#506 - Adam Stansell, CEO at Axle Health

Join us on the latest episode, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!

Our Guest: Adam Stansell, CEO at Axle Health.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

Axle Health's Major Pivot: Transitioned from delivering home health services to licensing its proprietary operations software.
Key Insight from the Field: A revealing moment with a thumbtack-based scheduling system sparked the shift in focus.
Execution Challenges: Took a year post-pivot to gain traction, eventually 10x'ing revenue in 2024.
Funding Milestone: Closed Series A led by F-Prime, aligning with investors with deep operational and domain expertise.
Vision Beyond Health: Adam reflects on the societal need for objective truth in the age of AI and misinformation.

Axle 2.0: The Evolution of a Health Tech Startup

Adam Stansell's latest appearance on the show reveals a transformational journey. Originally a tech-powered provider of in-home health services, Axle Health pivoted to a SaaS model, licensing its software to other home health organizations. This shift stemmed from the realization that while Axle excelled in technology, the complexities of delivering in-home care services required more than just great tools—it demanded operational excellence that proved difficult to scale internally.

The Moment of Clarity

The turning point came during a conversation with a sophisticated agency leader still relying on a physical map and colored thumbtacks for clinician scheduling. That disconnect between strategic thinking and operational execution made it clear to Adam: the real opportunity was building technology that could empower providers already in the field—not replacing them.

Navigating the Pivot

Pivoting to a software company required redefining team dynamics and customer relationships. Previously, tech teams served internal operations. Post-pivot, both tech and ops had to serve external customers—adding complexity and demanding clearer swim lanes. Though the shift started in early 2023, it wasn’t until 2024 that momentum truly built, with a 10x revenue growth marking a successful transition.

Strategic Investment and Next Steps

Axle’s Series A, led by F-Prime and supported by LightBank, YC, and Pair, validated the new direction. Investors like Carl Byers (Athena) and Julia McDowell (Galileo) brought not just capital but operational empathy and domain fluency. Now based in LA, the team is growing across product, sales, and engineering roles—with Adam emphasizing a preference for in-person collaboration.

Future Focus and Philosophical Reflections

Outside of Axle, Adam expresses concern for the erosion of objective truth in a rapidly advancing AI landscape. For him, ensuring public access to factual information is a foundational issue for society—highlighting a broader worldview that guides his entrepreneurial ethos.