Alex Merutka

Craftsman+

We built CRAFTSMAN+ to solve a very real, very overlooked problem: creative at scale.

Performance marketing doesn’t fail from bad media buying, it fails from stale creative. CRAFTSMAN+ is a creative tech company engineered to close that gap. We developed a proprietary content engine that automates high-impact, data-backed playable and interactive ads. Built for speed, scale, and measurable performance.

Our platform helps top mobile brands (and their growth teams) scale creative output across channels like Meta, Google, TikTok, and programmatic, without sacrificing quality or insights.

Partners include category leaders in gaming, fintech, and commerce. Deloitte Fast 500 (#330), Inc. 5000, and trusted by the best because we don’t just make ads—we make performance scale.

CEO | Founder

Node Ventures

Node Ventures backs early-stage companies where we can be a growth weapon, not just a check.

We specialize in companies where digital marketing is the unlock. With deep operating experience across user acquisition, creative automation, and adtech infrastructure, we help founders move faster, scale smarter, and build the systems that drive real traction.

Node isn’t a traditional VC, we're a strategic partner with execution DNA. If we invest, we’re in the trenches with you.

Founder

Node Media

Odin Stem Cells

Odin delivers regenerative stem cell treatments. Clinically backed, nationally scaled, and optimized for long-term health outcomes.

We’re building the future of regenerative medicine by making advanced stem cell therapy accessible across the U.S. Odin operates at the intersection of science, performance, and wellness. Helping patients repair, recover, and optimize from the inside out.

→ Nationwide delivery. Clinical precision. Life-changing results.

Chairman & Co-Founder

Member

Forbes

Forbes 30 under 30 

AppLovin

Strategic Consultant

Helped scale AppLovin from early-stage startup to $29B IPO—leading $2B+ in performance media across mobile, programmatic, and creative.

Joined as one of the first employees. Built and led the user acquisition and programmatic teams during a period of hypergrowth—managing global campaigns for top mobile titles and partners. Owned media strategy and creative performance at scale.

Played a critical role in AppLovin’s growth trajectory from Seed stage through its final private round (led by KKR), culminating in a $29B IPO.

→ Specialized in building systems that connect performance data with growth strategy—at billion-dollar scale.

Head of Programmatic

Director of Sales

Conversant (formerly Greystripe)

Acquired by Alliance Data Systems (ADS) for $2.3 billion in 2014. 

Provided digital media solutions ranging from desktop, mobile, cross-device, video, lead generation, and retargeting.

Account Executive

BrightEdge

Enterprise Business Representative

I build companies that move markets. Right now, that’s CRAFTSMAN+—a creative technology platform powering high-performance ads for the world’s biggest mobile brands.

We’re not just shipping more creatives—we’re rewriting how performance teams scale. Backed by partnerships with Meta, Google, and TikTok, we’ve engineered a platform that turns friction-heavy creative workflows into data-backed, scalable growth engines. It’s the reason we landed on Forbes 30 Under 30, Deloitte Fast 500 (#330), and Inc. 5000—and why top brands trust us to accelerate what actually moves the needle.

Before CRAFTSMAN+, I led user acquisition and programmatic at AppLovin—managing $2B+ in ad spend and helping scale the company from Seed to $29B IPO. I also founded Node Ventures, a startup studio backing breakout ideas with speed and unfair distribution.

Contributor to Bloomberg, Business Insider, and FoxNews. Member of YPO. Always building, always optimizing.

Septeni Global

Vice President of Products

Senior director of Products

Branch(Reseller in Japan Market), Sales Manager at Septeni Global

TUNE Marketing Console/Mobile App Tracking, Sales Manager

Septeni APAC

Social Media Marketing Manager

Septeni Co.,Ltd.

Team Manager,Management Reward AD system team, Business Development,

-	Assigned to business development division after returning from the project in China. Managed 2 staff to analyze and develop new business opportunities. 

-	Developed business of mobile marketing analysis/tracking platform and planned new business for SNS and smartphone application market.

-	Managed sales and marketing of mobile marketing management analysis/tracking platform “Smac”. Acquired and implemented the platform to 80 clients.

Project Manager, Business Development

Tian ma Communications.Inc

-	Assigned to manage company start-up in China to establish new business in the Chinese market. (M&A of a Chinese internet company, joint investment by Septeni-i and personal funds).

-	Managed 3 local staff to Developed “Reverse Auction Reward Service” and managed system development to operation.

Co-Founder

-	Assigned to manage the Web Integration Division to develop different platforms such as advertising measurement/tracking, access analysis and SEM tracking/operation.

-	Managed 5 staff for systems development and 3 staff for sales and operation.
-	Developed new sales model for access analysis platform (Google Analytics and ADebis) and SEM tracking/operation platform.

-	Responsible for P/L of the division, sales/account management (account planning and analysis, reporting, operation), product sales strategy and team management. 

-	Developed and released the automated bidding system “SPMAX” and “Bidmaster”, first platform developed by a Japanese company in the SEM industry.

-	Business grew from 0 to USD30,000/year in the first year.

Developing Web Tracking System and SEM management system,Project Manager

- Assigned to manage the start-up of SEM Division. Successfully developed relationships with Overture Japan and Google (AdWords) and developed partnerships with SEO
service partners.

-Responsible for P/L of the division, sales and account management (Account planning.,
analysis and reporting) and team management.

-Directly managed clients, planned and executed monthly PPC strategy and tactics
based on external and internal data.

-Managed 4 staff in the initial start-up stage, team grew to 20 staff at most.
Sales of current SEM business of Septeni is approx. USD26M/year.Successfully managed clients to spend more than USD100,000/month.

-Acquired distribution license with Overture and Google.

Search Engine Marketing Consultant

- Assigned to manage the large media accounts as Media Planner and Buyer. Clients
included major portal sites such as Yahoo, MSN, Infoseek and mail based media as
Dreammail.

- Managed sales, new advertising products planning, media price negotiations as the
main contact.

- Planned media strategy in post-sales.

- Managed media market analysis to find new business development opportunities.

Media planing and buying media at Media Communication Division

- Assigned to advertising sales as a part of new staff training program.

- Managed sales of CPC ad-network (Pureclick) and sales of mail based advertising
products.

- Developed an attack list and cold called potential clients for acquisition.

taplio

The Battle

Alex Merutka

Masayuki Niwa

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