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Mike Malone

Founder, Ready AI

I help trade shops, service businesses, and small manufacturers figure out exactly which AI tools are worth their time—and how to actually implement them.

My Story

Where I Come From

Mike is a finance and strategy executive with 25+ years of experience across management consulting and private capital. He currently serves as Director at Trio Capital Group, overseeing venture capital deal flow and family office advisory. Prior to that, he was Director of Strategy & Operations at KPMG Canada — advising mid-market businesses on operational performance and growth. Earlier in his career he worked as Project Manager at Grant Thornton Guinée. He holds a BA in Economics from Brock University.

Why I Started Ready AI

Having spent years evaluating businesses through a financial lens — at KPMG, at Grant Thornton, and in private capital — I kept seeing the same pattern: owner-operators leaving significant value on the table simply because they lacked the right systems. When AI tools began producing measurable results for trade and service businesses, I built Ready AI to give every business owner access to the kind of rigorous, outcomes-focused analysis usually reserved for large consulting clients.

How I Work

Every engagement starts with understanding the business first — not pitching tools. I dig into your operations, workflows, and financials to find where AI can create measurable impact. Every recommendation I make is run through a single filter: does this tool save more time or make more money than it costs?

Who I Work Best With

Trade shops, HVAC contractors, plumbers, electricians, and service businesses doing $500K–$5M in revenue. Owner-operators who are skeptical of the AI hype but know they need to figure it out before their competitors do.

Background & Credentials

The experience behind the recommendations

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Education

BA Economics, Brock University (1994)

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Years of Experience

25+ years across consulting, finance, and private capital

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Industries

Trade & field services, manufacturing, financial services, small business

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AI Expertise

Hands-on evaluation of 100+ AI tools; focus on ROI-positive implementations for SMBs

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Location

Greater Toronto Area — serving clients across North America

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Clients Served

Trade shops, contractors, and service businesses across Canada and the US

What I Believe

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Specificity beats advice

"Use AI" is not advice. A specific tool name, a monthly cost, and a realistic implementation timeline—that's advice worth paying for.

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Most businesses are already close

Most trade shops and service businesses are 2–3 tools away from dramatically better operations. The hard part is knowing which ones and in what order.

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You don't need to become technical

The best AI tools for small businesses are designed to be used by people who run businesses—not engineers. My job is to find those tools for you.

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ROI is the only metric that matters

Every recommendation I make is filtered through one question: does this tool save more time or make more money than it costs?

Let's Talk

Ready to figure out where AI fits in your business?

Get in touch

Whether you're ready to get started or just want to learn more, I'm happy to have a quick conversation about your business.

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Get a complete AI assessment, strategy, and specific tool recommendations for your business.

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