Born in Prague, Czech Republic. As a 10-year old, he was selected for math and physics prodigy experimental class, and continued on the math-physics path. He holds a M.Sc. in engineering from Tech University of Prague. He was a Czech champion in 400m hurdles, but was injured before the Olympic Games. He left athletics, traveled to 40 countries, and in 1984 moved to Boulder, Colorado.

1985 founded Crystal Market (CEO, Chair) that become Wild Oats Market, later sold to Whole Foods Market, now Amazon.

1986 founded Corporate Express (CEO, Chair), IPO 1994, Fortune 500 company, sold in 1999 with revenue of $4.7 billion and 24,000 employees, now Staples.

1999 become CEO, Chair of Gaiam (the yoga and DVD company he founded), IPO 1999, left CEO position in 2009 to return to athletics, sold Gaiam brand in 2016.

2001 founded Energy Tech (within Gaiam), later renamed Real Goods Solar (Chair), IPO in 2008, sold holdings in 2013.

2013 founded Gaia, a global video streamer (within Gaiam), in 2016 came back as a full time CEO, now Executive Chairman (NASDAQ GAIA).

2022 founded Igniton (CEO, Chair), a company focusing on improvements of cognitive functions, memory, longevity, etc. Igniton is based on 12-acre campus in Colorado and has distribution in 50 countries.