The First Customer - Why Picking a Niche Early Can Make or Break Your Agency with CEO James Griffin

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview James Griffin, CEO of Invene. James shares how he transitioned from a self-taught coder with early entrepreneurial tendencies to leading a successful healthcare-focused software firm. Raised in an engineering-driven household in McKinney, Texas, James initially pursued biomedical engineering before shifting to computer science, eventually leveraging a full-ride college scholarship to start several ventures. His turning point came after a mentor introduced him to a company needing software support—leading to his first $10,000 consulting client. While balancing this opportunity with a struggling product startup, James leaned into healthcare after discovering it was the most responsive and financially viable industry, allowing him to bootstrap Invene. Throughout the conversation, James emphasizes the importance of focus and specialization. He candidly advises agency owners to stop being indecisive and commit to a niche, explaining how his early decision to focus solely on healthcare unlocked higher value clients and stronger referrals. Drawing from his own experience and conversations with other agency founders, James outlines a three-pronged framework for specialization: choosing what energizes you, what motivates your team, and what generates the most profit. Let"s crack the code and uncover James Griffins" unstoppable mindset in this episode of The First Customer! Guest Info: Invene http://www.invene.com James Griffin"s LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/jamesgriffin3/ Connect with Jay on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/ The First Customer Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast The First Customer podcast website https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/