A Company Born from a Real Problem

The story of Medigi began long before there was a business plan. Blake Powers spent his childhood inside the world of medication procurement, watching his father operate a home infusion pharmacy for 25 years. Their family lived the daily reality of shortages, opaque pricing, inconsistent access, and a distribution chain dominated by wholesalers whose processes did not always serve the patient’s best interest.

When the pharmacy sold in 2014, Blake’s father asked one critical question: Why do providers have so little visibility into inventory that manufacturers already have? It was a simple observation with massive implications. Hospitals and infusion centers were struggling to find essential medications while manufacturers were destroying perfectly usable inventory. The gap was enormous, and Blake understood exactly who suffered most when the system failed: patients.

The Early Vision: MedShorts

When the company launched in 2015, it carried the name MedShorts, a triple-meaning brand that captured exactly what the early business did. It offered a “shortcut” to access inventory that wholesalers were not moving. It specialized in “short-dated” medications that still had clinical value but needed efficient distribution. And it provided relief during “shortages,” especially during periods of unpredictable demand such as COVID and oncology spikes.

The name reflected the company’s early identity: solving problems the system was not built to solve. Momentum came quickly because the Powers family deeply understood both the need and the end user.

The Evolution into Medigi

Success brought new possibilities. Manufacturers began asking why the platform was limited to short-dated inventory. They wanted to sell their entire portfolios, not just expiring stock. As a result, the available inventory expanded dramatically, far beyond the boundaries of the MedShorts brand.

That shift required a new identity, and the spark came from Chief Technology Officer Raphael Esch, whose global background and product vision helped shape the company’s next chapter. Drawing inspiration from the Renaissance-era Medici family patrons of innovation, art, and scientific advancement, Raphael suggested the name MEDIGI. The name captured exactly what the company was becoming: a modern catalyst for change inside one of healthcare’s most entrenched systems.

MedShorts solved an immediate problem. MEDIGI signaled a transformation; an evolution into a platform capable of reshaping medication commerce nationwide.

Modernizing a $600 Billion Supply Chain

The pharmaceutical supply chain is controlled by three major wholesalers who move 92% of the nation’s medications. Providers lack visibility into manufacturer inventory. Pricing is opaque. New drug launches move slowly. Shortages create turmoil. And patients bear the consequences.

Medigi introduced a different model. Manufacturers can now list medications directly at their own prices, giving providers immediate access to inventory that previously sat hidden behind layers of distribution. Medigi earns a modest service fee while facilitating the transaction, but it is the transparency that truly changes the game.

The Future Is SaaS: A New Chapter in 2025

Medigi’s 2025 SaaS storefront platform marks the company’s most transformative evolution. For the first time, manufacturers can digitally launch new medications, run limited distribution programs, create customized ordering portals, and commercialize new therapies without building their own technology stack.

The platform functions like a purpose-built “Shopify for Pharma,” designed by a team that has lived healthcare distribution for decades. Already representing 10% of Medigi’s earned revenue, the SaaS business is expected to become the company’s dominant revenue engine within five years. Medigi is no longer simply a marketplace. It is becoming the digital operating system for medication commerce nationwide.

Innovation Rooted in Listening

Blake emphasizes that Medigi’s success is not rooted in flashy ideas but in disciplined listening. Pharmacists needed visibility and fair pricing. Manufacturers needed modern commercialization tools. Hospitals needed a predictable supply.

Medigi created solutions built directly from those voices. Listening became the competitive advantage; the company’s north star guiding every product choice and evolution.

Strategic Partnerships That Shape the Future of Care

Medigi’s partnerships demonstrate both its credibility and its technical sophistication. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Medigi co-developed a digital ordering system for cell and gene therapy in a category of Medicine defined by precision, speed, and life-changing potential. The platform is already processing real patient orders, proving that Medigi can operate in the most demanding areas of clinical logistics.

AdventHealth, one of Medigi’s earliest supporters, uses the platform within its central fill pharmacy to improve access, drive savings, and streamline distribution workflows.

That collaboration extended into automation. In partnership with Ctrl Robotics, Medigi helped deploy autonomous delivery robots that now travel thousands of miles inside AdventHealth facilities, delivering medications efficiently and reducing strain on overstretched pharmacy teams. They represent not a futuristic concept but a practical solution to a profound staffing crisis in hospitals nationwide.

A Team Built for Speed, Transparency & Mission

Medigi operates with a lean, high-performing team of 25 full-time employees supplemented by a small group of specialized contractors. Nearly half the company consists of software developers; a testament to its evolution into a technology organization while customer-facing roles remain anchored in downtown Orlando.

Culture thrives on transparency and inclusion. Town halls invite genuine dialogue rather than scripted updates. Engineers collaborate directly with frontline teams to understand the “why” behind every feature. Leadership welcomes dissent to prevent blind spots. This combination of small-team cohesion, mission alignment, and technical expertise allows Medigi to build and implement solutions at a pace far beyond large, bureaucratic organizations.

Challenges That Strengthen the Company

Healthcare is not a space for the impatient. Manufacturers and hospital systems operate slowly by design, creating long and unpredictable sales cycles. Blake is candid about what it takes to survive: fortitude, endurance, and the ability to keep showing up long after most people would quit.

He also knows competition is coming. As Medigi grows, larger companies will attempt to replicate the model. Blake’s strategy is simple: move faster, stay transparent, and stay focused on solving real problems instead of building around legacy incentives.

A Family Business with Deep Roots

Medigi’s foundation is built on family. Blake credits his father, Kevin Powers, who founded the company after decades of firsthand experience; recognizing the supply chain gaps that shaped the earliest vision. His brother, Matt, now contributes as a DevOps engineer, strengthening the technical backbone. And his wife, Laura, leads Medigi’s marketing, helping articulate the company’s story and impact.

Every early employee who joined the startup did so long before success was guaranteed. They left secure roles to build something untested, guided only by belief in the mission and trust in one another. That shared courage became the cultural DNA of the company. Medigi is more than a business; it is a family’s legacy built on conviction, sacrifice, and collective ambition.

Commitment to Community

Blake’s commitment to the community is deeply personal and rooted in his own family’s story. His wife was adopted at birth through the Children’s Home Society, anchoring the family’s support for an organization that has played a meaningful role in their lives. Blake holds deep respect for adoptive families, foster parents, and caregivers who step into children’s lives at their most vulnerable moments. For him, supporting these initiatives isn’t simply philanthropy; it is gratitude made visible, honoring the people and systems that helped shape his own family.

That sense of gratitude also extends into Blake’s spiritual life. As a parishioner and supporter of St. James Cathedral in downtown Orlando, he has found a place that offers peace and grounding amid the demands of leadership. Last year, he completed the final leg of the Camino Trail in Spain, a pilgrimage that revived his Catholic roots and reminded him of the value of quiet, reflection, and spiritual renewal.

The journey left a lasting imprint, and Blake is thankful to have a sacred space in Orlando where he can find the same stillness. Under the guidance of Father Miguel and Father Phillip, St. James opens its doors to travelers and parishioners from every walk of life. For Blake, the community there provides the same sense of peace he felt on the Camino, where fellow pilgrims greeted one another with the encouraging blessing, “buen camino”—Spanish for “good road.” It is a sentiment he carries with him in business, in family life, and in his journey as an entrepreneur.

Why GrowFL Matters

For Blake, receiving a GrowFL Companies to Watch honor was a moment of recognition that carried emotional weight. It meant joining a community of founders who understand the realities behind entrepreneurial success the nights spent worrying about payroll; the pivots made under pressure, the near misses, the breakthroughs, and the grit required to sustain momentum.

He describes GrowFL as a fraternity of authenticity, a place where CEOs speak honestly about failure as readily as success. Being part of this network is not just a badge; it is a reminder that Medigi’s journey, though challenging, is shared by others building remarkable companies across Florida.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Blake’s advice to founders is rooted in lived experience:

“Learn how to suffer,” he says. “If you don’t, you’ll quit early and your mission won’t land.” Entrepreneurship, especially in healthcare, is an endurance test. Progress is slow, validation is rare, and setbacks are constant. Those who thrive are the ones who keep going when certainty disappears.

He also emphasizes the importance of mentorship. “Find mentors early,” he says, “and when you finally make it up the mountain, create space to mentor others.” For Blake, success is not only measured by the company you build but by the number of founders you help along the way.

About GrowFL’s Programs

GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch (FLCTW)

The Florida Companies to Watch program, hosted annually by GrowFL, celebrates top second-stage companies across the state for their impressive growth and entrepreneurial success. This prestigious program recognizes 50 standout businesses each year, chosen from hundreds of nominees. Honorees are celebrated for their innovation, economic impact on Florida’s economy, and the ability to scale effectively. Through FLCTW, GrowFL not only acknowledges these companies’ achievements but also brings them into a spotlight that enhances their visibility in the marketplace. The event offers an extraordinary opportunity for networking, sharing best practices, and gaining exposure to potential investors and partners, making it a cornerstone for fostering business growth and recognition within Florida’s vibrant business community.