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
Content & Articles by Matt Stodder
LA Tech Week 2025 Day 2 Recap: Startup Growth – Tuesday Oct 14
After a packed AI Building Day, we continued LA Tech Week with Startup Growth Day, a full schedule of sessions focused on go-to-market strategy, founder journeys, and scaling startups in...
LA Tech Week 2025 Day 1 Recap: AI Building – Monday Oct 13
We hosted three full days of events during LA Tech Week, each one focused on helping founders learn, connect, and build with the latest in AI and startup growth. Day...
Using Customer Feedback to Build a Product that Customers Will Love
Customer feedback is the lifeblood of successful product development, but many startups struggle with collecting, validating, and prioritizing the constant stream of input from users, advisors, and internal teams. In...
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....