Welcome to The Engine - Founders' Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen is joined by Mike Adams, Founder & CEO of introstars, and Founder & Startup Mentor at Skyler Gotham. This platform rewards people for making warm business introductions and is quickly growing across London and New York. Mike shares how he went from being a shy, introverted teen to a top networker attending over a thousand events. He talks about his experience at Zoom during its rapid growth and how it shaped his startup. Mike also explains the value of building real relationships and offers tips for overcoming the fear of networking.

In this episode, Mike shares his journey from being a shy, tech-loving teen to becoming a super connector and founder of Introstars, a platform that rewards people for making warm business introductions. He explains how attending over a thousand networking events led him to see the true power of trusted connections. Mike also talks about his time at Zoom, where he built partner programs across Europe and learned how to scale fast. He offers tips for founders on how to network with purpose, avoid burnout, and build strong relationships that support both business and personal growth.

Key Takeaways:

Mike's journey from shy gamer to top networker and founder of Introstars.
The platform rewards users for making warm business introductions.
Networking is seen as a way to build trust, not just gain clients.
Success comes from real connections, not cold outreach or hard sales.
Founders should balance hard work with self-care to avoid burnout.

Additional Insights:

Growing up in a family business gave Mike early exposure to entrepreneurship.
His experience at Zoom taught him how to build and scale partnerships fast.
Making introductions is both a way to help others and build a strong reputation.
Founders should join events for energy and support, not just leads.
Mike believes in a future where connecting people becomes a valued side gig.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

“Everyone loves to connect people because you are solving a puzzle.” - Mike Adams
“You are not trying to sell, you are trying to build a relationship.” - Mike Adams
“In the age of AI, human trust becomes even more important.” - Mike Adams

Join Mike as he shares how his passion for connecting people led to introstars, a platform that rewards warm business introductions and helps founders grow through real relationships built on trust.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] - Teaser

[00:58] - Donna’s Introduction and Excitement for the Episode

[03:04] - The Human Nature of Connecting and Solving Puzzles

[05:03] - Shifting Focus to Mike’s Personal Founder Story

[09:42] - The Power of Relationships vs. Cold Outreach

[13:09] - Why Sales Leaders Should Rethink Networking Metrics

[19:28] - Career Highlights: Apple, HP, and Hypergrowth at Zoom

[23:40] - Burnout, Purpose, and Maintaining Balance

[26:24] - Networking as Self-Care and a Non-Negotiable Priority

[32:51] - Tools for Finding Events: Luma and Meetup.com

[35:27] - The Evolution of Networking: From Transactional to Purpose-Driven

[38:15] - Mike’s Vision: Building the “Intro Economy.”

[40:43] - How to Get Involved: LinkedIn, Intro Stars, and Badges

[42:14] - The Future Side Gig: Being an Introducer in the Age of AI

[44:41] - Closing Remarks

FOLLOW THE GUEST & HIS COMPANY:

Mike Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/supermike/
introstars: https://www.linkedin.com/company/introstars/
Skyler Gotham: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skylergotham/

FOLLOW THE HOST:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnalowen/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-engine-growth/
Website: https://www.theengine.uk/
Email: donna@theengine.uk