For most entrepreneurs, the road to success is neither straight nor smooth. It’s full of twists, obstacles, and moments of uncertainty. Yet for Mike Liu, the founder and driving force behind FreeFuse, each obstacle was a lesson, and each twist an opportunity to adapt and innovate. His story is one of resilience, experimentation, and ultimately, thoughtful growth—a testament to how passion for an idea can blossom into a thriving business when approached with intention and flexibility.
In our recent conversation, Mike opened up about the evolution of FreeFuse, the pivotal moments that defined his entrepreneurial path, and the insights he’s gleaned along the way.
Building on Insights, Not Big Ideas
Mike is quick to dispel the myth that all successful businesses are born from grand ideas or are destined to become billion-dollar tech unicorns. “A lot of good ideas are happy accidents,” he says, highlighting a crucial reality often overlooked by aspiring entrepreneurs. “When people think of entrepreneurship, they think ‘big tech,’ but I believe there are plenty of fantastic businesses that can provide financial freedom and personal fulfillment without fitting into that mold.”
For Mike, the key to starting any business isn’t necessarily to chase the next big thing, but to identify insights that hold value for people. “It’s not about creating something that’ll make you a billionaire overnight. It’s about asking: Is this insight valuable? Will people actually use it? And eventually, can it be distributed effectively so that it pays the bills?”
His own journey began with that very mindset. As a PhD student, Mike found himself captivated by the intersection of video interactivity and education. His early experiments aimed to combine the full agency of a video game with the passive experience of watching a film. He was inspired by early adopters of interactive storytelling, such as Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and even MongoDB’s choose-your-own-adventure promotional experiences.
From Prototype to Purpose: Early Experiments with FreeFuse
“I was working with what I had,” Mike recalls with a chuckle. He initially tested his interactive video concept using an Amazon Echo Show, a device designed for video calls and voice commands. While the tech didn’t quite fit, the feedback from users was promising. “People were engaged. That was a huge validation for me. They enjoyed making choices and interacting with the content. That was the first step.”
Still, the limitations of the Echo Show became apparent quickly. “I had people on Zoom, screen-sharing their way through my tests with the device—it was kind of ridiculous in hindsight,” he laughs. The lessons learned during this phase, however, pushed him to develop FreeFuse as a software solution instead, one that could work across platforms, without relying on clunky hardware.
Then came COVID-19. For many, the pandemic stifled productivity, but for Mike, it was a catalyst. “Lockdown gave me more time to reflect and focus on the product. I wasn’t going out much anyway, so I just threw myself into refining FreeFuse.” His timing was serendipitous: the rise of TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels indicated a shift toward shorter, more interactive content. Mike knew there was a growing market for interactive learning and corporate training—he just needed to find the right application.
Pivoting from Education to Corporate Training
Initially, Mike sought to use FreeFuse in the education space. In early 2021, he ran a pilot program in collaboration with two university classes, testing the software with over 200 students. “I wasn’t charging anyone—I just needed data,” he explains. Over the course of the semester, students made more than 30,000 interactions with the software, and the results were telling. “Grades improved, nobody failed the course, and we saw a lot more engagement with the material.”
Despite these positive outcomes, Mike ran into institutional roadblocks. “Universities can be slow to adopt new technologies, even if the people developing them are from their own programs. There’s so much red tape.” Faced with these frustrations, he made a strategic pivot. “Corporate training was a much better fit,” he says. “Companies were more open to trying something new, and they had the budgets to back it.”
This shift turned out to be the right move. FreeFuse found success in the corporate world, offering a way for businesses to create engaging, interactive training materials. By allowing users to personalize their learning paths and engage with content in a meaningful way, FreeFuse brought a much-needed innovation to a traditionally stale field.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Mike is candid about the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned in the early stages of FreeFuse. “I’ve always been a person of action—someone who wants to take the next step before all the pieces are in place,” he admits. “Sometimes that’s good; it gets you moving. But other times, it can lead you down a path without a proper plan.”
One key lesson, he says, is the importance of strategic thought. “When I started out, I didn’t fully appreciate the power of partnerships and alliances. Now I see that collaborating with the right people, leveraging their expertise and networks, can accelerate growth in ways I hadn’t anticipated.”
A prime example of this shift is FreeFuse’s expansion into medical education. Through partnerships, Mike and his team were able to introduce their interactive platform into healthcare training, a space that values precise, effective learning tools. “Medical education was a natural fit for us. We partnered with a group that had the industry contacts we needed, and together, we created a comprehensive solution. That’s when I realized the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of FreeFuse
As FreeFuse enters its next phase, Mike is optimistic about what’s to come. He’s focused on continuing to expand through strategic partnerships, particularly in industries like franchising, where turnover is high and training needs are constant. “Franchises have been really interested in what we’re doing. They need tools that help them train new hires quickly and consistently. We’re building systems that integrate directly with their workflows.”
His vision for 2025 is ambitious, yet grounded in the lessons he’s learned. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredibly smart people, and that’s strengthened not only my product but also my understanding of how to build a successful business. The insights I’ve gathered have transformed into innovations, and I’ve been lucky enough to have the right partners along the way to help us scale.”
Mike also remains committed to education, where FreeFuse began. Now that the platform has gained traction in corporate settings, he hopes to circle back to academia and work with institutions more ready to embrace new technology. “Education is still a big part of what we do. It’s just a matter of timing.”
Final Thoughts: Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When asked what advice he would offer to those just starting out, Mike is reflective. “Don’t rush into things without a plan, but don’t let the fear of imperfection stop you from moving forward either. The best ideas come from action. You’ll make mistakes—that’s inevitable—but those mistakes are often where the real learning happens.”
He also emphasizes the importance of adaptability. “You might start out with one vision, but it will evolve. Be flexible enough to adjust your strategy based on the feedback you get. That’s how FreeFuse grew—it wasn’t a straight line, but every twist and turn taught me something valuable.”
Ultimately, Mike Liu’s entrepreneurial journey is one of adaptability, thoughtful growth, and leveraging the power of partnerships. His story is a reminder to fellow entrepreneurs that success is rarely instant, but with persistence, innovation, and the right support, it is always within reach.
