About
NICE TO MEET YOU
I'm David Aheimer
Dave’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 9 with the realization that his dwindling candy supply would soon require replenishment. Understanding the elementary school lunchroom was an untapped market with significant demand he launched and grew rapidly, gaining notoriety and unwelcome attention from the school administration who promptly shuttered the budding enterprise as it compromised vending machine margins.
In 2011, he built an Internet retail company from only $10,000 in savings out of a garage. It was awarded the Weatherhead 100 for the fastest-growing company by 2286.28% from 2012 to 2017. In 2020, fueled by a 35% pandemic growth spike, he successfully exited. After which, Dave relocated to his second home in Brazil where he enjoys spending time with his wife Flavia, and their two children. Today, Dave maintains equity interest in several businesses while operating a strategic advisory practice where he blends 10 years of experience as a CEO, 6 years operating EOS, and 5 years utilizing Culture Index.
Meet Dave: The Mind Behind Bootstrap Millionaires
Dave’s journey is one of resilience, transformation, and relentless pursuit of freedom. From growing up in the South and experiencing the highs of financial stability to facing the lows of bankruptcy and personal struggles, his path was anything but linear. At 27, with just $50 in borrowed gas money and a basket of dirty laundry, he found himself back in Cleveland, living in his mother’s basement and starting over—again.
Determined to change his life, Dave embraced entrepreneurship as his way out. With a deep hunger for knowledge, he bootstrapped his first business from a spare bedroom, turning a $10,000 investment into a multi-million-dollar enterprise in just a few years. But success alone wasn’t enough. He redefined his “win”—shifting from chasing money to chasing impact, freedom, and purpose.
Today, Dave is an international entrepreneur, author, and mentor, dedicated to helping others break free from financial and personal limitations. Through Bootstrap Millionaires, he shares hard-won lessons, strategies, and a community-driven approach to achieving success. His mission? To inspire and equip one million entrepreneurs to build wealth, not just for themselves, but for their families and communities.
Bootstrap Millionaires isn’t just about making money—it’s about reclaiming your life, setting your own rules, and lifting others as you rise. If you’re ready to start your journey, welcome home.
Dave’s Work History: From Employee to Entrepreneur
Dave’s work journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the pursuit of financial freedom. From working factory jobs as a teenager to climbing the corporate ladder in branding and licensing, he quickly realized that true success meant creating something of his own. He bootstrapped his first business, ArtWall, from a spare bedroom, scaling it to a multi-million-dollar company before exiting successfully in 2021. With a passion for entrepreneurship, he transitioned into real estate, business investments, and mentoring through Bootstrap Millionaires. His story proves that with perseverance, self-education, and calculated risks, anyone can break free from financial limitations and build a life on their terms.
1
Early Jobs & Factory Work (Late 1990s)
- Started working at 17 years old after dropping out of high school.
- Worked as a Teamster in Walton Hills, Ohio, making $5.15 per hour stamping angle iron for trundle beds.
- Did odd jobs and lived in unstable conditions, trying to find direction.
2
Graphic Design & Printing Industry (Early 2000s)
- Worked at Academy Blue Printing for one year. Suffered a traumatic hand injury in the 1st week of the job. This inspired him to seek an education at PTI
- Worked as a lab assistant in college, helping others while developing his own technical skills.
- Got a job at a printing company in Heidelberg, PA, which laid the foundation for his future business ventures.
3
Corporate Career at Trademark (2007–2012)
- Started as a graphic designer and climbed the ranks to VP of Brand Licensing and Product Development.
- Managed a division generating $5M in annual sales.
- Was denied a 6 figure salary motivating him to look for an exit.
- Realized he wanted financial freedom and began planning his own business.
4
Entrepreneurship & Founding ArtWall (2010–2021)
- 2010: Launched ArtWall, an online print manufacturing business, from a spare bedroom.
- 2011-2016: Scaled the business to $3M in revenue in just 36 months, expanded to a 30,000 sq. ft. facility with 35 employees.
- 2016: Faced business partner conflicts and legal battles.
- 2019: Artwall suffered a 40% reduction in revenue
- 2020: The business grew by 60% overnight with the pandemic
- 2021: Successfully sold ArtWall, achieving financial freedom and completing the entrepreneurial cycle
5
Post-Exit: Real Estate & Business Investments (2021–Present)
- Took a one-year vacation, traveling the world.
- Invested in real estate and new business ventures, including construction and entrepreneurship coaching.
- Founded Bootstrap Millionaires, a premier business consultancy and education platform dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business owners with strategic insights, high-impact coaching, and actionable frameworks to achieve financial freedom and sustainable business growth.
Dave’s Educational Journey
Dave’s education is a testament to resilience, self-reinvention, and lifelong learning. Despite early setbacks, he used every opportunity to grow, ultimately leveraging his knowledge to build a successful entrepreneurial career.
1
Pittsburgh Technical Institute (PTI) – Late 1990s
- Initially struggled, and got expelled due to poor performance.
- Took a hiatus, then fought to get reinstated, demonstrating (embodying) resilience.
- Balanced rigorous coursework, counseling sessions, and part-time jobs.
- Gained hands-on experience working for a printing company and as a lab assistant, setting the foundation for his career in design and branding.
- Graduated with honors in 2001 with an Associates Degree in Multimedia.
- Awarded the Calageri Award for Excellence and Leadership from the school that had previously expelled him.
2
Duquesne University – Early 2000s
- Earned a scholarship from his work at P.T.I
- Accepted into Carnegie Mellon University but did not attend due to lack of financial support.
- Focused on business, branding, and leadership.
- Graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in Multimedia with honors.
3
Self-Education, Business Learning & Masterminds
- Engaged in continuous self-improvement through books, mentorship, and hands-on experience.
- Participated in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program (2013), expanding his entrepreneurial knowledge.
- Member Entrepreneurs’ Organization (2014 - 2021), refining leadership and networking skills.
- Attended Wharton at Upenn Elevating Finance & Operations: 2016
- Attended MIT Entrepenurial Masters Program: 2018 - 2020
- Served on the Board of Entrepreneurs Organization (2017 - 2020) in Cleveland - 2020 culminating with the deposition of the Learning Chair responsible for the educational calendar in a chapter of 150 Entrepreneurs
- Member Gobundance (2022 - Current)
Core Beliefs
- DRIVE Relentless action to form good habits is necessary to achieve your GOALS.
- PURPOSE Memento mori, enjoying your life is critical to SUCCESS.
- CLARITY Men must align who they are with what they do to be AUTHENTIC.
- HONOR Living by your values creates the foundation necessary for LEADERSHIP.
- RESPONSIBILITY Doing what you say you are going to do is the heart of ACCOUNTABILITY.
