In Episode 04 of The Decision Room — the Utopia Club podcast for software founders scaling in the US — Ilan Man, founder of Paradox Machines, explains why the biggest players in data and AI ignore an entire market — and how he's building a company on the deals they call "peanuts."The Decision Room is hosted by Gina Kimiza, founder of Utopia Club, a private network for software founders building or entering the US market. Every episode is one founder, one decision, one pivot — told by the founder who made it.In this conversation, we go deep on the mid-market gap in data and AI infrastructure. Palantir and Databricks solve data for billion-dollar companies. Big consultancies won't touch $50K–200K contracts. Ilan spent 20 years building data systems — including helping Brooklyn Data Co. through an acquisition — and now he's bringing enterprise-grade data infrastructure to the companies priced out of the enterprise tier.Paradox Machines is a full-stack data and AI company that embeds lean teams into mid-market businesses and deploys managed data platforms — outcome-based pricing, no billable hours. Backed by Infinity Constellation.What we cover:→ Why he left a post-exit career to become a first-time founder at 20 years in→ The mid-market opportunity: $50K–200K contracts big consulting calls "peanuts"→ Why he chose a venture studio over bootstrapping or raising VC→ The data room playbook: start 3 years before your exit, not 3 months→ How AI collapsed the cost of exit preparation — and what that means for your multiple→ Selling to PE firms and family offices: "Is what you're saying making me money?"→ Why genuine beats polished in professional services sales→ Running a two-founder household — and the stoic system that keeps it working→ His advice for operators who haven't taken the leap yetThe Decision Room is a podcast for software founders building in the US, non-US founders crossing into the US market, B2B operators, investors tracking deal flow, and partners in the GTM, EOR, and founder-network space.About Utopia Club:Utopia Club is a private network for software founders building or entering the US market. Members get curated peer access, monthly decision pods, and a closed community of 200+ software founders. Founded by Gina Kimiza.→ Apply: utopia-club.com→ Decision Room newsletter: fuacollective.substack.comAbout The Decision Room:The Decision Room is the Utopia Club podcast. One founder. One decision. One pivot in the US market — told by the founder who made it. Hosted by Gina Kimiza.→ Follow Kim on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ginakimizaAbout the guest:Ilan Man is the founder of Paradox Machines, a full-stack data and AI company deploying managed data platforms for mid-market businesses. 20 years in data, including helping lead Brooklyn Data Co. through its acquisition. Backed by Infinity Constellation. Based in Brooklyn, New York.→ Follow Ilan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanman/

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