Leaving a lasting mark in global markets takes more than just substantial budgets—it requires building the right systems and capturing technology ahead of the curve. At On Business Group, we make it a priority to connect with visionary figures who are actively shaping the future in every step we take on the international stage. In line with this vision, we sat down with SPIEGEL bestselling author and serial entrepreneur Ferhat Kaçmaz, whose remarkable journey extends from his roots in Germany to the digital revolution in Dubai.
We engaged in an insightful discussion covering everything from mining infrastructures and AI employees developed for SMEs to leadership resilience during crises and the true secrets of scaling a business. Without further ado, we invite you to explore this conversation.
Who is Ferhat Kaçmaz? Please introduce yourself briefly to our readers.
I am an entrepreneur with Turkish roots, raised in Bielefeld, Germany, and I have been living in Dubai for the past 14 years. I opened my first restaurant at the age of 19, and I have been building businesses ever since. In 2012, I moved to Dubai to be the first to introduce EMS training to the Middle East. Today, through MiningFarmDubai, I operate digital infrastructure, and with HUNDREDHANDS, I develop AI employees for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, I am a SPIEGEL bestselling author in Germany. I am currently writing my upcoming book, “Werde Gewinner der KI-Revolution” (“Become a Winner of the AI Revolution”), which is scheduled for publication in March 2027. The driving force behind everything I do is one central question: How do you build structures that give people true freedom?
Your journey spans publishing, crypto infrastructure, and artificial intelligence. How would you tell this story?
It didn’t start with writing – it began in the gastronomy sector in Bielefeld. Back then, I supplied six restaurants from a single central kitchen, long before ghost kitchens and delivery hubs became a global trend. Next came event management, followed by EMS fitness in Dubai, and then FitBurn, where we combined fitness with blockchain technology. That led to Bitcoin mining with MiningFarmDubai, and now AI with HUNDREDHANDS.
Your business can make you rich, but only your structure makes you free.
The common thread throughout my career has always been the same: I introduce emerging technologies to a market early and make them practical and accessible for everyday people. My books grew out of this journey because I wanted to pass on what I learned along the way about money, mindset, and freedom. Now, I’m writing my next book—this time dedicated entirely to AI.
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“The New Generation of Turks Naturally Bridges Two Cultures”How does the data center and computing power infrastructure you built support your AI projects?
Our data center at MiningFarmDubai does not directly provide computing power for AI projects; it was built specifically for cryptocurrency mining. The connection to AI lies elsewhere: in the operational know-how.
At MiningFarmDubai, we utilize AI across our entire operations – not just for monitoring the farm and detecting potential outages before they happen. Managing hardware that must run continuously 24/7 has taught us how to maintain and monitor critical systems with high stability around the clock. That exact expertise is embedded into HUNDREDHANDS: our AI employees run on dedicated hardware directly inside the client’s office, while we monitor and maintain them centrally, just as we do with our mining facilities.
What advantages do HUNDREDHANDS’ “AI Employees” offer to small and medium-sized businesses?
Almost every business owner today realizes they should be leveraging AI, but most have no idea where to begin. We remove that friction entirely.
An AI employee in an SME will become as standard and essential as a business telephone or a website.
Every business receives its own dedicated AI employee hosted on a compact server in their office, controlled simply via WhatsApp voice messages. The AI employee writes emails and proposals, generates reports, builds websites, creates videos, and operates 24/7—168 hours a week. We handle the complete setup, monitor the infrastructure, and ensure smooth operations. The business owner doesn’t need to learn complex software; they simply manage and lead. My goal is for an AI employee in an SME to become as standard and essential as a business telephone or a website.
Based on your bestseller, what is your most important advice for a CEO looking to scale their business?
Revenue is not wealth. Profit is not freedom.
Many CEOs scale their revenue while simultaneously scaling their workload. True scaling means creating systems and structures that operate seamlessly without you: clear processes, the right talent, AI employees, and an ownership structure that protects what you build. As I wrote in my book “Vermögen ist kein Zufall” (“Wealth is No Accident”): Your business can make you rich, but only your structure makes you free.
In my upcoming book, “Werde Gewinner der KI-Revolution” (March 2027), I take this further by showing how entrepreneurs can leverage AI to achieve more while focusing on what they do best. Ask yourself one simple question: Would my business keep running smoothly if I stepped away for four weeks? If the answer is no, you are growing, but you are not scaling.
What mindset must a leader maintain during times of uncertainty and crisis?
Composure and absolute accountability.
When I brought EMS training to Dubai, our licensing process was delayed by eight months. Our capital ran out, and my business partners returned to Germany. It was one of the toughest periods of my life, and most people would have quit. I kept pushing forward.
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“Technological Transformation is No Longer Measured in Years, but in Months”A crisis is not the end; it is a test of resilience.
During that time, I learned that a crisis is not the end – it is a test of resilience. Leaders cannot focus on their fears; they must focus on facts and the immediate next step. Ultimately, we succeeded: Fit in Time became the exclusive EMS partner for Fitness First and expanded to over 30 locations across the Gulf region. A team senses immediately whether their leader remains calm, and that composure instills confidence in everyone.
Drawing from your experience in both Germany and Dubai, what advice would you give to Turkish founders aiming for global growth?
- First: Go where your idea is novel, not where the market is already crowded.
- Second: Establish trust before attempting to scale. Especially in places like Dubai, business is fundamentally built on relationships, and your word must be your bond.
- Third: Establish a clean operational structure from day one—corporate entity, banking, contracts, and licensing – and allocate more time for these setups than you initial expect.
- Fourth: Leverage your dual identity as a strength. Turkish entrepreneurs operating abroad understand multiple cultures and languages, which is a powerful competitive advantage.
- Fifth: Think global from day one. With AI, even a small team can serve international markets from the outset.
Which sectors will experience the biggest disruption from AI over the next 5 years?
The most profound shift will not happen in large enterprises – they already have substantial budgets and IT departments. The real transformation will take place within SMEs and smaller enterprises.
Future leaders will manage human teams and AI assets side by side.
In five years, nearly every company will deploy digital employees across key functions: administrative tasks, customer communication, proposal preparation, accounting prep, and marketing execution. The competitive divide between companies using AI and those ignoring it will become insurmountable. At the same time, the role of the executive will evolve: future leaders will manage human teams and AI assets side by side. Small, agile teams will accomplish tasks that previously required entire departments. That shift is the central focus of my new book.
How do you structure your daily schedule while managing your ventures, writing books, and overseeing global operations?
My daily routine is remarkably consistent, and that discipline is my core strength. I wake up very early, and physical fitness is a non-negotiable part of my morning.
Would my business keep running smoothly if I stepped away for four weeks? If the answer is no, you are growing, but you are not scaling.
Nearly everything else is managed through my AI employees: I record a voice message, and the work gets executed – whether it’s processing emails, drafting documents, or building analytics – even while I sleep. As a result, I structure my day around strategic decisions rather than tactical tasks. My personal time is reserved strictly for high-leverage activities that require my direct presence: building relationships, strategic partnerships, high-level vision, and writing.
Whom would you recommend we interview next?
Unfortunately, no candidate from my immediate network comes to mind at the moment whom I could recommend with complete confidence. As soon as I connect with the right person, I will be glad to pass along their details.
