Bradley Matson

About

Bradley Matson is a seasoned innovation strategist, program manager, and founder with over 20 years of experience supporting startups and entrepreneurial ecosystems across North America. A Michigan native and Traverse City champion, Bradley’s work bridges high-growth startups, venture accelerators, angel investors, and local economies to shape a more inclusive and resilient future.

His journey began in Tucson, Arizona, where he co-founded the event discovery platform City Recess and helped build Startup Tucson. Returning to Michigan in 2013, Bradley made a lasting mark by founding CoWharf—Traverse City’s first coworking space—and launching the city’s inaugural Techstars-backed Startup Weekend with Northwestern Michigan College. In 2016, he launched Beta Batch, the region’s first startup accelerator, where he led early success stories like Chompler, a local food delivery startup.

Bradley’s reach expanded internationally when he joined hospitality tech company Namastay as Head of Business Development, opening its U.S. office in Miami Beach after scaling revenue 30x. He later mentored global founders through WeWork Labs and the WA Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator in Seattle.

Today, Bradley continues to shape Michigan’s startup ecosystem as a Senior Program Manager for the Conquer Accelerator with Spartan Innovations, graduating multiple cohorts of high-potential startups each year. He also serves as Administrative Director for Northern Michigan Angels and is a cofounder and advisor to Earthly After, a nature-based memorialization venture.

Bradley’s areas of expertise include venture acceleration, angel investing, startup coaching, digital strategy, and ecosystem development. His passion lies in empowering founders, building inclusive communities, and cultivating long-term economic growth in the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Let’s build a better future.

Whether you’re a founder looking for early-stage guidance, an investor seeking Michigan’s next breakout company, or an ecosystem builder working toward a more equitable and innovative future—Bradley is ready to help you thrive.