Tyler Burnett never planned to reinvent dentistry. But after a 2017 visit where a dentist told him he needed eight fillings on the spot, he walked out skeptical and down a path that would lead to founding Wally, a membership-based dental company built around no insurance, no drills, and no surprise bills.

A serial founder from Canada with exits in digital media and fintech, Tyler applied his obsession with customer experience to one of the most outdated industries in healthcare. He and his co-founder launched Wally with a simple promise: $249 per year for unlimited cleanings, diagnostics, and exams and a goal to make going to the dentist something people actually want to do.

In this episode, we unpack how Wally pivoted from dentist SaaS to owning the full patient experience, validated demand with 500 pre-launch signups, and now serves 25,000 members across five locations in New York and New Jersey. Tyler also breaks down how Wally’s plug-and-play clinic model lets them open a new location in 24 hours for $100–200K (compared to traditional $1M+ dental buildouts), how AI is helping remove diagnostic subjectivity, and what it’s really like raising $20 million in venture funding for a brick-and-mortar healthcare startup.

We cover:

• The “8 fillings” moment that sparked Wally’s founding story
• How $249/year unlimited preventive care works economically
• The pivot from SaaS for dentists to direct-to-patient clinics
• Testing early demand with 500 signups and a two-day pilot
• The plug-and-play clinic model: $100–200K and 24-hour launch
• Scaling from 5 → 100+ locations by 2026
• How AI improves diagnostics and patient education
• Raising ~$20M in a tough brick-and-mortar fundraising climate
• Building a preventive-first dental brand people actually love
• The lessons (and near-death moments) from growing a venture-backed IRL startup

If you’ve ever wondered how to build a modern brick-and-mortar healthcare brand, this episode dives into everything from validating demand and operating lean to changing an entrenched industry through design, speed, and relentless focus on the customer.

Resources & Links
Wally Website: https://www.hiwally.co

Wally Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wallyhealth/

Tyler Burnett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyburnett/

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