Matt Waite

I'm Matt

I’m a founder in San Francisco. I build software people can trust with real decisions: explainable AI at Apres, and now independent verification of AI-agent work at Excellent.

I started out making films, then worked as a designer and front-end developer, and I have been starting companies since 2011. I moved to Lisbon to build Apres.

How I work

Ship something real early, check it against the world, write down what broke, and give the useful parts away.

More on how I work

What I do

Company, product, design and the first customers. Usually the whole thing, from the name to the first invoice.

Founding, for example TechstarsProduct, for example ApresAI and agents, for example ExcellentDesign, for example FluidFundraising, for example TechstarsTelling the story, for example Web Summit

Experience

  1. 2023 to nowFounder, ExcellentIndependent verification of AI-agent work
  2. 2018 to 2023Co-founder and CEO, ApresExplainable AI for the enterprise. Techstars Lisbon 2020, $1.5M seed co-led by Faber and Adara Ventures, WIRED hottest startups 2021
  3. 2014 to 2017Co-founder and CPO, Fluid FinancialCash flow and invoice advances for contractors and small businesses. Mucker Lab 2015
  4. 2013 to 2014Director of Design, FTW GroupProduct development studio serving Fortune 500 clients and nonprofits
  5. 2013Sales, UversityHigher-education software, then called Inigral
  6. 2012 to 2013Co-founder and CEO, TentpoleProject management and predictive budgeting for filmmakers
  7. 2011 to 2012Founder, Short CinemaShort-form mobile video. Produced and edited “The Mondays”

The CV, as a receipt

Talks

  1. 2022Startup Competition finalist, Fintech and InsurtechSouth Summit, Madrid
  2. 2022Deep tech and decision-making, a panelSouth Summit, Madrid
  3. 2021Breakout Startups, Centre StageWeb Summit, Lisbon
  4. 2021Welcome to Lisbon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, a fireside chatMade of Lisboa, Web Summit week
  5. 2021When to join an accelerator, and when not toAWS Startups, with Hugo Augusto of Semapa Next
  6. 2020Demo day, to more than 200 investorsTechstars Lisbon

Recognition

WIRED, Europe’s hottest startups 2021, Web Summit Breakout Startup 2021, TechCrunch top 10, Techstars demo days 2020, Tech.eu, South Summit 2022 finalist, Center for Responsible AI consortium, Montreal AI Ethics Institute, Product Hunt, #10 product of the day

Backed by

Faber, Adara Ventures, Techstars, Semapa Next, Mucker Capital, Better Ventures

Education

Wake Forest University, BA, Communications

Contact

Tell me what you’re buildingXLinkedInDribbbleCV