erikschimek.com
Erik's CV
36 Years building companies, systems, and ideas that help people think, build, and execute. I solve problems that other people call "impossible".
PERSISTENT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INFRASTRUCTURE
Mentiad: Your intelligence
Building infrastructure that helps AI remember, reason, and improve over time.Mentiad focuses on long-term intelligence rather than isolated conversations, creating infrastructure for the next generation of AI applications.Currently in formation, fundraising, and early platform development.Learn more at www.mentiad.com.
BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HUMAN OPTIMIZATION
Meliora: always better
A human optimization platform combining a proven behavioral protocol with software, AI, and wearable integration.Designed to help people reduce internal friction and apply intelligence more consistently through continuous measurement, personalization, and practice.Now entering commercial launch after more than a decade of research and development.Learn more at www.meliorapublishing.com.
FOUNDER • EARLY-STAGE OPERATOR • SYSTEMS ENGINEER • ecommerce and digital marketing innovator
Erik Schimek (aka daedalus rising)
For more than three decades I've specialized in the earliest stage of company formation, where ideas become products and products become businesses. My work spans software architecture, politics, ecommerce, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, product strategy, fundraising, organizational design, and commercialization.I enjoy building things that don't yet exist.Some founders love managing mature companies. I don't. My work is the formative early stage: discovering product-market fit, designing systems, assembling teams, solving difficult technical and commercial problems, and helping new ventures become real.Over the past three decades I've built companies, advised founders, served on boards, and contributed to projects spanning ecommerce, health optimization, software, education, publishing, and venture-backed startups.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS · revenue optimization · startup incubator · operations
paleofx.com
Served on the Board of Directors of Paleo f(x); helping guide the strategy, positioning, management and growth of one of the world's largest human optimization and ancestral wellness conferences.Created Entrepreneur f(x), a formal incubator program.Advised dozens of early-stage startups on launch strategy, go-to-market positioning, and operational execution.Led an ecommerce revenue optimization project that increased revenues by 31% at minimal cost, by improving the website's usability and reducing checkout complexity.In her book Primal Uprising, founder and CEO Michelle Norris recognized Erik as one of the three people most essential to the success of Paleo f(x).Prior to 2020 lockdowns, Paleo f(x) was an event attracting more than 7,500 attendees annually. It featured speakers including Mark Sisson, Dave Asprey, Aubrey Marcus, Mikhaila Peterson, Ben Greenfield, Robb Wolf, Terry Wahls, JJ Virgin, Michelle Tam and Nora Gedgaudas.
GROWTH STRATEGY · DIGITAL MARKETING · systems analysis · sales pipeline optimization
arxfit.com
Joined ARX during the first month of the COVID lockdowns as commercial gyms across the country were shutting down.Audited eight years of advertising performance, software analytics, sales history, and customer feedback before redesigning the company's customer acquisition strategy.Redirected half of the existing advertising budget to launch a direct-to-consumer home fitness division without increasing total marketing spend.The new strategy increased advertising conversion efficiency by 237%, substantially improved lead quality, and transformed ARX from a commercial equipment company into a dual-market business serving both commercial facilities and residential customers.Mark Alexander, who is the chairman of ARX, is also the CFO for Meliora and is advising on Mentiad. You're welcome to contact Mark for a referral via https://blvshine.com/.
STUDIO SET DESIGN · CUSTOM MANUFACTURING · INDUSTRIAL DESIGN · WEBCAST & BROADCAST MEDIA
This Week in Startups
Partnered with industry legends Jason Calacanis and Mark Jefferies to conceive, design, manufacture, and install the custom broadcast desk that became the centerpiece of This Week in Startups during its early growth.More than a piece of furniture, the project helped establish the show's production quality and visual presentation at a pivotal stage in its development. Mark Jefferies compared the transformation to the leap in professionalism brought by John Stewart's The Daily Show, remarking that the new set immediately elevated the entire program.Featured in The Wall Street Journal, the desk was described by Jason Calacanis as "the best desk in the history of webcasting."Watch Jason's Video Testimonial: (Youtube link).
EARLY-STAGE ADVISORY · FUNDRAISING · regulatory compliance · POSITIONING
SERENITY'S KIDS
Worked closely with the founders Serenity Heegel and Joe Carr, as the company transitioned from a self-funded startup into a venture-backed Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brand.Provided early strategic guidance across capital formation, complex operations, and brand positioning.Applied prior experience in regulated consumer products. Advised on FDA compliance, food safety, and co-packer selection for infant nutrition standards.Supported early fundraising with investor messaging, pitch prep, and key introductions.Since launch, Serenity Kids has raised more than $67 million in growth capital and become one of the leading premium children's nutrition brands in the United States.
FOUNDER & CEO · ECOMMERCE · INTERNET MARKETING & SEO · CUSTOM MANUFACTURING
erik organic
Founded and scaled a custom e-commerce furniture brand, generating over $30 million in revenue with a 99.7% customer satisfaction rate.Oversaw end-to-end strategy, proprietary software development, digital marketing, and nationwide logistics.Built what became the largest Amish furniture manufacturing network west of the Mississippi, managing production across more than 40 family-owned artisan workshops.Engineered high-performing SEO and paid media strategies (Google, Bing, Meta), securing Top 5 organic rankings for high-intent terms and achieving exceptional 11–17% e-commerce conversion rates.Designed and delivered custom commissions for notable institutions and figures, including Stanford University, the National Wildlife Federation, and President George W. Bush.
DEEP TECH ADVISORY · investor MESSAGING · COMMUNICATIONS
Xcimer Energy
Supported early fundraising for nuclear fusion startup Xcimer Energy by translating highly technical inertial fusion research into clear, investor-ready language.Worked with the technical leadership team to distill complex laser fusion concepts, scientific papers, technical advantages, and commercialization strategy into pitch materials, website copy, and an initial fundraising narrative understandable to non-technical investors.The resulting messaging helped establish the company's early investment narrative. Xcimer has since secured more than $120 million in financing, including a $100 million Series A led by Hedosophia alongside Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Prelude Ventures, and additional U.S. Department of Energy and ARPA-E funding.
communications · REGTECH & EDTECH · campaign management
rising design
Founded an early internet development and consulting firm building custom websites, e-commerce platforms, database-driven software, and digital communications systems before modern web frameworks became commonplace.Led the design team creating educational tracking software for the Minnesota Association of Alternative Practitioners (MAAP), helping members comply with newly adopted state continuing education requirements.Advised Press Secretary John Wodele on the development of Governor Jesse Ventura's first official gubernatorial website; Recommended for the project by U.S. Representative Bruce Vento and House Minority Leader Tom Pugh, based on the quality of my previous work.Managed a successful statewide campaign for Minnesota Secretary of State that secured the first third-party endorsement for a statewide candidate from the state's largest newspaper, the Star Tribune. Defeated the candidate managed by current National DNC Chair Ken Martin.
drop me a line
contact Erik
If you're building something interesting and think another experienced set of eyes could help, feel free to reach out.Email:
erik (at) erik schimek (dotcom)WhatsApp:
1-702-526-5261