Mike Paulus of Encore Investments is today's guest, who's a successful entrepreneur in the FinTech sector. Mike shares his journey of bootstrapping businesses, emphasising the importance of customer focus, identifying overlooked problems, and leveraging technology, particularly AI, to enhance business efficiency. He discusses the significance of metrics in driving growth and the strategic approach of choosing the right customers for long-term success. Mike's insights provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complexities of business growth and customer satisfaction.

Takeaways
Bootstrapping is viable in certain industries, but not all.
Customer focus is crucial; measure and improve customer satisfaction.
Identify overlooked problems in less competitive markets.
Leverage technology and AI to enhance business efficiency.
Choose customers wisely; long-term relationships matter.
Understand your business's unit economics for sustainable growth.
Be self-critical and continuously seek improvement.
Invest in technology to streamline operations and improve service.
Measure everything; data-driven decisions lead to success.
A positive mindset and a focus on incremental improvements are key.

Chapters

00:00 Bootstrapping Success: The Journey Begins
09:05 Customer Focus: The Heart of Business
15:59 Identifying Overlooked Problems: Fishing in Your Own Pond
25:00 AI in Business: Embracing Technology for Efficiency
30:02 Choosing Your Customers: Building Meaningful Relationships

Mike Paulus in his own words

Michael Paulus is a recognised corporate leader who built two successful financial technology companies, which collectively report on more than $6 trillion of assets. Michael’s previous ventures have helped millions of Americans meet their financial goals and asset protection needs.

Michael is a financial thought leader, who holds two patents for his innovations in financial technology. Both of these inventions help financial institutions and advisors better understand and manage client portfolios.

Michael is a graduate of Stanford University, where he combined his love of finance and technology to earn an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Management Science and Engineering. While at Stanford, Michael helped manage the Charles R. Blyth Fund, a student-run investment portfolio that invests a portion of Stanford University's nearly $37 billion endowment.

Michael has deep expertise in alternative investments, including experience as a Partner at Andreessen-Horowitz, a leading Venture Capital firm that manages more than $42 billion and a General Partner at ACG, a real estate firm responsible for more than $2 billion of developed properties.

PCM Encore (Encore Investment)

Hawx Pest Control

Listen to other episodes of The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight here. And if you’re a business owner focussed on improving the marketing of your business then you’ll love The Small Business Big Marketing Podcast which you can listen to here.

Thanks for tuning in. May your business shine.

Tim Reid

Mike Paulus of Encore Investments is today's guest, who's a successful entrepreneur in the FinTech sector. Mike shares his journey of bootstrapping businesses, emphasising the importance of customer focus, identifying overlooked problems, and leveraging technology, particularly AI, to enhance business efficiency. He discusses the significance of metrics in driving growth and the strategic approach of choosing the right customers for long-term success. Mike's insights provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complexities of business growth and customer satisfaction.
Takeaways
<ul>
<li>Bootstrapping is viable in certain industries, but not all.</li>
<li>Customer focus is crucial; measure and improve customer satisfaction.</li>
<li>Identify overlooked problems in less competitive markets.</li>
<li>Leverage technology and AI to enhance business efficiency.</li>
<li>Choose customers wisely; long-term relationships matter.</li>
<li>Understand your business's unit economics for sustainable growth.</li>
<li>Be self-critical and continuously seek improvement.</li>
<li>Invest in technology to streamline operations and improve service.</li>
<li>Measure everything; data-driven decisions lead to success.</li>
<li>A positive mindset and a focus on incremental improvements are key.</li>
</ul>
Chapters
00:00 Bootstrapping Success: The Journey Begins 09:05 Customer Focus: The Heart of Business 15:59 Identifying Overlooked Problems: Fishing in Your Own Pond 25:00 AI in Business: Embracing Technology for Efficiency 30:02 Choosing Your Customers: Building Meaningful Relationships
Mike Paulus in his own words
Michael Paulus is a recognised corporate leader who built two successful financial technology companies, which collectively report on more than $6 trillion of assets. Michael&rsquo;s previous ventures have helped millions of Americans meet their financial goals and asset protection needs.
Michael is a financial thought leader, who holds two patents for his innovations in financial technology. Both of these inventions help financial institutions and advisors better understand and manage client portfolios.
Michael is a graduate of Stanford University, where he combined his love of finance and technology to earn an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Master&rsquo;s degree in Management Science and Engineering. While at Stanford, Michael helped manage the Charles R. Blyth Fund, a student-run investment portfolio that invests a portion of Stanford University's nearly $37 billion endowment.
Michael has deep expertise in alternative investments, including experience as a Partner at Andreessen-Horowitz, a leading Venture Capital firm that manages more than $42 billion and a General Partner at ACG, a real estate firm responsible for more than $2 billion of developed properties.
<a href="https://encoreinvestment.com/">PCM Encore (Encore Investment)</a>
<a href="https://hawxpestcontrol.com/">Hawx Pest Control</a>
Listen to other episodes of&nbsp;The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight&nbsp;<a href="https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/podcasts/spotlight/">here</a>.&nbsp;And if you&rsquo;re a business owner focussed on improving the marketing of your business then you&rsquo;ll love&nbsp;The Small Business Big Marketing Podcast&nbsp;which you can&nbsp;<a href="https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/podcasts/">listen to here.</a>
Thanks for tuning in. May your business shine.
Tim Reid

I’m in awe of business owners & founders. Some are self-confessed unemployable, unable to work for the man, so they risk it all to market their dream, idea, or a solution to others’ problems. Others plan their escape to entrepreneurship whilst trapped inside a corporate cubicle. Having spent 25 years as a corporate monster myself, and another 15 running my own successful business, 'The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight' podcast is laser-focussed on bringing business owners real stories of the ups and downs of growing a business they love in 2025 and beyond. No sugar-coatings, no fancy lingo; just practical insights and tips across all aspects of business - Marketing, HR, tech, finance, scaling, to name a few. Thank you for listening … Tim Reid (Your curious host).

Connect with Tim Reid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjreid

Be a Guest: https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/contact

Book Tim Reid: https://timreid.com.au

I&rsquo;m in awe of business owners &amp; founders. Some are self-confessed unemployable, unable to work for the man, so they risk it all to market their dream, idea, or a solution to others&rsquo; problems. Others plan their escape to entrepreneurship whilst trapped inside a corporate cubicle. Having spent 25 years as a corporate monster myself, and another 15 running my own successful business, 'The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight' podcast is laser-focussed on bringing business owners real stories of the ups and downs of growing a business they love in 2025 and beyond. No sugar-coatings, no fancy lingo; just practical insights and tips across all aspects of business - Marketing, HR, tech, finance, scaling, to name a few. Thank you for listening &hellip; Tim Reid (Your curious host).
Connect with Tim Reid: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjreid">https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjreid</a>
Be a Guest: <a href="https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/contact">https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/contact</a>
Book Tim Reid: https://timreid.com.au

Real stories of the ups & downs of growing a business in 2025 and beyond. No sugar-coatings, no fancy lingo; just practical insights and tips across all aspects of business from those in the know.

The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight with Tim Reid

I’m in awe of business owners & founders. Some are self-confessed unemployable, unable to work for the man, so they risk it all to market their dream, idea, or a solution to others’ problems. Others plan their escape to entrepreneurship whilst trapped inside a corporate cubicle. Having spent 25 years as a corporate monster myself, and another 15 running my own successful business, 'The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight' podcast is laser-focussed on bringing business owners honest stories of the ups and downs of growing a business they love in 2024 and beyond. No sugar-coatings, no fancy lingo; just practical insights and tips across all aspects of business - Marketing, HR, tech, finance, scaling, to name a few. Thank you for listening … Tim Reid (Your curious host).

Connect with Tim Reid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjreid

Be a Guest: https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/contact

Book Tim Reid to speak or emcee at your next conference: https://timreid.com.au

I’m in awe of business owners &amp; founders. Some are self-confessed unemployable, unable to work for the man, so they risk it all to market their dream, idea, or a solution to others’ problems. Others plan their escape to entrepreneurship whilst trapped inside a corporate cubicle. Having spent 25 years as a corporate monster myself, and another 15 running my own successful business, 'The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight' podcast is laser-focussed on bringing business owners honest stories of the ups and downs of growing a business they love in 2024 and beyond. No sugar-coatings, no fancy lingo; just practical insights and tips across all aspects of business - Marketing, HR, tech, finance, scaling, to name a few. Thank you for listening … Tim Reid (Your curious host).
Connect with Tim Reid: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjreid">https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjreid</a>
Be a Guest: <a href="https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/contact">https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/contact</a>
Book Tim Reid to speak or emcee at your next conference: https://timreid.com.au

The Small Business Big Marketing Spotlight

Mike Paulus of Encore Investments is today's guest, who's a successful entrepreneur in the FinTech sector. Mike shares his journey of bootstrapping businesses, emphasising the importance of customer focus, identifying overlooked problems, and leveraging technology, particularly AI, to enhance business efficiency. He discusses the significance of metrics in driving growth and the strategic approach of choosing the right customers for long-term success. Mike's insights provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complexities of business growth and customer satisfaction.

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