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.

YouAppi- Mobile App Retargeting

Chief of Partnerships & Innovations

•	Managing business development and partnership efforts with key customers and partners of the company.
•	Involved in the product marketing side with a focus on positioning and defining a go-to-market strategy to new products.
•	Overseeing and supporting the growth of new offices in different regions such as China, Korea, Brazil and more.

VP Partnerships

•	Contributed to the global growth of the company by penetrating new markets and regions.
•	Set up the first office from concept to completion in new regions.
•	Responsible for filling outstanding roles in the new location by finding local professionals and talent in those respective areas.
•	Worked with the product team helping to bring them new business and offer valuable sales feedback and solutions.

Director, Business Partnerships

•	Managed the media buying across hundreds of our publishers involving multiple ad types.
•	Built extremely strong relationships with global publishers and advertisers to continue to grow the relationship.
•	Created a strategic plan to ensure full delivery of our campaigns in a timely manner.
•	Sourced and developed new business opportunities with a range of publishers and advertisers.

Media Manager

Guidepoint

Advisor

Todacell

•	Managed and developed relationships with major brands and tier 1 media agencies. 
•	Mentored, trained, and led a team of 8 business development and account management interns.
•	Involved in creating and implementing campaign optimization processes and growth plans across all of our clients.
•	Additional duties included upselling, business planning and growing our ad inventory.

Account Manager

•	Monitored and managed campaigns beyond work hours in order to provide our customers with exceptional service around the clock.
•	Managed all campaign optimizations and execution.
•	Tasked with preparing all campaign reports in our network in an accurate and timely manner.
•	Helped support the account managers and sales team on a constant basis to drive growth and develop new business opportunities.
•	Provided exceptional support to clients and team members while spearheading campaign optimization and mobile ad networks

Ad Ops Manager

Qserv

•	Founded a game and voice servers’ company in high school with two partners. 
•	Provided high-quality game & communication servers to gamers and other customers.
•	Successfully grew the client base to 50 customers within the first month and by the sixth month, Qserv had successfully generated over 150 clients.
•	After about 8 months of being in business, Qserv was acquired by a larger game servers’ company.

Founder & CEO

I am currently the Chief of Partnerships and innovations at YouAppi, an Affle company and an industry-leading performance-based mobile app marketing and retargeting platform for brands. This exciting role has enabled me to focus on leading all strategic planning efforts, including new market entries, client relations, and the ability to offer a range of mobile marketing solutions. My experience and knowledge in supporting clients, campaign optimizations, and the mobile ad landscape have been the main cause of my contribution to the company. 

Prior to this, I served as the Director of Partnerships which focused on the global growth of the company allowing our team to penetrate new markets in various regions and successfully set up the first location in that area. This role allowed me to gain experience in developing cultural awareness and a set of skills that are vital for working in a global company.

In 2014, I started my career at YouAppi as one of the first few employees in the company and after a few short years, I became a key member of the team who has remained focused on the art of building, managing and maintaining relationships with partners ranging from all levels of the business.
 
Even from an early age, I have always been very passionate, strategic and calculated. For example, during high-school, I partnered with a couple of friends to create a project company that focused on providing high-quality game and voice servers to a broad range of customers. The success we had resulted in selling our business to a larger company. 

While still at high school I have joined on a part-time job one of the first mobile ad networks - Todacell. My time at Todacell has built the basics of my knowledge and background in mobile and in ad-tech, which has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. 

My high level of determination, dedication, and eagerness to learn have always driven me forward in each of my roles. 
I remain truly passionate about mobile, marketing, apps and building results-driven relationships where all parties involved come out on top, so reach out to me today and allow me to help bridge that connection.

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The Battle

Alex Merutka

Meiry Vaknin

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