The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu #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
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🧠 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/
🕒 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