Matt Walker

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thematthewwalker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_MW
Santa Monica, CA
Member since August 23, 2016

Driven by a blend of passion and empirical evaluation. Life-learner with a growth mindset and background in business, economics, and psychology. Quote_down

About

Investor interests

Locations of interest	Santa Monica, CA
Credentials	None

Education

2002 Denison University , BA , Economics

I am a(n):

Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded:

DayPoint Co., Yessay Co.

Companies I work or worked for:

Lieberman Research Worldwide, Added Value

Achievements (products built, personal awards won):

Bootstrapped DayPoint from idea through design, development, and launch (including one larger overhaul based on consumer feedback).

Work awards including multiple 'Above & Beyond' and 'Client Impact'.

Concert pianist, black belt, and have been cited in Teen Cosmo and Harvard Business Review magazines.

Survived an aggressive bear while on a solo kayaking & backpacking trip in the Alaskan wilderness.

If you're an entrepreneur or corporate innovator, why?

Because I can, to build things that matter, and a natural desire to capitalize on opportunities

My favorite startups:

Trello, Tableau, PhotoPanda, Headspace, IFTTT, DayPoint :)

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?

Most frustrating is the time it can take for things to get done but, conversely, most rewarding is how that time pays off when an idea becomes real...and it feels like magic to use it.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs/innovators make?

Not tempering passion and ideas with empirical validation

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

Take estimated costs + timing and multiply them by 3.

In addition to long hours & hard work, it requires: thinking time, physical health, emotional/social support, and adequate sleep. You need to work on yourself as much as your company.

Talk to as many people as possible about your idea. Yes, it makes you vulnerable. Yes, others now have your precious idea. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort. But the rewards far outweigh the risks and effort.

Full bio

First and foremost Matt is a learner and doer. From building a business to market research to brand strategy to becoming a conscious leader, he is constantly seeking new and better information and looking to connect the dots.

In 2015 after graduating from the Founder Institute accelerator program, Matt Founded DayPoint, a mobile app that automatically shows you where your time goes, enabling you to spend your time more consciously and towards your true purpose. He has since been bootstrapping its development and it is expected to launch in September 2016.

Prior to DayPoint, Matt Cofounded Yessay, an online tool to help students write and manage their college application essays. After almost two years, it was shut down but cherished as an amazing learning experience.

Matt also has a decade of experience in Consulting and Market research, working with some of the best and biggest brands across the globe, including Apple, AT&T, Disney, and Target. In this realm, he has experience with business development, study design, project management, analysis, reporting, and presenting to clients from Research/Insights through C-Suite. Further, he is passionate about team-building, including hiring and managing others in the organization.

When not working, you can find him anywhere from alone in the woods in Alaska to biking with friends in Santa Monica - but always striving to spend his time consciously.

Matt graduated from Denison University with a BA in Economics and minoring in Psychology.