# MichaelAaron Flicker

> MichaelAaron Flicker is the founder and CEO of XenoPsi Ventures, a New York-based brand incubator that combines financial, marketing and intellectual capital. He started XenoPsi with a high school classmate in 1997, leads a portfolio of professional services and consumer businesses, and co-founded the Consumer Behavior Lab with Richard Shotton. They co-host Behavioral Science for Brands and co-authored Hacking the Human Mind (2025).

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at XenoPsi Ventures
- **Organizations:** XenoPsi Ventures, Method1, Function Growth, Z/Axis Strategies, Wellow, Fizz District, Consumer Behavior Lab, Shady Rays, Cape Tide, Super Science Saturday
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, Honors Program, Boston College
- **Known for:** Named to NJBIZ’s 2022 Forty Under 40., XenoPsi entered the Inc. 5000 in 2022 at No. 4,625, with reported three-year growth of 93%., Wellow generated more than $1 million in sales in its first seven months, according to a 2022 company spotlight.

## Career timeline

- **1997** — Founded XenoPsi with a high school classmate as an internet programming business.
- **2005** — Graduated from college; XenoPsi added business consulting.
- **2007** — XenoPsi added political consulting.
- **2009** — XenoPsi added marketing and advertising.
- **2014** — XenoPsi opened its New York headquarters with 30 full-time team members.
- **2018** — XenoPsi opened its venture fund and employed more than 60 full-time team members.
- **2021-11** — Launched Wellow without outside investment.
- **2022** — XenoPsi transitioned to separate operating companies; launched Consumer Behavior Lab with Richard Shotton.
- **2025-09** — Hacking the Human Mind, co-authored with Richard Shotton, was published.

## Achievements

- Named to NJBIZ’s 2022 Forty Under 40.
- XenoPsi entered the Inc. 5000 in 2022 at No. 4,625, with reported three-year growth of 93%.
- Wellow generated more than $1 million in sales in its first seven months, according to a 2022 company spotlight.
- Co-authored Hacking the Human Mind, examining the behavioral science behind 17 brands.
- Accepted the 2015 New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Advancement of Invention & Process Award with Jim Wallace on behalf of the Super Science Saturday executive committee.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Co-hosted episode 139 of Behavioral Science for Brands, analyzing a KitKat campaign through scarcity, the Zeigarnik effect and the IKEA effect.
- **2026-03** — Appeared on School for Startups Radio to discuss Hacking the Human Mind, brand case studies and ethical persuasion.
- **2026-01** — The hundredth Behavioral Science for Brands episode looks back at prior episodes and discusses plans for 2026.
- **2025-12** — Featured in episode 448 of A Geek Leader, discussing behavioral science and leadership.
- **2025-09** — Hacking the Human Mind was published, co-authored with Richard Shotton.

## Links

- Website: https://xenopsi.com/michaelaaronflicker.php
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaaron-flicker
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheConsumerBehaviorLab

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/michaelaaron-flicker
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09