Mathias Ihlenfeld
My Mission: To inspire others to become the best version of themselves—through business and personal reflections, tools, and practices I actually use. This is for founders, leaders, and anyone creating a life with clarity, balance, and meaning.
I’m Mathias Ihlenfeld — father of Luca (13) and Sofia (10), entrepreneur, coach, author, investor, and consultant. At the heart of my life is family: raising my kids with love and resilience, and building an intentional partnership with Doralicia Rivera, rooted in curiosity, purpose, and joy. My mission is simple: to inspire others to become the best version of themselves — in business, in relationships, and in life.
I use this platform to share stories, lessons, and events from my journey — both the entrepreneurial wins and the deeply personal transformations that have shaped who I am today.
I grew up in Germany, the son of hard-working parents, Albrecht and Lucia Ihlenfeld, who taught me resilience, optimism, and grit. I came to the U.S. with nothing more than three tennis rackets and a toothbrush and began playing college tennis in Monroe, Louisiana, before earning my MBA at the University of Alabama. That chance reshaped my life and eventually set me on a path to entrepreneurship.
Before launching woom, I built a career in consulting, including work with IBM as a Managing Consultant in the Financial Management Practice. I later founded Ihlenfeld Consulting LLC, advising clients on SAP, financial transformation, and business operations. These experiences gave me the tools to lead complex projects, build scalable systems, and coach executives — skills that became invaluable when I transitioned into entrepreneurship.
In 2014, I founded woom bikes USA and bootstrapped it from $0 to $20M+ in revenue within six years, making it one of North America’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer kids’ bike brands. Under my leadership, woom earned 3× Inc. 5000 honors, including a 742% three-year growth rate, and recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. In 2021, I helped merge the U.S. and European operations, ultimately leading the combined $100M global business as CEO in 2022 and 2023. Along the way, I was named a Vistage Impact Leadership Award winner and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
But success on paper didn’t mean fulfillment. Behind the scenes, I faced burnout, a difficult marriage, divorce, and the sudden loss of my children’s mother. Those experiences shook me to the core — but they also opened the door to transformation. I turned toward meditation, coaching, and deep inner work. I’ve been coached by some of the best teachers in the United States on awareness, mindset, leadership, and emotional intelligence — work that shaped how I now guide others.
I’m also an author and record guided meditations, which you can find on Insight Timer. I constantly expand my learning and am a certified Spiritual Coach through the Awakened Academy. I also completed the Ascension Leadership Academy program and was blessed to coach there — an experience that deepened my belief in transformation through presence, courage, and service.
Out of this journey came The R.E.C.L.A.I.M. Code™ — my framework for helping divorced high-performers rebuild their lives. Today, my coaching and consulting practice includes business coaching for founders and early-stage startups, structured programs for business owners who want clarity, growth, and better systems, and consulting for companies seeking transformation in finance, leadership, and operations.
For established companies generating $5M+ in revenue, I lead the Birthing of Giants Regional Cohort. Birthing of Giants (BOG) is a highly selective, MBA-style leadership program designed for founders and CEOs of companies generating $5M–$500M in revenue. Its mission is to equip growth-minded entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies, and peer support they need to scale, maximize enterprise value, and prepare for successful exits or long-term sustainability.
I also mentor with SKU, work one-on-one with individuals, and invest in purpose-driven companies — supporting founders who are building businesses with impact and integrity. I write openly on my Substack, by Mathias, where I share the real lessons I’ve learned — the wins, the losses, and the hard truths in between.
When I’m not coaching, consulting, and mentoring, you’ll find me cycling through Austin, journaling, meditating, or traveling with our family. These moments keep me grounded, connected, and alive to what matters most.
I am the man who shows up fully.
I am the father who is present.
I am the friend who listens deeply.
I am the partner who gives with love.
I am the leader who leads with integrity.
I am the human who grows with courage.
I am the light in the room.
I am the peace in the chaos.
I am the strength after the storm.
I am the dreamer and the doer.
I am becoming who I was always meant to be.