Isn’t it Lovely to Meet the Heart Behind Marketbeat? Special Guest: Matt Paulson
“Everyone in the community has a reputation. There are a lot of people who have been quite successful that people speak poorly about based on their past experiences with them; I don’t want to be that guy.”
Sioux Falls-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Matt Paulson joins Isn’t it Lovely? this week to explore the intersection of business, faith, and community! Tracy and Rachel take copious notes as Matt shares his thoughts on everything from pendulum shifts in the workforce and the onset of a content recession to post-secondary educational trends and the rise of AI. Matt reveals the ways his unexpected foray into a theological seminary degree influenced his leadership style and expounds upon the impact his faith has had on his personal integrity, as well as the ways he conducts business and invests in the community. Tracy gets the scoop on the empowering organization Startup Sioux Falls and divulges that she was once an audience member at the Jay Leno show and had a hilarious interaction with him (which Rachel tried in vain to find for the show notes, much to her chagrin); Rachel and Matt discuss the lasting joy of investing in projects that do good for people, versus the fleeting happiness of materialistic pursuits. The episode wraps up with the first unofficial meeting of the Brady Olson (beloved Brandon Valley High School teacher) Fan Club.
Episode Mentions:
Matt Paulson’s Website: https://www.mattpaulson.com/
Matt Paulson’s Instagram: @mattpaulsonofficial
Matt Paulson’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewpaulson/
Marketbeat’s Website: https://www.marketbeat.com/
What Are You Loving:
Matt: Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral by Ben Smith; Succession TV Series
Rachel: Scout Tote Bags
Tracy: Rebekah Scott Designs; Brandon Valley High School; Brady Olson (Brandon Valley HS teacher)
Matt Paulson is the founder and CEO of MarketBeat, an Inc. 5000 financial media company that empowers individual investors to make better trading decisions with real-time financial data, in-depth market analysis, and best-in-class stock research tools. MarketBeat has been recognized by Barron’s, Entrepreneur, Financial Times, Forbes, and Inc. for its rapid growth and success. With more than 3.2 million subscribers, MarketBeat is the largest digital media company in the Dakotas.
As one of the most active angel investors in the Midwest, Matt has invested in more than 80 high-growth startups, including Buffer, Bushel, Density, Dollar Shave Club, Lyft, Prismatic, and Wikia. His venture capital firm, Homegrown Capital, makes early-stage investments in high-growth AgTech, FinTech, and SaaS companies. He currently serves on the boards of two technology startups, Pitchly and Prismatic. Matt also invests in commercial real estate as a general partner in Cresten Capital, including ownership interests in more than 25 apartment complexes and retail centers.
Over the past decade, Matt has worked to create new startup resources in South Dakota. He was instrumental in the creation of Falls Angel Fund in 2016, which makes equity investments in early-stage, high-growth companies in the Dakotas. He founded Startup Sioux Falls in 2019, which has since become the premier community and resource organization for startup founders in the region. Matt became the namesake of DSU's Paulson Cyber Incubator in 2020, which aims to accelerate student-led startup businesses. He has written eight entrepreneurship and investing books, including the best-selling Email Marketing Demystified. The Small Business Administration has recognized Matt for his contributions to the startup ecosystem, naming him their Small Business Champion in 2020.
Matt cares deeply about the Sioux Falls community and volunteers with several area non-profits and Christian ministries. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Kairos University (Sioux Falls Seminary), on the Board of Directors at Startup Sioux Falls, on the Campaign Cabinet for Forward Sioux Falls 2026, and as the Treasurer for Faith Baptist Fellowship.
Matt lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his wife, Karine, their two children, Micah and Adylin, and their family dog, Mindy.