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Prior to founding Base, Erik spent 15 years as a top performer in investment banking at Merrill Lynch. During that time, he made several angel investments, including Zappos, Agencourt Biosciences, and PlanGrid. His successes and support for driven founders spurred the move to invest full-time. Featured in publications such as the WSJ and USA Today, Erik is now regularly referred to as one of the most prominent African Americans in technology. In 2013, Business Insider named him one of the ten most influential blacks in Silicon Valley. In 2016, he was recognized with the Next Generation of Excellence Achievement Award by the Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce. In 2017, he received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Wharton’s Trailblazer Award for his achievements in venture capital, and was named a Ford Man of Courage.

Erik is a board member of The Common Ground Foundation—founded by award-winning artist, Common. He was recently named to the city of Oakland’s Fund Advisory Board and serves on the advisory board of the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). He’s a former board member of Russell Simmons's Art for Life and served the East Bay College Fund for nearly a decade as a board member and mentor. Erik is also a former Trustee of Saint Mary's College High School in Berkeley—his alma mater where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, tutored French, and captained the football team.

Erik earned his B.A. from Dartmouth College, his M.A. in International Studies/French from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, and his MBA from The Wharton School of Business. He is an active alum, regularly speaking at Silicon Valley Wharton and Dartmouth events. Through all his work, his most important role is father to 14-year-old Blair, whose accolades and accomplishments put Erik’s to shame.