"Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be a privilege. Mika simplifies bureaucracy and financial management, empowering businesses to thrive."

Agnieszka’s journey from a young immigrant entrepreneur in Germany to the founder of mika is one of resilience and innovation. Frustrated by the bureaucracy that stifles small business growth, she created mika, an AI-powered financial co-pilot that simplifies financial management and empowers entrepreneurs.

In this interview, Agnieszka shares how her experiences shaped mika, her leadership lessons, and her vision for AI’s role in creating a fairer, more accessible future for business owners.

1. What inspired you to create mika, and how did your previous entrepreneurship experience influence it?

Mika was born out of my own frustration as a young immigrant entrepreneur in Germany. Bootstrapping my first business, I was shocked by how much time I spent navigating bureaucracy instead of growing the company. Even after scaling and selling that business, I never escaped the constant fear of making mistakes I didn’t even understand—because in financial management, complexity and opacity rule. One wrong step can have severe consequences.

This problem isn’t just frustrating; it creates a privilege gap in entrepreneurship. Access to traditional expertise is expensive and limited, and for those without the resources, bureaucracy becomes a major roadblock. I believe this is fundamentally unfair. That’s why I’m so passionate about mika: bureaucracy and financial management shouldn’t be what holds great businesses back.

With my background in financial services and leading the development of complex, data-heavy products, I understand not only the scope of this problem but also the tools we need to solve it. I also have a deep conviction that AI can be a powerful driver of financial inclusion. mika is part of the emerging category of vertical agents—AI-powered tools designed to eliminate unnecessary, complex manual work. By automating repetitive financial tasks and offering affordable, proactive advice in plain language, mika acts as a financial co-pilot, leveling the playing field and helping small business owners thrive.

2. As the founder and CEO of Mika, how would you describe your leadership style, and how has it evolved since the company’s founding?

My leadership style is constantly evolving—and it started rough. I led my first team when I was 21, and honestly, I sucked at it. Over the years, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) how to better balance being demanding with being supportive. That said, I’m still not the right boss for everyone.

As a startup founder, my time for hands-on management is limited. People who have high agency, who want independence, and who aren’t afraid to make mistakes—and own them will thrive in my team. For people who need someone to micromanage or tell you what to do step by step, I’m probably not their dream boss.

For me, leadership is about empowering people to succeed on their own terms while holding them to high standards. One of my proudest moments was helping a colleague who was on the brink of leaving during a tough personal time. They said, “She inspired a future for me and gave me belief in myself, even while being strictly focused on performance and effort.” That sums it up pretty well: I demand a lot, but I also try to make sure people feel they have a partner in me as they rise to the challenge.

3. What excites you most about the future of AI in business, and are there any developments you’re particularly looking forward to?

What excites me most is AI’s ability to close long-standing gaps in access and opportunity. Generative AI, especially autonomous agents, has the power to democratize financial expertise, making complex systems understandable and accessible to everyone. Imagine a future where AI not only explains financial concepts in plain language but also takes over time-consuming tasks like compliance management or financial optimization—giving people the freedom to focus on what truly matters.

This future isn’t hypothetical—it’s already taking shape. Entrepreneurs worldwide are leveraging AI to transform investment advice, personal finance management, and small business tools, breaking down barriers that once seemed insurmountable. At mika, for example, we’re building AI-powered agents to help small businesses tackle financial and bureaucratic hurdles, empowering founders to focus on growth instead of red tape.

But to fully realize this transformative potential, we need diversity in who builds and funds these solutions. Homogeneous teams risk embedding old biases into new technology, perpetuating inequality at scale. Diverse perspectives ensure that the tools we create address the needs of everyone, not just a privileged few. If we design AI thoughtfully and inclusively, it won’t just make processes simpler—it will create a fairer, more equitable future for all.

4. You’ve mentored a lot of young entrepreneurs. If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring founders who are in the startup journey, what would it be?

I love the quote from Pippi Longstocking: “I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.” That mindset has served me well—from moving out on my own at 14 to building and selling my first company.

My advice? Don’t believe in things that require belief to be true. Believe in probabilities and understand that a good decision doesn’t always lead to a good outcome. As a founder, you’ll face countless challenges, uncertainties, and moments of doubt. Success comes from growing with every new challenge, not from avoiding them.

Focus on solving real problems that you understand deeply. When you start from what you know, you can bring truly innovative solutions to the table. And don’t expect to have everything figured out from the start. Being a founder is about determination—learning what you don’t know, prioritizing what matters most, and having the resilience to keep going when things inevitably get tough.

Thank you Agnieszka for the Interview and insights !