I Trust My Gut 70% of the Time - Here's Why with Dr. Joshua Upshaw

I Trust My Gut 70% of the Time - Here's Why with Dr. Joshua Upshaw

Author: Startup Junkie July 13, 2026 Duration: 29:45

Insurance paperwork is delaying treatment for patients who don't have time to wait. One founder built a company to fix it.


In this entrepreneur interview, Dr. Joshua Upshaw — founder and CEO of Hidalgo Technologies and a PhD in cognitive neuroscience — shares how a family health crisis pushed him from academic research into healthcare entrepreneurship, why he trusts his gut more than any spreadsheet, and how he built his team around mission alignment instead of resumes.


Whether you're still validating your first idea or figuring out who belongs on your founding team, this conversation will change how you think about intuition, feedback, and timing.



Chapters:
 0:00 Cold Open: Trust Your Gut
 0:22 Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast
 1:02 What Is Hidalgo Technologies? Fixing Insurance Prior Authorization
 1:54 From Neuroscience to Health Tech: Josh's Origin Story
 2:59 The Family Story That Sparked Hidalgo Tech
 5:35 Why Josh Calls Himself a Problem Solver, Not a Scientist
 8:57 Validating the Problem Through Customer Discovery
 11:36 Building the Team: Finding the Right Technical Lead
 14:55 Why Mission Alignment Matters More Than Skill
 16:10 Handling Feedback, Ego, and Doubt as a Founder
 19:00 Following Your Gut: Sifting Signal From Noise
 21:09 Who Hidalgo Tech's Ideal Customer Is
 21:56 Funding the Company: NSF Grants & Raising Capital
 25:32 The Next Five Years for Hidalgo Tech
 26:23 Advice to His Younger Self


About Joshua Upshaw:
Founder and CEO of Hidalgo Technologies, reducing administrative overhead in insurance prior authorization so patients get treatment sooner. PhD in cognitive neuroscience and an alum of the University of Arkansas's New Venture Development program and Health Tech Arkansas. 


Connect with Joshua: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-upshaw-ph-d/
Website: https://hidalgatech.com/



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Hosted by Jeff Amerine and the practical minds at Startup Junkie Consulting, The Startup Junkies Podcast digs into the real work of building a company. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a direct conversation on the stages every founder faces. You'll hear discussions on moving from a raw idea to a proven concept, the intricacies of strategic planning, and the daily grind of scaling operations. Episodes tackle leadership under pressure, effective marketing without a massive budget, and even the long-game considerations of exit strategies. The core of the podcast is built on conversations with those who have been in the trenches-seasoned business owners, resilient entrepreneurs, and specialists who offer actionable advice. The focus is consistently on tangible value, providing insights that can be applied directly to your own challenges. Tune in for a grounded perspective that aims to help you navigate each critical decision, pushing your venture forward one practical step at a time. It’s a resource for anyone who prefers honest talk about business growth over empty inspiration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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