Ever heard the saying, “Fourth time’s the charm?” For Michael, success wasn’t just about luck, but also unwavering passion and a sprinkle of mad- ness. From teetering on the edge of bankruptcy with a 5-person team to now leading a 700-strong workforce, Orfium’s journey is nothing short of miraculous. Flashback to March 2015: Orfium was born with a mission to champion indie artists. Despite the initial enthusiasm, two years passed with little to no growth. On the brink of calling it quits, a chance meeting with Rob Wells, who would later become Orfium’s CEO, breathed new life into the venture. The team took a leap of faith, quitting their day jobs to dedicate three full months to developing a solution for content license issues on platforms like YouTube. Their tool ensured artists got paid when their content turned a profit. This pivot was a gamechanger. Within three months, they secured their first major client, and Orfium’s trajectory skyrocketed, quadrupling their momentum in just a year. Today, Orfium has cemented its place as a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. With a focus on helping users discover, utilize, monitor, and profit from music content across various platforms, they address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, from digital music rights management to intricate data reporting. Michael’s journey with Orfium is a testament to the rollercoaster that is the startup world. It’s filled with highs, lows, and unexpected turns. But his story underscores a vital lesson: with enough passion and perseverance, challenging situations can become inspiring success stories.