Michael Gorton's Maverick Journey: From ISP to Telemedicine

Dive into the extraordinary life of Michael Gorton, a serial entrepreneur who built one of the first internet service providers (ISPs), pioneered telemedicine with Teladoc, and faced down the DEA to change healthcare. With degrees in engineering, physics, and law, Gorton’s story is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and visionary leadership that tech enthusiasts will find inspiring.

Key Takeaways

• Pioneered one of the first ISPs in the 1990s, scaling it to a $122 million acquisition.

• Founded Teladoc after a Kilimanjaro epiphany, transforming healthcare access.

• Overcame regulatory battles, including a DEA raid, to legitimize telemedicine.

• Authored bestselling books, including historical fiction and telemedicine histories.

• Mentors entrepreneurs and draws inspiration from figures like Leonidas to lead with purpose.

In this episode, we explore Michael Gorton’s remarkable career, from his early days as an Air Force brat to becoming a trailblazer in tech and healthcare. Gorton’s journey began with a childhood dream of walking on Mars, inspired by Apollo astronauts and a mentor who helped him craft a life plan. This led to degrees in engineering, physics, and law, which he leveraged to innovate at a power company, automating meter reading in the 1980s. His entrepreneurial spirit took flight with Internet Global, one of the first ISPs, where he introduced voice-over-IP and DSL, scaling the company until its $122 million acquisition in 2000. A near-miss with the dot-com crash didn’t deter him; instead, it fueled his next venture.

While climbing Kilimanjaro, Gorton witnessed a colleague treating patients remotely via satellite, sparking the idea for Teladoc. Launched in 2002, Teladoc faced fierce resistance from medical boards and a dramatic DEA raid in 2005, suspecting illegal prescriptions. Gorton’s team, inspired by his “Leonidas mindset” of fighting for a cause, persevered, proving telemedicine’s value and paving the way for its 2015 IPO. Beyond entrepreneurship, Gorton is a bestselling author, weaving complex science into accessible stories, and a mentor to the next generation. His story is a testament to turning bold ideas into reality against all odds.

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