• From NYC startups to AI & Hard Tech in the Hudson Valley

• 4x founder, 2 modest exits, 2 still active, $40M raised

• Sold nearly $500M in goods/services across 200+ companies and 100+ product launches

Matthew is a seasoned 0→1/1→n operator focused on Growth & Digital Product. Over 15+ years, he’s co-founded, scaled, advised, and occasionally unwound bold ventures across ecommerce, media, blockchain, and AI.

He began with Nine Lines, a data-driven marketing agency he cofounded with his wife. They served 50+ DTC brands, created General Assembly’s Digital Marketing course (taught to 10,000+ professionals globally), and were acquired by a Boston venture studio.

Next: Civil, a crypto-backed attempt to reinvent journalism. Backed by Consensys and partnered with AP, Forbes, and WordPress, Civil built a decentralized governance protocol, funded 15 newsrooms, and helped launch award-winning outlets like Block Club Chicago, Colorado Sun, and Documented.

Then came Serotonin, a crypto-native marketing agency and product studio that scaled to 100+ people and 8-figure revenue in under three years. There, Matthew incubated Mojito (a Shopify for NFTs), landed Sotheby’s as anchor client, and spun it out after raising $20M from Sotheby’s, NEA, and CAA. Mojito sold $150M+ in NFTs before the 2022 crash.

Since 2023, he’s pivoted into AI & Robotics, serving as Head of Growth at Rootstrap ($20M ARR), EIR at Prehype (NYC incubator), and advisor to NY Robotics. He’s a General Partner at Place Partners to invest in AI & hard tech across America’s high-potential exurbs.

He and his wife have two kids and have lived in Newburgh, NY for 6 years.

Why do you want to lead this fund in the Hudson Valley?

I love the Hudson Valley, and I love America: its cities but also its exurbs. I believe there's never been a more crucial and exciting time in my lifetime for our country and countryland than right now as trends for reindustrialization pick up steam. You can check out my blog post on this here: https://www.place.partners/place-blog/the-next-big-wave-is-here

What are you bringing to the table?'

What I lack in direct investing experience, I make up for in spades with experience as a startup founder/operator and consultant to 100s of startups and large companies. I can vet and 'pick' entrepreneurs very well, and can provide them with founder/operator support unlike any other investor.