About Joe
From Success to Significance.
30 years building market-leading companies. Then building something that matters more.
Joe Schmidt is a visionary growth executive, elite venture builder, and global humanitarian leader with a 30-year track record of scaling disruptive startups into market powerhouses. A passionate entrepreneur, investor, and teacher, Joe has dedicated his career to applying the deep expertise gained from launching and growing e-commerce businesses toward venture creation, executive mentorship, and transformative humanitarian efforts worldwide.
The Foundation
Built to build.
An Indiana native, Joe began his foundational training in Ball State University's acclaimed Entrepreneurship program before earning his MBA from Boston College, where he graduated in the top of his class.
After launching his career in advertising, Joe quickly stepped into the startup arena — building a touch-screen kiosk business focused on airport check-ins and retail gift registries, then serving as Director of Sales for internet pioneer Art.com before returning to his serial-entrepreneurial roots.
"This is what my wife married. so many questions, right?" - Joe Schmidt
The Climb
Two INC 500 companies. One relentless standard.
Joe co-founded Canvas on Demand alongside his business partner Tom Lotrecchiano. Through aggressive market positioning and operational excellence, they engineered the company's exponential trajectory — driving Canvas on Demand to #283 on the INC 500 list of America's fastest-growing private companies and earning Joe a nod as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
Following the successful acquisition of Canvas on Demand by CafePress, Joe served as Chief Marketing Officer, commanding an annual revenue portfolio exceeding $350 million, spearheading five strategic corporate acquisitions, and playing a key leadership role in guiding the organization through its successful IPO.
Joe duplicated this hyper-growth model as co-founder of CustomerHD, a premium global Business Process Outsourcing platform. CustomerHD secured the #518 spot on the INC 500 and earned recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in North Carolina. Today, the operation provides over 500 of the most sought-after jobs in Belize City, Belize.
The Shift
8 million people united against modern slavery.
In 2013, Joe made a deliberate strategic shift — turning his digital marketing and enterprise-scaling expertise toward the global abolition movement fighting to free the more than 40 million individuals trapped in modern slavery.
He is the founder of Freedom United (freedomunited.org), which has grown into the world's largest anti-slavery movement. Leveraging modern digital advocacy infrastructure, Freedom United unites a global community of more than 8 million supporters, a partner network of over 70 international non-profits, over 18 million recorded advocacy actions, and more than 100 targeted campaigns spanning every corner of the globe.
Beyond the Ventures
Investor. Author. Board member.
Beyond his primary ventures, Joe actively backs next-generation founders as an angel investor and growth advisor. His commercial and advisory portfolio includes companies such as GetStealz.com, LegacyBox, CulturesForHealth.com, and FilterEasy.com.
Joe previously served on the Board for the $2 Billion Wesleyan Investment Foundation, overseeing strategic capital allocation and investments into thousands of churches across the United States.
Alongside Tom Lotrecchiano, Joe co-authored Entremanureship — an unvarnished look at the grit required to build sustainable businesses, directly challenging the misconception that business ownership is a world of glitz and glamour.
On stage
A speaker built from real experience.
Joe is an international speaker and consultant who has addressed audiences at institutions and industry events globally, including the United Nations University, Crowdsourcing Week, and eTail. He speaks frequently on applying cutting-edge digital growth engines to modern humanitarian movements and high-scale e-commerce operations.
Past venues & partners
The man behind the mission.
Joe resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife of 27 years and their three daughters.
Book Joe to speak.
Joe speaks at corporate events, leadership summits, and conferences worldwide. Inquiries are reviewed personally.