#486 The Brave Leap: Michael Cutajar on Automating Accounting with AI Agents & Building with Purpose

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Michael Cutajar, CEO of AI Partners, who’s on a mission to fix the broken world of accounting through the power of AI agents. From his early days as a PwC accountant in Malta to founding multiple startups—including a VR venture and now an AI-driven automation company—Michael shares what it takes to go from employee to entrepreneur, how to close six-figure enterprise deals, and why cultural resistance to failure is holding regions like Europe and MENA back. 🎯 What You’ll Learn • Why the accounting industry is broken—and how AI agents can fix it • How to sell automation without triggering fear of job loss • Michael’s approach to closing large deals through trust and patience • Why he traveled to Silicon Valley to build founder confidence • How to reframe failure as feedback • The hidden importance of storytelling in tech entrepreneurship • Why personal touch still matters in a world of AI ⸻ 🧠 Key Takeaways • “Build for free to earn trust” can break through even the most skeptical industries • Defensibility in AI isn’t just about code—it’s about context, geography, and relationships • Europe’s fear of failure is cultural, not intellectual—founders need a new narrative • The future of junior roles in accounting (and tech) is advisory, not operational 👤 About the Guest Michael Cutajar is the founder and CEO of AI Partners, a startup creating AI agents tailored for finance and accounting workflows. A qualified accountant turned tech entrepreneur, Michael is passionate about solving real-world problems with automation and building in public with a practical, test-first mindset. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcutajar/ https://www.ai-partners.ai/ 🕒 Episode Highlights (Timestamps) 00:00 – Intro & Michael’s background 02:30 – From accounting to entrepreneurship 04:45 – Spotting opportunities in AI automation 06:15 – Why accounting is a broken industry 07:40 – Real-world impact of AI agents (150% efficiency gains) 09:30 – Selling automation without triggering fear 11:00 – Lessons from closing six-figure enterprise deals 13:00 – Playing with pricing models in an evolving AI economy 14:50 – Can Big Tech kill your AI startup? 16:30 – Will AI make purchasing decisions? 17:30 – Are junior accounting jobs disappearing? 19:00 – How Michael built confidence through pitching 20:30 – Going to Silicon Valley for real-world feedback 22:00 – Why failure is taboo in Europe and MENA 26:30 – How to change a risk-averse culture 29:00 – Why schools need entrepreneurship education 31:00 – AI Partners’ roadmap and UK expansion 32:00 – The truth about “one-person unicorns” 37:00 – Final thoughts: Learn, test, and take the leap