Who Is Zach Schleien? His Mission-Driven Founder Strategy

Epic Marketing Events Team September 9, 2026

Key Takeaways

Zach Schleien is the founder of the dating app Filteroff, which was successfully acquired.
He is a confirmed speaker at the Epic Marketing Summit in Miami, January 19-20, 2027.
His expertise lies in building and scaling mission-driven businesses, a key topic for modern entrepreneurs.
Schleien's experience offers valuable lessons on product development, user acquisition, and successful company exits.
He advocates for proving a company's mission through tangible actions and community building.
Founders can learn from him how to align their business model with a core mission to drive growth and impact.
His session at the summit will likely cover strategies for founders, coaches, and consultants to create valuable, acquirable brands.

Part of our guide to Marketing Conference Speakers

TL;DR

Zach Schleien is the entrepreneur who founded the video speed dating app Filteroff, which he successfully scaled and sold. He is a recognized expert in building and exiting mission-driven companies. Schleien is a confirmed speaker at the upcoming Epic Marketing Summit in Miami, taking place January 19 and 20, 2027. His session will provide a playbook for coaches, SaaS founders, agency owners, and course creators on how to build a brand with a powerful mission, drive growth, and engineer a successful acquisition. This is your opportunity to learn directly from a founder who has successfully navigated the entire business lifecycle.

If you're searching for information on Zach Schleien, you've likely encountered his name in discussions around entrepreneurship, startups, and successful exits. Zach Schleien is the founder of Filteroff, a dating app that was acquired, cementing his reputation as a savvy entrepreneur who knows how to build and scale a digital product. More importantly, he is a key voice in the conversation around creating mission-driven businesses.

For coaches, consultants, and founders, Schleien's journey offers a powerful and relevant blueprint. And you'll have the chance to learn from him directly: Zach Schleien is a confirmed speaker at the Epic Marketing Summit, January 19 and 20, 2027, in Miami. This article dives into his background, his philosophy on business, and what you can expect to learn from his session.

The Entrepreneur Behind Filteroff: A Founder's Journey

Understanding Zach Schleien begins with understanding his most well-known venture, Filteroff. His experience isn't just a resume line item; it's a case study in modern product development, community building, and strategic exits.

What Was Filteroff?

Filteroff was a video speed dating app designed to create more authentic connections online. Instead of endless swiping and texting, Filteroff organized virtual speed dating events where users could meet each other face-to-face through short video chats. This "video-first" approach was a direct response to the fatigue many users felt with traditional dating apps. It was built on the premise that genuine interaction, not just a profile picture, is the foundation of a real relationship. For founders, this demonstrates a key principle: solve a real, deeply felt problem for your target audience.

The Significance of the Acquisition

The research about Schleien consistently notes one key detail: "Filteroff (acquired)". An acquisition is a major validation point for any founder. It signifies that the business they built was not only profitable or popular but also valuable and robust enough for another company to purchase. This is the goal for many SaaS founders and entrepreneurs.

For the Epic Marketing Events community, this is particularly relevant:

For SaaS Founders: It's a testament to building a product with strong intellectual property, a loyal user base, and scalable infrastructure.
For Agency Owners: It shows the value of creating a business with repeatable processes and a strong brand that can operate and thrive even if the founder steps away.
For Coaches and Consultants: It highlights the possibility of productizing your expertise into an asset (like a platform or app) that has enterprise value beyond your personal time.

An acquisition is the ultimate proof of concept. It demonstrates that you have created true, transferable value in the marketplace. Zach's experience provides a rare look into how to build a business with the end in mind from day one.

The "Mission-Driven Business": More Than Just Profit

Beyond the successful exit, Zach Schleien is a proponent of building a "mission-driven business." A LinkedIn post mentions his proposal for a panel titled "Prove Your Mission-Driven Business." This isn't just a buzzword; it's a strategic framework for building a brand that lasts.

A mission-driven business is one that aligns its operations, marketing, and growth strategies around a central purpose that goes beyond profit. It's about making an impact, solving a meaningful problem, and building a community around shared values. According to authoritative voices in business, this approach can lead to higher employee engagement and customer loyalty.

Why Your Mission Is Your Greatest Marketing Asset

In a saturated market, a strong mission is a powerful differentiator. It gives customers a reason to choose you over a competitor, even if your price is higher. It's the story that people connect with and want to be a part of.

For a Coach: Your mission might be to help first-generation entrepreneurs overcome imposter syndrome. This is far more compelling than simply saying you are a "business coach."
For a SaaS Founder: Your mission could be to democratize financial literacy for young adults. This mission guides every feature you build and every piece of content you create.
For an Agency Owner: Your mission could be to help non-profits amplify their message using cutting-edge AI marketing. This attracts both clients and team members who believe in that cause.

A clear mission simplifies your marketing. It becomes the north star for your content, your ad copy, your social media presence, and your brand voice. It attracts your ideal clients and repels those who aren't a good fit, saving you time and resources.

How to "Prove" Your Mission: Turning Words into Action

The key word in Schleien's proposed panel is "Prove." A mission statement on a website is meaningless without action. Proving your mission means embedding it into the very fabric of your business.

Here’s how you can apply this concept:

Product/Service Alignment: Your core offering must be a direct vehicle for your mission. If your mission is to promote sustainable living, your products should be ethically sourced and eco-friendly. Filteroff's mission of authentic connection was proven through its video-first functionality.
Content Strategy: Create content that serves your mission, not just your sales goals. If your mission is to empower female founders, your blog, podcast, and social media should be filled with resources, interviews, and success stories that do exactly that. This builds authority and trust. For inspiration, see how speakers like Alicia Lyttle have built empires around empowering others through digital skills.
Community Building: A mission gives people something to rally around. Build a community (a Facebook group, a Slack channel, in-person meetups) where your audience can connect with each other and with your brand on a deeper level. This community becomes a powerful moat around your business.
Strategic Partnerships: Partner with other organizations, influencers, or companies that share your mission. This amplifies your message and lends third-party credibility to your cause.

Lessons from an Acquisition: What Founders Can Learn from Zach Schleien

Combining the journey of an acquired founder with a mission-driven philosophy creates a powerful playbook for success. Entrepreneurs attending the Epic Marketing Summit can gain insights from Zach Schleien's LinkedIn profile and his talks that are hard-won from direct experience.

Building to Sell vs. Building for Impact: You Can Do Both

There's a common misconception that founders must choose between building a business for a profitable exit or building one for positive impact. Schleien's story suggests this is a false choice. A strong, proven mission can dramatically increase a company's valuation.

Acquirers aren't just buying a product or a customer list; they are often buying a brand, a story, and a loyal community. A mission-driven company comes with a built-in, passionate audience and a clear brand identity, which are incredibly valuable and difficult-to-replicate assets. This makes the company more attractive to potential buyers, not less.

Key Metrics for an Acquirable, Mission-Driven Brand

If you want to build a business that is both impactful and acquirable, you need to track the right metrics. While revenue and profit are crucial, a mission-driven framework requires you to look deeper:

Community Engagement: How active is your audience? Look at metrics like daily active users in your community, comments on posts, and user-generated content.
Brand Sentiment: What are people saying about your brand online? Monitor social media mentions and reviews for positive sentiment tied to your mission.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Mission-driven brands often have a higher CLV because customers are more loyal and more likely to buy additional products or services.
Net Promoter Score (NPS): A high NPS indicates that your customers are not just satisfied; they are advocates for your brand, which is a sign of a strong mission resonance.

The Founder's Role in a Successful Exit

The path to an acquisition is complex. Schleien's experience can shed light on the founder's critical role in:

Positioning: Clearly articulating the company's value proposition and mission to potential acquirers.
Due Diligence: Maintaining clean financials, documentation, and operational processes to ensure a smooth transaction.
Negotiation: Understanding the levers that create value in a deal beyond the final price tag, such as team integration and the future of the brand's mission.

Your Chance to Learn from Zach Schleien at Epic Marketing Summit 2027

Reading about these concepts is one thing. Learning them directly from a founder who has lived them is another. Zach Schleien's session at the Epic Marketing Summit in Miami (January 19 and 20, 2027) is a must-attend for any serious entrepreneur.

You will have the opportunity to move beyond theory and get into the practical application of these strategies. His talk is ideal for:

Coaches and Consultants: Learn how to build a powerful personal brand around a core mission that attracts high-ticket clients and creates a lasting legacy.
Agency Owners: Discover how to differentiate your agency in a crowded market by adopting a mission that resonates with both ideal clients and top talent.
SaaS Founders: Get firsthand insight on how to embed a mission into your product roadmap and prepare your company for a successful acquisition.
Course Creators: Understand how to build a thriving community around your educational content, driven by a shared purpose that increases student success and retention.

Zach Schleien joins a curated lineup of expert speakers, including YouTube Ads expert Aleric Heck and webinar strategist Stefan Ciancio, all focused on providing actionable strategies for growth. If you want to see the caliber of our past sessions, you can explore our library of recordings from past events.

Why Epic Marketing Summit is the Right Room for Your Growth

There are many marketing conferences, but Epic Marketing Summit is different. We focus on three pillars: Learn, Connect, Grow. We intentionally create an environment designed for founders, not just employees.

Founder-Level Networking: We cap attendance to ensure you are not just a face in the crowd. You will connect with other agency owners, SaaS founders, and high-level coaches in an intimate setting.
Actionable Curriculum: Our sessions are deep dives, not surface-level talks. You will leave with strategies you can implement immediately, especially in cutting-edge areas of AI and marketing automation. If you are looking to level up your skills before the event, our AI Authority Accelerator program is the perfect place to start.
Direct Speaker Access: Our speakers, including Zach Schleien, are part of the event. They participate, network, and are accessible for conversations, providing value far beyond what you get from a webinar or a large-scale event.

Join Us and Grow Your Mission-Driven Business

Zach Schleien's journey from founder to acquired entrepreneur offers a wealth of knowledge. His focus on building a mission-driven business provides a strategic advantage that can redefine your growth trajectory. The best place to learn these strategies is not from a blog post, but directly from the source in a room full of your peers.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn and connect. Check out our full list of upcoming events to see all our offerings. Ready to transform your business? Secure your spot for the Epic Marketing Summit on January 19 and 20, 2027, in Miami by visiting the official site at https://epicmarketingsummit.com/ today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Zach Schleien?

Zach Schleien is an entrepreneur best known as the founder of the dating app Filteroff, which was acquired. He is a speaker on topics like building mission-driven businesses and will be speaking at the Epic Marketing Summit in January 2027.

What is Zach Schleien known for?

Zach Schleien is primarily known for creating and successfully exiting the company Filteroff. He is also recognized for his focus on building mission-driven companies, a topic he speaks about at industry events.

What company did Zach Schleien found?

Zach Schleien founded Filteroff, a video speed dating app that was later acquired. His journey with Filteroff provides a case study in modern entrepreneurship and successful exits.

Is Zach Schleien speaking at any upcoming conferences?

Yes, Zach Schleien is a confirmed speaker for the Epic Marketing Summit, which takes place from January 19 and 20, 2027, in Miami.

What will Zach Schleien talk about at the Epic Marketing Summit?

Based on his background with Filteroff and his focus on 'mission-driven business,' Zach Schleien is expected to discuss strategies for founders on how to build, scale, and successfully exit a company that is built around a core mission.

What is a 'mission-driven business'?

A mission-driven business is a company that prioritizes a stated mission or purpose beyond just making a profit. This mission guides its strategy, operations, and brand identity, aiming to make a positive impact on society or its community.