About me
The Beginning: “Why Can’t It Be Me?”
Hi, I’m Finley. I recently turned 17, and I’m currently five months into building my own AI Automation Agency. No roadmap. No investors. Just a passion for AI and a mission to help businesses unlock the time, freedom, and focus they deserve. But it didn’t start there.
My journey began by asking myself one simple question:
"Why can't it be me?"
I kept seeing young entrepreneurs all across social media succeed, and I asked myself a few very simple and easy questions:
Why can't it be me?
Why can’t I build something big?
Why can’t I help businesses grow?
Why can’t I unlock more freedom and impact?
Why can’t I be the young entrepreneur living his dream life?
There are way too many “Why can’t it be me?” moments in life… until one day, you decide it can.
So I decided it could.
From the Lake District to the Digital World
Hi, I’m Finley - and this is the story of how I am growing a real AI business as a school student.
Why AI?
Whilst all this was happening, I saw that AI was booming and I knew that It was going to be the future. So I decided to learn how to use it, and use it properly.
I first heard about AI in my GCSE Computer Science class when ChatGPT launched. At the time, I didn’t realise how huge it was. But months later, it has come back into my life, and this time, it's stuck.
I started by learning how to use Make.com and Voiceflow. I was making pretty cool workflow automations and chatbots, I knew these would be valuable for business, but with no prior business experience, I didn't know how.
My First Step into Business.
After spending weeks learning the tools, I realised I needed to start doing something with them.
So, I did something simple but scary:
I posted on LinkedIn.
To my surprise, people responded. That first post marked the beginning of building my personal brand; one post, one conversation, one connection at a time. I discovered that when you put yourself out there, people are willing to support you..
Learning from the best.
To further my knowledge on starting a business, I went on Callum Carver's Skill to Profit online course, as I thought to get the best shot of creating a successful business, I may as well learn from someone who's done it before.
On the course, I learnt how to do lots of useful things.
I learned how to make an offer and how to make it irresistible. I learned how to properly understand what my clients want and how I can help them achieve their goals, and I also learned the basics of sales and marketing.
This course, combined with my own experimentation and learning, grew my understanding of business and allowed my dreams of running a business to get realer and realer.
Read. Learn. Grow
Around the same time, I started reading, which is surprising for me. I hated reading during lower school, but these books were shaping me into a new version of myself, building my mindset and transforming my perspective on things.
The first ever business book I read was Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It taught me valuable lessons about investing in skills, making money work for you, and taking calculated risks.
After that, I read What's Your Dream by Simon Squibb which taught me that no one’s going to hand you your dream. You have to go out and build it yourself. It made me realise that starting doesn’t require permission, funding, or even clarity, just action. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to begin. That book helped me believe that even at 16, I could build something real. That my age wasn’t a limitation, it was an opportunity.
Where I am now.
Right now, I’m in the early days of building Expanza, figuring things out one step at a time. Over the past few months, I’ve spoken to dozens of business owners, asked for advice from people much further ahead than me, and slowly started to understand what it really takes to build a business that solves real problems. I’ve tried things that didn’t work. I’ve changed direction. I’ve battled with doubt. But I’ve also learned more than I ever thought I would. I’ve recently signed my first client, which feels like a massive step forward.
What I’m building with Expanza is simple:
A business that helps other businesses. Specifically, helping them unlock time, reduce stress, and grow, all by using the power of AI and automation.
This isn’t the finished product. It’s just the beginning.
“I’m building in public, learning as I go, and doing my best to share the journey with honesty.
If you’re a business owner curious about AI, or you’re just figuring things out like I am, feel free to reach out. I’m always up for a conversation, sharing ideas, or learning something new.
Curious about how AI could streamline your business?
Or maybe you’ve got advice, ideas, or feedback to share?
I’d love to hear from you, whether you’re looking to explore AI, automation, collaborate on a project, or simply support a young founder learning and growing in the space.
Fill in the form or drop me an email. Let’s start the conversation.
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Expanza by Finley Stephenson
