Genesis Systems

Erick Went is the Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) for Genesis Systems. Described as a “big thinker” and a “foresight machine,” Erick has a track record for implementing practical applications of emerging technologies to create disruptive competitive advantages.

Erick is passionate about distilling complex business problems down to their practical essence. He has managed large-scale innovation engagements for companies ranging from Fortune 100 companies to early stage startups. Partnering with universities and venture-backed startups, Erick has developed forward-thinking scenarios and roadmaps that communicate the innovation potential of a core technology/process at the earliest possible stages, helping to protect, project, and expand the scope of intellectual property claims and long-term competitiveness.

Physicist and mathematician to the core, Erick engineered a hydrogen car in 1992 based on a radical new motor design. He spent a decade taking a blend of first principles thinking and customer centric design to ventures in South America, Europe, and Asia, with successful exits in each company. On returning to California, Erick transitioned from pure tech to impact tech as founder of Matter Labs which focuses on projects that “Matter” (saving and changing lives).

A Silicon Valley native, Erick founded Higher Standard Solutions – a Strategic Technology company which he led to steady profitability from year one, and which continues to provide solutions to some of the biggest companies in the world. He also developed an anti-opioid behavior modification platform, a stem cell lab, a nonprofit health assessment and social safety net scoring algorithm, vertical farms, farms in containers, and tiny farms to ship to hungry people around the world.

Erick has experience working with global leaders on corporate strategies and transformation and has served as CTO and CIO for multi-million dollar enterprises. Eric graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he majored in physics and mathematics. As CINO for Genesis Systems, Erick is committed to bringing a positive impact to the world and personally is committed to mentoring and advising others trying to do the same.