#4 From race cars to software w/ Paul Van Metre

from Industrial Entrepreneurs · host Julian Schaaf

My guest today is Paul Van Metre, co-founder of Pro CNC and ProShop ERP, a paperless ERP platform widely used in the manufacturing industry.In this episode, Paul shares his entrepreneurial journey from building race cars in college to co-founding ProCNC and launching ProShop ERP.What you’ll learn in this episode:* ProCNC started as a machine shop to fund a car company.* The importance of building systems and processes in business.* Only a small percentage of companies successfully sell when they want to. Start early.* Having a strong team is crucial for preparing your company for sale* Product market fit is essential for business success.* Transparency in marketing builds trust with customers.* Investing in marketing is important once product market fit is established.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setup03:58 Paul's Journey into Manufacturing12:04 Growth and Challenges of ProCNC21:50 Sales and Marketing Strategies in Manufacturing30:00 Acquisition Insights and Lessons Learned30:00 Transitioning Ownership34:58 Building ProShop ERP46:04 Marketing and Product Market Fit51:58 Advice for Manufacturing Entrepreneurs This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit industrialgrowth.substack.com

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This episode is 47 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 26, 2025.

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