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
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,...
2025 New York Tech Week Recap Of Mucker Sessions
Last week during New York Tech Week 2025, we joined more than 1,000 events hosted by founders, investors, and VCs. This post is a full Mucker recap of the three...
How to Build a Customer Support Function for Startups Using AI Tools with Alex Velinov
Delivering high-quality customer support can be one of the most resource-draining parts of a startup. The good news: we’re at a turning point where founders can use AI tools to...
Zero → 100: The Exact Steps We Took to Close Our First 100 Paying Customers
Going from zero customers to 100 in just four months sounds impossible—unless you’re a founder willing to roll up your sleeves and hustle relentlessly. I’m Gaurav Bhattacharya, co-founder of Jeeva.ai,...