About Michael Leon

My journey began in high school, where I first discovered my passion for filmmaking and storytelling. That creative spark stayed with me as I pursued an A.S. in Chemistry at Orange Coast College, initially planning to become a pharmacist. But during my time at UC Irvine, where I earned my B.S. in Biological Sciences, I realized that following a traditional path wasn't enough to satisfy my curiosity or my drive to create.

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While at UCI, I decided to take a risk: I started building an online business from scratch, with no prior experience. The process was difficult—full of steep learning curves, setbacks, and even mental breakdowns—but it was also incredibly rewarding. Every challenge taught me something new, and the skills I gained from that journey became the foundation for everything I do today.

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When the AI renaissance began and tools like ChatGPT and other large language models went mainstream, I saw a new opportunity to experiment and build. I dove into using AI—not as a coder, but as a problem-solver—to see what I could create and how I could solve my own real-world problems. The SaaS tools I build now are direct results of that mindset: try, learn, iterate, and share.

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MHL Studios is a reflection of my creative side. While I'm currently focused on building SaaS products, my passion for filmmaking is still alive, and I look forward to returning to it—and even exploring VFX—when time allows. Oddly enough, the skills I've stacked as an entrepreneur and builder have only deepened my creativity.