Alongside his product management career, Paka and business partner Eric Dates are building a portfolio of niche consumer brands. The parent company is still taking shape (the name is TBD), but the model is clear: build brand IP and creative direction in-house, keep overhead near zero through AI-assisted design and print-on-demand fulfillment, and use algorithmic ad targeting to find the right audiences without a traditional marketing team.

Brands

Heavy Meds A pharmaceutical-parody apparel brand that uses the visual language of death metal and prescription packaging to destigmatize conversations around mental health. Built for metalheads, therapy veterans, and anyone who’s ever joked that music is cheaper than a copay.

Novelty Pickleball Lifestyle apparel and accessories for pickleball enthusiasts with discerning taste. Less paddle-club uniform, more wearable wit for people who take the game seriously without taking themselves too seriously.

What’s Next

Additional brands and software products are in development, spanning niche consumer fashion, professional tools, and novelty sports gear. More to come.