Matt Stodder
Business Strategy and Operations Expert
at Upward Digital LLC
My work lies at the intersection of strategy, operations, and inner alignment. I partner with founders, CEOs, and mission-driven teams to clarify strategy, scale operations, and build cultures that align with purpose and people. Whether you’re navigating growth, rethinking leadership, or facing complexity, I offer grounded, experienced support.
My background spans global tech (Apple, Yahoo), editorial innovation (LA Times), startups, and advisory roles across climate tech, media, and other ventures. I’ve built and led teams, shaped brand and product strategies, supported M&A, and coached leaders through major transitions.
At heart, I believe leadership isn’t just about scaling companies—it’s about scaling wisdom.
Let’s connect if you’re:
- Scaling a startup and need strategic or operational guidance
- Seeking a trusted Chief of Staff or senior advisor
- Looking for executive coaching or team alignment
- Hiring for purpose-driven leadership or organizational design
Articles by Matt Stodder
How Shaun Merritt Vibe-Coded Karrot.ai As A Solo Builder
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Shaun Merritt, cofounder and CTO of Karrot.ai, a LinkedIn ABM tool. Shaun was kind enough to share a comprehensive breakdown of how...
7 Steps to Build a Product That Sells Itself
The Founder’s Mental Health Playbook: What I Learned After Nearly Burning Out
A hard-won guide to staying mentally healthy while building a startup I founded Stitcher, the podcast platform, in 2007 and ran it for seven years until we sold in 2014....
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) for Early Stage Companies
In our latest session from the Mucker Growth Series featuring Ethan Smith from Graphite, we explored AEO, a significant new approach for optimizing visibility in AI-driven search, particularly relevant as...
Startup Guide to AI Visibility: Be the Brand ChatGPT Recommends
Introduction Today, users aren’t just searching on Google. They’re asking ChatGPT, Claude, Google’s Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI systems for advice. AI visibility is the new frontier of brand awareness....
Practical Uses of AI & Automation for Startup Operations
In a recent Mucker Growth Series session, we invited Rock Vitale, Founder & CEO of Easie, to share how he’s helped early-stage teams move from manual, fragmented workflows to streamlined,...