How I Started Building My Medical Tourism Startup Focused on Turkey

Medical tourism is booming globally, and Turkey has become a top destination for affordable, high-quality medical and aesthetic treatments. Inspired by this trend, I decided to launch my own startup connecting international patients with trusted Turkish clinics. Here’s how I began turning my idea into reality.

Step 1: Deep Market Research
Before building anything, I dived into thorough research. I studied competitors — their industries, how they partner with clinics, communication styles, and company structures. I analyzed patient flows between countries and identified the most promising medical specializations.

Most competitors rely heavily on medical coordinators who guide patients offline. But I wanted to create an IT product with minimal dependence on offline processes and human factors. To ensure quality, I developed strict criteria for selecting partner clinics and doctors.

Step 2: MVP Development
I found a programmer and we planned the MVP. Initially, we considered WordPress, but to speed things up, we switched to Lovable — a flexible AI coding tool. However, we soon discovered that Lovable had significant strategic limitations that affected our development plans.

Step 3: Organizing Workflow
Instead of using standard task trackers, I mapped all tasks and stages in Miro. This visual approach helped me maintain a clear overview and work more intuitively.

Step 4: Product Design
I researched similar platforms and created detailed mockups for patient dashboards, clinic portals, and partner accounts. This clarified how the product would look and function.

Step 5: Marketing Strategy and Customer Research
I drafted a preliminary marketing plan but postponed paid advertising until the product was ready. Instead, I focused on building a database of potential partners and planned organic growth. I also prepared surveys and interviews to better understand my target audience.

Step 6: Clinic Selection
I set clear criteria for clinic selection and created a detailed spreadsheet with notes explaining why each clinic was included.

Step 7: Facing Reality
When I started reaching out to clinics, many did not respond. This was a tough reality check but an important part of the startup journey. I’ll share more about this challenge in my next post.

Final Thoughts
Starting a medical tourism startup is challenging but rewarding. Turkey’s growing reputation and my focus on quality and technology give me confidence. If you’re interested in medical tourism or startups, feel free to ask questions or share your experiences!

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