My name is Leo Welder, and I’m an experienced executive with a track record of success in finance, operations, and marketing.

With 20 years of leadership experience, I've held CEO, COO, and CFO roles, and I'm an expert in SEO/SEM. I hold an MBA and have a passion for entrepreneurship, technology, financial analysis, and marketing, both online and offline.

Professional Journey

Over the last 20 years, my journey has been marked by innovation and leadership:

Startups: I've co-founded three technology startups, including Eterneva, a leader in the cremation diamond industry, where I built the initial manufacturing operation and lead generation pipeline, achieving profitability in under 6 months. I also co-founded Zilker Ventures, providing online comparison and review content for business tools, which reached profitability in under 3 months and generated $3 million annually at its peak.

Cannabis Industry: I built a licensed California cannabis testing laboratory known for its best-in-class R&D reputation.

Non-Profit: I've served in leadership roles in four non-profit organizations and consulted with numerous operations.

Leadership Philosophy

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of leading diverse teams of experts spanning various fields. My leadership philosophy revolves around a strong customer and service mentality, coupled with an unwavering attention to detail and an analytical approach to achieving goals and maximizing success.

My Ventures

Veda Scientific (2019): Co-founder of an R&D and compliance cannabis and hemp testing laboratory located in Lompoc, CA.

Eterneva (2016): Co-founder of Eterneva, which transforms the ashes of loved ones and pets into diamonds.

Zilker Ventures, LLC (2007): Co-founder of Zilker Ventures, where we built a family of B2B information sites providing well-researched and clear information to help businesses find great, cost-effective technology tools.

Industries

The issues confronting businesses with revenue of $1m to $50m in annual revenue are fundamentally tied to their stage in their business life rather than their specific industry. That said, industry experience is helpful because of the development of industry relationships and solving industry specific issues. Below are the industries where I have meaningful experience:

  • Analytical testing

  • Business SAAS

  • Cannabis / Hemp

  • Corporate event services

  • Lab grown diamonds

  • Motor sports

  • Online marketing services

  • Online payment services

  • Rock climbing

Professional Specialties

My areas of expertise include:

  • Accounting/ Finance

  • Business Leadership

  • Corporate Values/ Mission/ Vision Development

  • Entrepreneurial Operating System (Implementation/ Integrator)

  • Fundraising

  • Marketing/ Sales

  • Online Marketing

  • Operations/ Process Creation

  • Opportunity Assessment

  • Start-up Process

I'm driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to helping businesses thrive. Feel free to connect with me to explore potential collaborations or to learn more about my journey.