Matt Wilson
Strategic Advisor at Yellow Brick Method
Matt Wilson
Strategic Advisor at Yellow Brick Method
San Clemente, California
Overview
Work Experience
Coach | Strategic Advisor
2024 - Current
I help BUILD leaders and companies. I come alongside CEOs of rapidly scaling, growth-stage companies to help solve their most challenging business problems including building a high-performance executive leadership team, strategy, and raising equity and debt capital. My current clients are CEOs and business leaders of fintechs, real estate tech, financial services, venture capital, IT services, language services, and real estate development companies. My sweet spot is at the intersection of leadership, finance, and tech.
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
2021 - 2024
We accelerate GROWTH. BDev Ventures is much more than just capital. We do what no other VC does -- we generate tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue growth for our portfolio companies by implementing our proven, proprietary model that grew BairesDev into the largest bootstrapped and organically-grown IT services company in history and the fastest-growing software development company in the world. We bring strategic growth and revenue acceleration capabilities to B2B software, technology, SaaS, and product businesses across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. We invest in early-stage and growth (Seed to Series C) companies that are ready to ramp up revenue quickly over the next several years, and we deploy a revenue generation platform to help them scale. BDev Ventures was founded by a team of experienced operators and the founding team behind BairesDev.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Board Member
2014 - 2021
Happy Money is reframing people's relationship with money toward a new end goal of happiness. With the latest technology, proprietary science, and partnerships with a national network of community-focused credit unions, Happy Money helps people take control of their money and build healthy, personalized habits for a happier future – beginning with eliminating credit card debt through its award-winning Payoff Loan. Backed by leading investors including Anthemis Group, FirstMark Capital and CMFG Ventures, Happy Money has helped over 150,000 members pay off over $3 billion of debt since inception. Founded in 2009, Happy Money has a diverse employee base of over 350 people across the United States. Joined Happy Money (formerly known as Payoff) in 2014, grew from zero revenue to $120mm, from 40 employees to 400, and valuation increased 100x from Series A (Investor in Series A in 2013). Raised over $170mm in equity, over $25mm in venture debt. Led reinvention of business model to partner with a national network of credit unions to create a private capital markets for the digital lending platform. Secured over $2b in loan funding. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 2020-2021 Board Member 2017-2019 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 2016-2017 Chief Operating Officer (COO) 2016 Head of Capital 2014-2016 Happy Money's Board of Directors included Joe Saunders (former Visa CEO), Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post Founder, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global), Mohamed El-Erian (former Pimco CEO and Co-CIO; Chief Economic Advisor, Allianz), Sean Park (Founder and Chairman, Anthemis Group), Arkadi Kuhlmann (former CEO, ING Direct), and Jim Lane (former Goldman Sachs partner).
VP, Corporate Development
2012 - 2014
Responsible for real estate, private equity, and corporate development. Directly reported to Colbert Matsumoto, CEO of Island Holdings, Inc. Tradewind Capital Group is a Honolulu-based investment firm with a permanent source of local capital, targeting long-term risk-adjusted returns through opportunistic investments in real estate, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and public equities. Real Estate: development finance, value-add repositioning, multifamily, industrial, residential, resort, hospitality. Private Equity: early stage, growth equity, and buyout. The objective is to generate a generous return while also greatly benefiting the community of people living in Hawaii through stimulating economic growth, stabilizing strategic industries, and applying our imagination to create opportunities for young professionals in Hawaii.
Master of Business Administration
2008 - 2010
Strategy and Finance focus. Coursework included strategy, business model analysis, functional and strategic finance with Nobel laureate Dr. Robert Merton (derivative valuation), international economics, creating value through corporate restructuring, creating the modern financial system, leadership with Rob Kaplan (former vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs), and negotiation. Co-President of HBS Christian Fellowship, member of Venture Capital & Private Equity Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Automotive Club, Finance Club and Investment Club. Board of Advisors for the Leadership Institute at Harvard College. - Co-founded an energy efficiency finance company (Leverett Energy) with 4 classmates. Company designed to overcome challenges in funding energy efficiency projects and retrofits of commercial buildings.
Product Management Summer Intern
2009 - 2009
Learned PIMCO's macroeconomic forecasting process and implementation of that forecast into client portfolios. Focused on inflation-hedging strategies, enhanced equity, liability-driven investing, and exchange traded funds. Developed investment strategies and products to generate good returns in all inflation environments. Wrote marketing literature for PIMCO’s exchange traded funds (raised $1.5B in assets). Published a white paper on the natural rate of unemployment and its impact on inflation.
Intelligence Officer
2002 - 2008
Led teams of intelligence analysts covering strategic, operational, and tactical-level analysis of highly complex problems. Extensive speaking, writing, and reporting on international military developments in Asia and the Middle East to senior military officers and forward-deployed tactical forces. - Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Operations Center - USS NIMITZ Carrier Strike Group. #1 of 16. - Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course. Honor Graduate. - Officer Candidate School. Top Graduate.