ONE TO ZERO

About the Book

Most business books teach you how to go from zero to one. Almost none tell you why companies go from one… back to zero. Because the truth is simple: Most businesses do not fail at zero. They fail after they become real. They fail when they are already at one. This is not theory. Dr. Kingsley R. Chin writes from decades of building companies, scaling them, and experiencing what happens when success creates risk. Inside are the Top 10 Mistakes that repeatedly take businesses from one back to zero—illustrated through real cases so you can recognize them before they happen to you. If you can see the pattern, you can change the outcome. If you cannot, the result is predictable. From one… back to zero.

About the Author

Dr. Kingsley R. Chin, MD, MBA, is the Founder and CEO of KIC, a private equity firm, and its venture arm, KIC Ventures, focused on investing in and building breakthrough medical technologies in spine surgery. A Harvard Medical School honors graduate with advanced training in orthopedic and spine surgery at Harvard and Cleveland, Dr. Chin has spent decades at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and business. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School leadership development program and holds a degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University. Early in his career, he interned at AT&T Bell Labs and worked on Wall Street as an experienced management consultant at Andersen Consulting, now Accenture, where he developed a foundation in technology and business strategy. Over his career, he has founded and scaled multiple companies from zero to one, secured more than 50 patents, and led innovations that have been used to treat patients worldwide. His companies have generated over $300 million in revenue, including the successful development and sale of the MANTIS percutaneous spinal system to Stryker. Dr. Chin is the driving force behind AxioMed’s viscoelastic disc technology and NANISX’s LESS Exposure Spine Surgery platform, pioneering outpatient spine solutions that are redefining how spine care is delivered. Having experienced both success and failure firsthand—including navigating economic downturns, industry resistance, and significant legal challenges—Dr. Chin brings a practical, hard-earned perspective on what it takes not just to build a business, but to sustain it. He is also the author of multiple books on business and life success. Through his work as an executive leader, entrepreneur, and spine surgeon, Dr. Chin remains committed to building companies that create lasting impact while mentoring the next generation of leaders and innovators.