About Me

I’m Mark Taniguchi, a co-founder, designer, product marketer, and product marketer building and helping companies at the intersection of technology, creativity, and mental wellness.

At the heart of everything I do is a simple goal: to change one person’s life at a time. I believe the work we do matters most when it makes a real difference in someone’s life. That belief dictates how I build, how I treat people, and how I measure success.

My faith in God is a big part of who I am. It’s not something I want to speak about just for the sake of saying it. I want it to show through my actions, my character, and the way I treat others. I’m far from perfect, and I’m still learning every day, but I always put God first in my life and let Him guide the decisions I make.

What I’m Building

I’m the co-founder of Erly, an emotional wellness support system designed to help kids navigate their emotions and strengthen the care they receive.

Erly brings a child’s favorite stuffed animal or drawing to life as a digital buddy that provides emotional support and gives care providers real insight into a child’s life between visits.

I built Erly for my daughter. I’ve lived with anxiety for over 40 years, without medication, and watched my daughter face her own struggles with anxiety over the past seven years. I wanted to build something that could actually help her and other kids like her.

Alongside my co-founder, a neuroscientist specializing in child brain development, we’re building Erly to bridge the communication gap between children, parents, and care providers. The goal is to preserve emotional context between sessions and strengthen, not replace, human care.

I’m also the co-founder of FifthGT, a brand factory that builds high-performance websites, develops brands from the ground up, and helps local businesses grow through strategy, design, and digital marketing, including SEO, AEO, and GEO.

My Background

I’ve spent the past two decades launching products that reached customers around the world, working across design, product marketing, and brand building.

I’ve built high-level websites for local and national companies, led rebrands that improved brand perception and business performance, and helped businesses compete for top positions in search results.

Design is my craft, but impact is my focus. I’ve learned that great design without strategy is decoration, and strategy without a great experience falls short. The best work happens when design, strategy, and real value come together to create something people connect with.

I’ve also experienced failure along the way. Those experiences taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned any other way. They reminded me to focus less on the noise, stay grounded, and build things that come from the heart and bring value to others.

My Faith and Core Beliefs

My faith, my family, and the way I treat people matter more to me than titles or recognition. I want to build things I’m proud of, but I also want to be proud of the person I’m becoming along the way.

Three beliefs guide me:

Be Humble. There is always more to learn. Treat people with respect, stay grounded, and never think you’re above anyone else.

Have Integrity in Everything You Do. Do what’s right, even when no one is watching. Your word and your actions should mean something.

Believe in Yourself. Have faith, keep moving forward, and don’t give up on what you believe you’re called to do. As Mark 9:23 says, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

I don’t believe success is just about how much money you make, how many people know your name, or how big you build something. It’s about the lives you touch, the people you help, and the person you become in the process.

My goal is to make a difference one person at a time. If something I build, something I share, or something I do helps even one person move forward in life, then that matters to me.

Beyond Work

Outside of work, I’m a husband, father, pug dad, mental health advocate, ocean enthusiast, and minimalist typography designer..

If you’re building something meaningful and want to bring it to life with clarity and purpose, let’s connect.