Podcast

A Founder's Life:

Balancing Entrepreneurship, Family, Health, & Fun​

Podcast

A Founder's Life:

Balancing Entrepreneurship, Family, Health, & Fun​

Why I Don’t Want an Easy Life - Richard Crane - S6 - E8

What does it take to build a company from two people in a room to hundreds across the world?

In this episode, Richard Crane, Founder, CTO, and CAIO of Mill5, shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur, building a global tech company while embracing difficulty instead of comfort.

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Guest Info

Richard Crane is the Founder, CTO, and Chief AI Officer of Mill5, a global technology consulting firm that has grown from two people in a room to 350+ employees across seven countries.

An electrical and computer engineer by training, Richard began his career in startups before spending a decade at Microsoft, where he worked with some of the world’s largest organizations—including NASDAQ, Associated Press, and major healthcare systems—helping them solve high-risk technical challenges and scale complex digital solutions.

After years of helping other companies succeed, Richard made the decision to build his own. In 2015, alongside his long-time collaborator and business partner, he co-founded Mill5, focusing on delivering advanced software, AI-driven solutions, and digital transformation for enterprise clients.

Richard is deeply passionate about continuous learning, innovation, and pushing boundaries, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. He was an early advocate for AI adoption within his organization, requiring his teams to integrate AI into their workflows years before it became mainstream.

Beyond business, Richard is committed to personal growth, health, and discipline, having undergone a major health transformation that reshaped how he approaches both life and leadership.

His philosophy is simple but uncompromising: comfort is the enemy, growth requires challenge, and success comes from continuously investing in yourself.

Show Notes

About this Episode

What does it take to build a company from two people in a room to hundreds across the world?

In this episode, Richard Crane, Founder, CTO, and CAIO of Mill5, shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur, building a global tech company while embracing difficulty instead of comfort.

Highlights

  • Early Career: Electrical and computer engineer who worked in startups and Microsoft.
  • Big Challenge: Navigating failed startups and high-pressure consulting roles.
  • Turning Point: Launching Mill5 with a long-term business partner.
  • Personal Growth: Transforming his health after a major wake-up call.
  • Business Success: Scaling Mill5 to 350 employees across seven countries.
  • Core Philosophy: Embracing discomfort and continuous self-improvement.

Resources

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Richard Crane

LinkedIn
 
Instagram
 
YouTube (Inventing Fire with AI)
 
Blog (Inventing Fire with AI)
 
Business Website (MILL5)

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