: military, boxing, and entering healthcare
Lessons learned from his first business and why preparation matters
The shift from “winging it” to operating with discipline and strategy
The role of mentorship and surrounding yourself with the right people
Navigating years of pivots to find product-market fit
Scaling challenges: growing fast without losing focus
Understanding the overdose epidemic beyond prescription opioids
How SureMed helps physicians make more informed, lower-risk decisions
Building a mission-driven business rooted in purpose and faith

Key Takeaways

Preparation creates confidence and better decision-making
There is no single path to building a successful company
Growth often looks like chaos — constant pivots are part of the process
The people and inputs you surround yourself with matter deeply
You have to survive long enough to figure out what works, then scale it
Solving meaningful problems requires both persistence and adaptability