erikschimek.com

Erik's CV

36 Years building companies, systems, and ideas that help people profit, build, and execute. I solve problems that other people call "impossible"—particularly where technology creates new opportunities.

• Current

FOUNDER · EARLY-STAGE OPERATOR · SYSTEMS THINKER · DIGITAL MARKETING PIONEER

Erik Schimek

I've been a first mover in a variety of industries for more than 36 years. I specialize in the earliest stages of company formation, where ideas become products and products become businesses.I've built a nationwide custom-furniture business with more than $30 million in sales, and worked with companies ranging from ARX Fit, Epic Provisions and Serenity's Kids (three highly successful health and fitness brands) to Xcimer Energy, a nuclear fusion startup.My experience spans very different industries, but the work has a common thread: helping turn ambitious ideas into products, businesses and real-world results.
I work across disciplines, connecting ideas, people and resources to solve difficult problems and build things that work.I specialize in seeing possibilities where other people see obstacles. You can see examples of my prior work below.

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, investor relations, market positioning, and operational execution including Serenity's Kids and Epic Provisions.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.You're welcome to contact ARX Chairman Mark Alexander 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).

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, President of the Senate James Metzen, and House Minority Leader Tom Pugh, based on the quality of my previous work.

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)