About Rich Schefren
Rich Schefren is a business strategist and founder of Strategic Profits (2004), known as the "Guru to the Gurus" for coaching many of today's top online marketers before they became famous. He is the only consultant with a $1 billion testimonial — for growing Agora Publishing from $220M to $1.25B in one year. His clients have generated over $15 billion in additional revenue. He now helps serious founders develop strategist-class AI advantage as an AI Strategist.
Rich wrote the Internet Business Manifesto (2006) — the first viral business PDF in internet marketing, with over 5 million downloads. He invented the automated webinar (2008), founded the first online business coaching company (2004), and built the first drip-learning membership platform online.
In 2025, Rich had his best revenue year in over two decades — $2.24M net, a 54% year-over-year increase — directly attributed to his AI operating system. He built 217+ custom AI skills, 28+ specialized agents, and over 1,400 frameworks. He now teaches founders to build those same systems.
$15B+
Client Revenue Generated
729K+
Entrepreneurs Coached
Career Timeline
1997
Built a hypnosis center chain to $13.5M/year by age 26
2004
Founded Strategic Profits — the first online business coaching company
2006
Published the Internet Business Manifesto — first viral business PDF, 5M+ downloads
2007
Strategic Profits first year: $7.4M revenue
2008
Invented the automated webinar — an industry first adopted by Filsaime, Brunson, and Kern
~2010
Grew Agora Publishing from $220M to $1.25B in one year — the only $1 billion testimonial in consulting
2025
$2.24M net revenue (+54% YoY) — best year in 20+ years — powered by AI operating system
2026
Launched AI Strategist — teaching founders to build strategist-class AI advantage
Founders Rich Has Coached
Rich coached many of today's top online marketers before they became famous:
Russell Brunson
Founder, ClickFunnels
Ryan Deiss
Founder, DigitalMarketer
Frank Kern
Direct Response Legend
Todd Brown
Marketing Funnel Authority
Mike Filsaime
WebinarJam, Groove
Jeff Walker
Product Launch Formula
Enterprise Clients
Rich has consulted for Agora Publishing, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Motley Fool, TheStreet.com, Boardroom Publishing, and Weiss Research, among others.
Featured In
Forbes
Wall Street Journal
Newsweek
Vogue
ABC
NBC
FOX
CNN
MSNBC
Discovery Channel
Education
Case Western Reserve University — Accounting, Summa Cum Laude. Arthur Andersen Merit Scholarship recipient.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AI Strategist?
An AI Strategist is a founder who uses artificial intelligence to improve the quality of their thinking — producing clearer perception, cleaner decisions, and compounding strategic leverage — rather than merely accelerating output. Rich Schefren coined the term to distinguish founders who use AI as a thinking tool from those who use it only for tasks or workflow optimization.
Why is Rich Schefren called the "Guru to the Gurus"?
Rich earned this title because he coached many of today's most successful online marketers — including Russell Brunson (ClickFunnels), Ryan Deiss (DigitalMarketer), Frank Kern, Todd Brown, Mike Filsaime, and Jeff Walker — before they became famous. His strategic guidance helped shape the modern online marketing industry.
What is the $1 billion testimonial?
Rich Schefren is the only business consultant with a $1 billion testimonial. He consulted for Agora Publishing and helped grow the company from $220 million to $1.25 billion in revenue in a single year — a result publicly confirmed by Agora's leadership.
What is the Internet Business Manifesto?
The Internet Business Manifesto is a business strategy document published by Rich Schefren in 2006. It was the first viral PDF in internet marketing history, reaching over 5 million downloads. The manifesto introduced the distinction between "Opportunity Seekers" and "Strategic Entrepreneurs" and argued that most online business owners were building businesses that trapped them rather than freed them.
What programs does Rich Schefren offer?
Rich offers several programs through AI Strategist: ZenithMind OS (a 4-week cohort where founders build their own AI operating system), ZenithMind Elite (advanced AI implementation), Force Multiplier (10-day AI team training intensive), ZenithPro (premium coaching membership), and Connect The Dots (live strategic events).
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Last updated: April 11, 2026