From crushing debt and early missteps to refining his approach, Michael Corradini turned failure into eight-figure success—and now partners with founders determined to change their odds.
His First Business Was a Total Failure
Michael Corradini’s first venture didn’t just fall short—it collapsed entirely.
He walked away with over $40,000 in credit card debt and owing money to family who had believed in his dream. The vision was big, the confidence was high, but the reality was harsh. He was in way over his head.
The Two Mistakes That Sank the Business
Looking back, Michael pinpoints two critical errors that sealed the fate of his first startup.
First, there was no product-market fit. “I was trying to convince people to buy something they didn’t even want,” he recalls.
Second, he ran out of money. Budget priorities were a blur—funds were scattered across different ideas and experiments with no cohesive strategy. “I was all over the place, hoping something would work. Eventually, the bank account just ran dry.”
The Day It All Ended
The closing of his first company is a memory etched in mental stone. Michael was living in San Diego at the time, and his business was in the same office building as Tony Robbins.
On a rainy Saturday morning, he recalls hauling heavy wooden desks out of the office. “I can still smell the wet pavement, mixed with feelings of anger and embarrassment.”
It wasn’t just money he had lost; it was trust. It was time. It was confidence.
The Hardest Lesson to Learn
If there was one mistake Michael regrets most, it was trying to go at it alone. “I thought if I just worked harder, I’d eventually crack the code,” he admits. But the truth was, there were people already successful who could have guided him, saved him time, and shown him what to do. Unfortunately, Michael was too stubborn at this point in his journey.
It took a costly failure for him to understand one of entrepreneurship’s most important truths: sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to ask for help.
Turning Lessons into Legacy
That painful experience didn’t stop Michael—it shaped him.
In the years that followed, he partnered with people more experienced than him, going on to launch multiple eight-figure businesses and mentor thousands of entrepreneurs. His passion today lies in helping others avoid the costly mistakes that nearly ended his journey before it began.
That mission ultimately led him to create ProductMentor®, a one-stop partner for inventors, entrepreneurs, and startups that want to take products and apps to market faster, with less money and risk.
According to Michael, “Making money is important, but the end goal of entrepreneurship is not to own fancy things, it’s about owning your time and obtaining true freedom.”
Over the last 25 years, as CEO of ProductMentor and at his prior businesses, Michael has worked with thousands of innovators at every stage—design, prototype, fund, launch—giving him a front-row seat to the challenges, breakthroughs, and patterns that separate success stories from expensive failures.
His roles have allowed him to witness what a financially aligned partnership can mean in terms of synergy when taking a new product to market. This vantage point has not only deepened his expertise, but also fueled his commitment to demystifying the launch process for others.
Michael is also the co-author of The Comeback Code with original Shark Tank investor Kevin Harrington, available on Amazon and Google Play Books. In the book, Michael shares hard-earned insights from his own journey while breaking down the difference-makers he sees at ProductMentor—those critical actions and strategies that give entrepreneurs a fighting chance.
The Comeback Code was written for anyone looking to start fresh or mount a comeback, with the goal of mitigating startup risks and stacking the odds in their favor.
Today, Michael Corradini thrives on the creative process of turning innovative ideas into real products on the market. His guidance is forged not just from his victories, but from scars earned along the way—making him as much a strategist as he is a survivor.
Michael’s mission remains clear: to empower founders with the guidance, strategies, and connections they need to not just start, but succeed.
To connect with Michael Corradini and his ventures:
Website: ProductMentor Official Website
LinkedIn: Michael Corradini’s Profile
YouTube: ProductMentor Official
