Day -1 · Argus interviews Big Mike Chen

60s · recorded the day before Season 1 · loop on

Portrait · München

CEO · File

Big Mike Chen

@bigmikechen_tlcPasing, Hauptstraße

AI for people who hate AI.

58, Oakland CA, third-generation Chinese-American. Grandfather opened the family's first pet-grooming shop on International Blvd in 1957. Took over at 26 when his father had a stroke. CEO of Fluffington Empire — 120 luxury dog-grooming stores across California, Arizona, Nevada. Owns 81% outright, turned down four PE offers in the last decade. Every store manager has been with him 10+ years. Distrusts AI fundamentally; the in-store 'AI recommendation terminals' are his minimum-gesture concession to board pressure. Sends handwritten notes for every 10-year work anniversary. All 400 of them. Pre-Season from the first Fluffington European pilot store in Pasing — opened symbolically for the competition.

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