In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, AI and automation are redefining how small businesses and startups thrive. Franklin Kamnang Ngansop, Founder and CEO of Vitamin CS Coaching, is at the forefront of this transformation, helping entrepreneurs leverage these technologies to grow smarter, faster, and more efficiently. In this interview, Franklin shares his insights on the future of small business, from AI-driven strategies to the art of crafting the perfect investor pitch. He also offers practical advice on overcoming common scaling pitfalls and highlights the leadership traits that set successful entrepreneurs apart.
Your coaching philosophy at Vitamin CS Coaching seems deeply personal and transformational. What inspired you to dedicate your career to mentoring entrepreneurs, and how do you measure the success of your coaching approach?
My coaching journey has been deeply personal and transformative, shaped by a mix of passion, struggle, and a relentless desire to make a meaningful difference. Coming from a corporate background, I had the incredible opportunity to contribute to launching new product lines and ventures. These innovations were exciting, but time and time again, we faced the harsh reality that market success was never guaranteed, no matter how groundbreaking our ideas were. That lesson became even clearer when I transitioned into starting my own business. Despite pouring my heart, soul, and energy into it—along with a deep sense of motivation—the path was far harder than I ever imagined. I lacked the resources, the strategic and operational insights, and the very “magic” that would have guided me through the chaos.
But, as painful as those setbacks were, they became the foundation of everything I do today. I realized that success isn’t about avoiding failure, but about learning from it. I decided to leap into formal training, enrolling in Europe’s top business school, HEC Paris, where I honed my expertise in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I didn’t stop there. I took my knowledge, tested it, and applied it to my business through countless accelerators where I had the privilege to coach and mentor hundreds of entrepreneurs. It was through these experiences that I found my true calling. Today, I proudly stand as one of the top 1% of business coaches globally, with awards and glowing testimonials as proof of the lives and businesses transformed through my work.
When it comes to measuring success, I have developed a deeply results-oriented approach that’s both quantifiable and emotionally impactful. Here’s how I measure the success of my coaching:
- Real, Measurable Impact: The results of my client’s experience speak louder than any words ever could. On average, my clients have achieved over 57% revenue growth and 65% profit increases in just three months post-coaching. These are not just numbers—they represent real businesses thriving, expanding, and becoming more competitive in their markets. These results affirm that my coaching isn’t just advice; it’s a transformation.
- Client Satisfaction and Emotional Fulfillment: I don’t just look at the business metrics—I listen to my clients. 98% of my clients report being not only satisfied but deeply fulfilled by the experience. They value how we tailor each journey to their needs, and how we adjust, adapt, and provide that unwavering support when they need it most. For me, client satisfaction is an emotional bond, and it’s through this deep connection that lasting change happens.
- Client Testimonials and Success Stories: I’m immensely proud of the stories my clients share. Many of them speak to how my coaching has clarified their vision, helped them navigate uncertainty, and given them the tools to tackle even the toughest challenges. Their testimonials are a testament to the transformative nature of our work together—they speak of revenue boosts, strengthened market positions, and clearer investor relations. Each one of these stories fuels my passion to keep going.
- Public Recognition and Social Media Buzz: In today’s world, social media is a mirror that reflects how deeply my clients value our work together. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter serve as spaces where entrepreneurs openly share their successes and endorsements of my coaching. Seeing them proudly stand by the work we’ve done together, and seeing how they leverage our partnership to grow and shine, is both humbling and inspiring.
- Ongoing Client Retention and Referrals: Client loyalty speaks volumes. I am fortunate enough to witness repeat engagements from my clients—returning for additional coaching as they grow—and seeing them refer me to other founders and businesses. The fact that my clients trust me with their next steps is the ultimate validation that the coaching experience we have is not just a service but a lifelong partnership.
The impact of my coaching goes far beyond the surface—it’s about transformation, growth, and the lasting legacy we create together. The results my clients achieve are not just numbers—they are a reflection of the emotional journey we walk together. From struggles to triumph, from uncertainty to clarity, my work is about more than just business—it’s about helping people unlock their fullest potential. That’s the true measure of success.
Many entrepreneurs struggle with self-doubt and decision fatigue. What are some of the most effective mindset shifts or strategies you’ve seen help business owners regain confidence and clarity?
From Overwhelm to Unstoppable: How Entrepreneurs Conquer Self-Doubt & Decision Fatigue
I’ve seen it over and over. Entrepreneurs start their businesses with passion, vision, and relentless drive—only to find themselves drowning in a sea of decisions, second-guessing everything.
Should I pivot?
Can I afford to hire?
Is this marketing strategy a mistake?
What if I fail?
The weight of constant choices turns into exhaustion. Even the smallest tasks—choosing a logo color, refining messaging, adjusting a sales funnel—start to feel like impossible mountains. Decision fatigue creeps in. Self-doubt takes over. Paralysis sets in.
The reality? The most successful entrepreneurs aren’t those who work the hardest or make the fewest mistakes. They’re the ones who focus on what truly moves the needle, simplify decisions, and build unstoppable momentum.
How I Help Entrepreneurs Break Free & Reclaim Their Power
At Vitamin CS Coaching, we don’t just help founders make decisions. We help them make the right decisions—quickly, effectively, and with confidence.
The 80/20 Rule: Focus on the Few That Drive the Many
Most entrepreneurs drown in a never-ending to-do list, believing they must tackle everything to succeed. That’s a trap. The truth is, that 80% of results come from just 20% of actions (Pareto Principle). Instead of chasing 100,000 tasks, we cut through the noise and zero in on the high-impact moves—the ones that create exponential results.
Prioritization Over Perfection
Entrepreneurs often waste time trying to perfect the wrong things while ignoring the strategic decisions that fuel growth. We teach them how to:
- Separate urgent from important
- Eliminate the non-essential
- Make bold, effective decisions without hesitation
This shift alone transforms businesses overnight.
“To-Do List Burnout” to Meaningful Execution
A never-ending checklist is not a strategy. We replace overwhelming to-do lists with laser-focused execution:
- What are the 3 game-changing actions today?
- What will create the most impact this week?
- What can be automated, delegated, or ignored?
When entrepreneurs stop chasing everything and start executing what truly matters, clarity and confidence skyrocket.
Decisions Should Be a Power Move, Not a Drain
Every decision burns energy. Wasted decisions drain entrepreneurs, while focused decisions empower them. That’s why we implement powerful routines, automation, and mental clarity techniques to help founders:
- Make smarter, faster choices
- Reduce mental clutter
- Reserve their energy for high-impact thinking and leadership
Over Just “Getting Things Done”
It’s not just about checking off tasks—it’s about building something meaningful. We help entrepreneurs align their work with their deepest values, mission, and purpose, so every action is driven by clarity and conviction, not just obligation.
The result?
- Confidence replaces self-doubt.
- Decisiveness replaces hesitation.
- Purpose replaces exhaustion.
Entrepreneurs stop feeling trapped by choices and start feeling empowered by clarity. And that’s when the magic happens.
This isn’t just coaching. It’s transformation.
This is how businesses scale, the impact grows, and leaders rise.
AI and automation are transforming industries at a rapid pace. How do you see these technologies shaping the future of small businesses and entrepreneurship? What specific AI tools or strategies have you implemented in your coaching process?
AI & Automation: The Future of Small Business is NOW
AI isn’t just changing the game—it’s completely rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship. Small businesses and startups that harness AI aren’t just keeping up… they’re pulling ahead at lightning speed.
Imagine automating hours of repetitive tasks in seconds.
Imagine AI fine-tuning your business strategy in real time.
Imagine scaling your impact while working less, not more.
This isn’t the future—it’s happening RIGHT NOW.
How is AI Revolutionizing Small Businesses & Entrepreneurship?
AI is no longer a luxury for tech giants. It’s the ultimate growth weapon for scrappy, ambitious founders who want to do more with less.
Eliminate Time-Sucking Tasks: AI can handle customer support, data entry, appointment scheduling, email outreach, and even social media content creation—giving founders back precious time for strategy, creativity, and leadership.
Decision-Making at Warp Speed: Forget spending weeks analyzing trends and metrics. AI tools now process, predict, and recommend business strategies in real time, helping entrepreneurs make smarter, faster decisions.
Hyper-Personalized Customer Experiences: AI-driven personalization lets small businesses compete with industry giants—offering tailored recommendations, automated follow-ups, and deeply engaging customer interactions without lifting a finger.
Scale Without Losing Control: More growth doesn’t have to mean more chaos. AI-powered automation ensures businesses can scale while staying lean, efficient, and profitable.
How We Use AI at Vitamin CS Coaching
At Vitamin CS Coaching, we don’t just talk about AI—we live it.
Streamlining Business Operations: We automate admin tasks, CRM management, and scheduling—so we can focus on high-impact coaching and strategy.
AI-Powered Decision Support: We use AI insights to help founders prioritize, optimize, and execute—cutting through the noise so they can focus on what truly moves the needle.
Revolutionizing Pitch Perfection: BIG NEWS!
We’re building an AI-powered pitch optimization tool that will transform the way startups refine their investor pitches.
Instant feedback on structure, clarity, and impact
AI-driven suggestions to boost investor appeal
Faster, smarter, more confident fundraising
Imagine crafting the perfect pitch in a fraction of the time.
Imagine knowing exactly what investors want to see.
Imagine walking into that meeting with unshakable confidence.
That’s not just innovation—it’s a fundraising game-changer.
AI is Here to Amplify, Not Replace
Let’s be clear: AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement for human genius. It’s about working smarter, not harder.
We use AI wisely—with a deep focus on:
- Privacy & Confidentiality
- Quality & reliability
- Fit & alignment with business goals
Entrepreneurs who embrace AI don’t just survive—they thrive. This is the moment to leverage AI, automate what slows you down, and focus on what truly matters: VISION, GROWTH, and IMPACT.
The future of business belongs to those who adapt, evolve, and harness the power of AI. Are you ready?
Securing funding is a major hurdle for startups. From your experience, what are the key elements of a pitch that truly captivates investors and increases the chances of securing capital?
Securing funding is all about showing evidence of potential success—investors want to see clear, data-backed proof that your startup can scale. The key to captivating investors is to present a pitch that’s concise, structured, and aligned with high-probability success indicators. A successful pitch is about presenting a compelling, data-driven narrative that shows you understand the market, your product works, and there’s a clear path for scaling with high-probability success. It’s about making it easy for investors to say, “This is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity that’s already moving forward.
The Perfect Pitch: Turning Investors into Believers
Securing funding isn’t about hype—it’s about evidence. Investors don’t gamble; they bet on certainty, on data-driven proof that your startup is a high-reward, low-risk opportunity.
The best pitches eliminate doubt by presenting:
- Undeniable Market Validation – Show traction, customer demand, or sales data that prove people want this.
- Revenue Growth & Financial Projections – Demonstrate a realistic, data-backed path to profitability.
- Competitive Edge & Moat – Explain what makes your solution defensible and impossible to replicate.
- Scalability Metrics – Present clear numbers on how your startup grows efficiently at scale.
- Product/Tech Proof – Investors trust what they see. Showcase performance data, customer testimonials, and pilot success stories.
A powerful pitch isn’t just a story—it’s a case study of success in motion. The goal? Make investors feel like they’re not taking a risk—they’re seizing a rare, time-sensitive opportunity.
Scaling a business is one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs. What are the most common mistakes business owners make when trying to scale, and how do you help them avoid these pitfalls?
Scaling a business is an exciting but treacherous journey—I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs leap too soon, believing that rapid growth is the ultimate sign of success. In reality, scaling too early is one of the most common mistakes. Entrepreneurs often become fixated on expanding quickly without first building the right foundation—a scalable business model, solid operations, and a strong, aligned team. I’ve been there: rushing to scale before fully understanding the customer, market dynamics, and the operational capacity needed to handle growth. The result is often a collapse under pressure, when systems break down, customer satisfaction plummets, and cash flow turns negative.
The second major mistake is neglecting the customer experience while focusing on growth metrics. You can’t scale a product or service that loses its value as it grows. I help my clients ensure their offering remains high-quality and delivers consistent value as they scale. We optimize for customer retention, ensuring that as they grow, the experience stays personal, relevant, and impactful.
Another pitfall is mismanaging cash flow. Entrepreneurs often fail to align funding with growth—they get caught up in the excitement of expansion and end up burning through their runway too quickly. I help startups build financial models that account for sustainable growth. This means having a clear understanding of unit economics, and margin control, and ensuring they have enough capital to fuel the next stage of scaling without running out of resources.
Lastly, many entrepreneurs don’t properly delegate or build the right team to scale. Hiring too fast or hiring too late can both derail scaling efforts. Entrepreneurs often end up trying to do it all themselves, which limits growth, or they hire based on skill rather than culture fit, leading to dysfunction down the line. I work closely with my clients to hire strategically, ensuring that each new team member aligns with the company’s vision and values, allowing for smoother scaling as the business expands.
The key is to grow smartly—understanding when and how to scale, ensuring the right systems, financial models, and team are in place, and never sacrificing quality for speed. Scaling is a marathon, not a sprint, and I guide founders to take the time to build the right infrastructure before reaching for explosive growth.
You’ve coached over 200 businesses through their growth journeys. Could you share a particularly inspiring success story where your coaching had a game-changing impact on a company’s trajectory?
One of the most inspiring success stories I’ve been part of involved a tech startup in the U.S. that was on the brink of collapse, despite having a product that had potential. When they came to me, they were struggling to scale, their customer retention was low, and they were burning through cash faster than they could generate revenue. The founder was overwhelmed, questioning whether they should pivot or shut down.
I stepped in, not with quick fixes, but with a deep analysis of their operations, customer feedback, and market fit. We went back to basics. We refocused on understanding their core customer’s pain points, refining their value proposition, and overhauling their onboarding experience. This wasn’t just about improving their product—it was about reshaping their entire customer journey to drive long-term value.
We also worked on financial discipline. They were spending on marketing and hiring without clear metrics. Together, we built a lean growth model that prioritized ROI, focusing on scalable customer acquisition channels and ensuring that every dollar spent had measurable impact.
What followed was nothing short of transformative. In just six months, their churn rate dropped by 40%, revenue doubled, and they secured a major round of investment that fueled their next phase of expansion. What really made this journey remarkable, though, wasn’t just the numbers—it was the confidence and clarity the founder regained. From the brink of failure, they now had a roadmap for sustainable growth.
This is the heart of what I do: not just help businesses survive, but empower them to thrive, with the right strategies, mindset, and understanding of their market. This company is now in a place where they’re scaling intelligently, keeping their customers happy, and most importantly, they have the clarity to keep pushing forward with confidence.
As a business coach, you work with founders across different industries. Have you noticed any common leadership traits among the most successful entrepreneurs? What habits or behaviors set them apart?
Absolutely. The most successful entrepreneurs I’ve coached have mastered a blend of powerful leadership traits that drive their success.
Focus is key. Focus is a cornerstone trait. They know how to laser in on what truly matters and avoid distractions. They don’t waste time on low-priority tasks. These entrepreneurs understand the importance of the Pareto Principle—they know that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. They focus on high-leverage activities, constantly identifying and prioritizing the most impactful tasks that will move their business forward. This allows them to allocate their energy and resources effectively, avoiding unnecessary distractions.
They also move with speed—quick to make decisions, test assumptions, and iterate. This is where the lean methodology comes into play. They embrace rapid experimentation, testing their ideas quickly, gathering feedback, and refining their approach. They’re not afraid to fail fast because they know failure is simply a learning step toward better solutions.
Another key trait is their commitment to being in permanent contact with their customers, market, and core stakeholders. They engage with customers regularly, gathering real-time feedback to adjust their strategies. They are constantly attuned to market shifts, staying ahead of competitors by adapting and responding with agility.
Above all, they maintain clarity, resilience, and a growth mindset. They lead with a vision that inspires their team and creates a culture of constant improvement. By using the Pareto Principle, they can quickly identify the most critical actions and double down on them, ensuring that their efforts are focused where they’ll have the greatest impact.
In my coaching, I emphasize these qualities: focus on the vital few, act with speed, use lean methods to continuously test and improve, and stay connected with customers and the market. When my clients apply these strategies, they create businesses that are not only efficient but also highly adaptable and positioned for long-term success.
The balance between automation and human connection is a hot topic in business today. How do you advise your clients to integrate AI without losing the personal touch that makes businesses truly resonate with their customers?
The balance between automation and human connection is truly one of the most magical aspects of modern entrepreneurship, and I believe it holds the key to unlocking extraordinary growth. AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool, but the most successful entrepreneurs know that it’s not about replacing the human touch—it’s about amplifying it.
I advise my clients to harness the power of AI for the right tasks—things that are repetitive, time-consuming, and data-intensive. For example, automating administrative tasks, customer inquiries, or even parts of the sales process can free up time and energy to focus on what truly matters: building relationships with customers. But, and this is important, AI should never be a black box—it’s essential to stay deeply connected with the quality and efficiency of these automated processes. AI must serve the business, not the other way around. The best entrepreneurs carefully monitor and ensure that AI solutions are high-quality, aligned with their goals, and optimized to meet their customers’ needs. This is where the magic happens: using AI to take care of the routine, so human energy can be spent on the extraordinary.
However, the integration of AI comes with major considerations, particularly around privacy and confidentiality. With the power AI brings, there are immense responsibilities. I always encourage my clients to prioritize ethical practices and ensure that customer data is handled with the utmost care. Transparency is key—customers must know they are respected and protected at all times.
But beyond the algorithms, it’s the human connection that matters most. We must never forget the heart and soul of business: people. AI should never replace genuine empathy, understanding, and personal relationships. The most successful businesses today combine the precision and scalability of AI with the authenticity and empathy of human interaction. When AI is used wisely and ethically, it becomes a powerful ally—creating time for entrepreneurs to focus on their mission, engage with their customers in meaningful ways, and build a business that resonates at a deeply personal level.
This is what I see day after day in my work with founders—when they embrace AI not as a crutch but as a tool to empower human connection, that’s when magic happens. They free up time, unlock creativity, and scale their businesses while still keeping their customers at the heart of everything they do. It’s the perfect balance: human creativity and AI efficiency, creating businesses that are not only profitable, but also meaningful, personal, and impactful. That’s how you build something truly remarkable—something that lasts and makes a difference.
What’s a major misconception entrepreneurs have about success and business growth that you often have to debunk? How do you shift their perspective?
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart—it’s a journey through uncertainty, where the only certainty is that you will face challenges. The misconception many entrepreneurs have is that success is a straight line: launch the great idea, release the great product, seize the perfect opportunity—and boom, the business grows and profits flood in. But the reality is far from this ideal. Entrepreneurship is testing and learning, constantly discovering what works and what doesn’t, no matter how brilliant the idea or how amazing the opportunity. Even after you’ve found your product-market fit, it may still take years of iteration, persistence, and hustle before you achieve real profitability.
I often see founders who are disheartened, feeling like they’re failing because their business isn’t growing as fast as they envisioned or isn’t yet profitable. But here’s the truth: the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve worked with aren’t the ones who had a perfect plan or a perfectly executed product from day one—they are the ones who embraced uncertainty, adapted, and kept learning until they found the key that unlocked success.
I’ll tell you a story. A client of mine, a tech startup founder, spent three years building what seemed like the perfect product. Yet, when they launched, they were met with silence. The first few months were full of doubts, frustration, and long nights. But here’s the twist: it was not the product that failed, it was the market fit, the messaging, and the way it was presented to customers. After taking a step back, they realized that the journey wasn’t about getting everything right from the start, but about finding the right direction through trial and error. We adjusted, tweaked, tested again—and within six months, the product started to get traction. Now, that company is thriving and has just secured massive funding, despite it taking almost five years to reach that point.
Here’s the real lesson I teach: Success is not a timeline you can predict. It’s a series of small wins, hard lessons, and the relentless pursuit of learning from failure. Success doesn’t look like what you think it should look like. It’s staying the course, even when it feels impossible. It’s pivoting when you have to, embracing setbacks as lessons, and having the resilience to keep moving forward when everyone else might be giving up.
When I shift the perspective of my clients, I help them realize that the process is the goal. Success isn’t about a destination—it’s about embracing the grind, learning from every failure, and adapting fast enough to stay in the game long enough to make it. That’s the true power of entrepreneurship. When you focus on the journey, the growth, and the learning, instead of obsessing over the outcome, you will always find success in ways that are often unexpected and far beyond what you imagined. This is the real heart of entrepreneurship—and it’s the mindset that will propel you forward, even through the toughest of times.
Looking ahead, how do you envision the role of business coaching evolving over the next decade? What innovations or trends do you think will redefine how entrepreneurs receive mentorship and guidance?
Looking ahead, I see business coaching evolving in incredibly profound ways, driven by the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship and the need for holistic support. The future of coaching is not just about offering advice or generic strategies—it’s about being a true partner in the entrepreneurial journey, providing deep, emotional support, and a level of specialized expertise that goes beyond traditional coaching.
Entrepreneurs today are no longer just looking for guidance on how to grow their businesses. They’re looking for support in navigating the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship—empathy for the struggle of self-doubt, the uncertainty, and the pressure they face daily. They’re seeking help in implementation because they understand that advice without action leads nowhere. They need accountability, and a trusted partner who is right by their side—helping them execute, iterate, and push through those challenging moments when failure feels like it’s just one step away.
One of the biggest shifts I see coming is the rise of AI-powered coaching tools. Imagine combining the power of data analytics with human intuition: personalized coaching that not only helps entrepreneurs make decisions but also offers them real-time insights based on their business’s performance. These tools won’t replace human coaches, but they will act as an extension, providing tailored recommendations, tracking key metrics, and offering immediate feedback on how to optimize strategies, all while keeping the human connection at the forefront. AI can help identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities in ways that the human brain might miss, offering insights that make coaching more precise, actionable, and efficient.
But it doesn’t end with AI. The future of coaching will also see a hyper-specialization of skills. Entrepreneurs are investing more in results, and they’ll demand specialized expertise that’s more aligned with their business’s unique needs. Whether it helps in raising capital, scaling operations, managing teams, or entering new markets, the days of generalized coaching are being replaced by a more tailored approach where coaches become specialists in specific industries, challenges, or phases of growth.
The power of community will also play a bigger role. Entrepreneurs will need connections, and business coaches will become connectors, not only offering advice but bringing together networks of experts, investors, partners, and other entrepreneurs who can collaborate and support each other. Business coaching will increasingly be about facilitating relationships—creating ecosystems where entrepreneurs can share experiences, learn from one another, and build a support system that extends beyond the coach’s office.
Finally, I see results-driven coaching as the ultimate shift. Entrepreneurs will no longer be willing to invest in something that doesn’t give them measurable results. They want clarity, actionable plans, and a coach who holds them accountable for their success. We, as coaches, will need to prove our impact—whether it’s through metrics of growth, personal milestones achieved, or milestones in mental clarity and emotional resilience. Entrepreneurs will look for evidence that our coaching accelerates their journey to success, and we’ll be expected to not just guide them through the process but also help them achieve the results they desire from day one. The next decade will redefine coaching as an action-oriented partnership, where emotional support, implementation expertise, and results come together. The most successful coaches will be the ones who can provide not only the right strategies and frameworks but also the human connection and the unwavering support that entrepreneurs need to succeed. The future of business coaching is about being there at every step of the journey—the wins, the losses, and everything in between. It’s about building long-term relationships that help entrepreneurs reach their fullest potential and create businesses that truly impact the world.
