Matt Gunnin Email and Phone Number
Based in Austin, Texas, I am a pioneering tech entrepreneur and executive, currently diving into the exciting world of artificial intelligence. My journey began in a small town where the slow pulse of dial-up internet sparked my first venture—an endeavor born out of necessity and a passion for online gaming.As a teenager, frustrated by the limited connectivity, I embarked on a mission that would mark the start of my entrepreneurial path. I negotiated with a local ISP to run a dedicated T1 (1.5 MB/s) line more than 30 miles out to my parents’ house. This was more than just about improving my gaming experience; it was about breaking barriers and creating opportunities not just for myself but for my entire community.To afford the $2,000/month fee, I transformed our basement into a tech hub, setting up a network of Linux & Windows servers. What started as a personal fix soon evolved into a full-fledged business, providing web hosting, game servers, and VoIP services. The company quickly scaled, hosting hundreds of servers and thousands of websites. Prior to leaving for college, I decided to sell the business. While the return was nice, the experience that tested my limits early on was worth exponentially more.After graduating, I joined Rackspace in San Antonio, deepening my skills in cloud computing and enterprise solutions. My passion for esports then led me to create Leaguepedia, a resource for fans of League of Legends that quickly became a cornerstone of the esports community, attracting over 10 million monthly users within just six months.Following the sale of Leaguepedia to Twitch/Curse, I continued to innovate, playing a pivotal role in building their esports division. My next venture took me to Azubu and then Unikrn, where I led significant tech and marketing overhauls, further shaping the esports landscape.In 2017, I embarked on an ambitious journey through startup accelerators, eventually founding Esports One in Boston’s MIT PlayLabs. After relocating to Los Angeles, we developed a revolutionary Fantasy Esports platform that utilizes real-time computer vision and deep data analytics to enhance user engagement in the DFS/Gambling markets.Now, back in Austin, I am leveraging my extensive experience to launch a new AI startup. I am dedicated to solving complex problems in the tech industry, mentoring up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve. I look forward to connecting with like-minded professionals who are driven to innovate and make a significant impact through technology.
Vertical Labs
View-
Chief Executive OfficerVertical Labs Aug 2024 - Present
-
Founder/CeoEsports One Feb 2017 - PresentSanta Monica, California, UsFounded and scaled a pioneering tech startup in esports and gaming industry, focusing on advanced analytics and real-time data solutions. Led the company from ideation through multiple funding rounds, securing over $10 million from leading venture capital firms and angel investors, including Eniac Ventures, MIT Play Labs, Quake Capital, XSeed Capital, AVG Fund.Technology Leadership and Innovation:- Developed and implemented cutting-edge computer vision and reinforcement learning technologies that transformed real-time data capture and event analysis during esports events. - Created a unique esports fantasy platform using proprietary computer vision technology that automated gameplay capture and analysis, setting a new industry standard for non-intrusive data integration.Product Development and Management:- Launched the first-of-its-kind analytics dashboard utilized by top-tier clients, including Riot Games, Acer, Blizzard, EA, Take-Two, Epic Games, NFL, and NBA, enhancing their strategic decision-making processes.- Led the design and introduction of community-driven features such as mutable and evolutionary NFTs, which significantly boosted platform engagement, increasing monthly active users from 10k to 200k+.Strategic Growth and Market Penetration:- Leveraged blockchain technology to expand and diversify product offerings, successfully launching several NFT membership programs—Metapass (92k+), OneBot (34k+), and Arenas (2k)—across platforms like Twitch and Discord.- Recognized and capitalized on emerging market trends to develop products that consistently drove innovation across the company. -
Founder/CeoEsportspedia Jan 2013 - Aug 2023Santa Monica, Us- Built and scaled the premier esports wiki and informational hub, attracting tens of millions of monthly users through strategic initiatives focused on real-time updates and user-generated content.- Led a high-performing team of 10 employees and 100 volunteer contributors, covering all major esports titles and establishing custom-tailored products for streamers and collegiate esports.- Leveraged advanced analytics tools to continuously improve user experience, inform content creation, and drive revenue growth.- Forged strong partnerships with industry stakeholders, including Riot Games, Twitch, Youtube, AB InBev, Razer, Logitech, and Corsair, enhancing the platform's credibility and reach. -
Chief Product OfficerUnikrn Aug 2015 - Sep 2016Miami, Fl, Us- Led product innovation and engineering teams in a cutting-edge esports gambling platform, driving user acquisition and retention through real-time betting technologies and user experience enhancements.- Managed website development and operations for Unikrn and all subsidiaries, overseeing a global development team and transitioning to agile methodologies using the scrum framework for product releases and improvement.- Designed and executed a comprehensive strategy for expanding real-money wagering products across Europe and Australia, successfully navigating complex regulatory landscapes, securing necessary licenses, and establishing key partnerships with payment processors while ensuring seamless transactions and customer adoption.- Significantly improved site stability and performance through implementing agile methodologies and comprehensive release cycles, as well as creating and implementing quality assurance and control guidelines. -
Sr Vice President Of Content & MarketingAzubu Dec 2013 - Jul 2015Sherman Oaks, Ca, Us- Directed site-wide content initiatives for a leading esports streaming company, overseeing product strategy, content curation and production, and project management.- Led successful multi-million dollar streaming partnership with the Korean Esports Association (KeSPA), managing over 20 teams and 200 players, including the world's #1 player, Faker.- Developed and implemented company-wide standards, systems, and best practices for creating, distributing, maintaining, retrieving, and repurposing partner, streamer, and in-house content.- Collaborated closely with Talent, Sales, Product, and Creative Departments to design and package content, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and consistency in style and tone of voice.- Achieved significant growth in audience engagement and viewership through inventive marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships with industry leaders. -
FounderLeaguepedia Mar 2011 - Mar 2014Acquired by Curse Inc. (2014)- Founded and led the global go-to resource for competitive League of Legends, architecting and developing the platform from the ground up using the Wikimedia framework.- Grew the team to 20 contributors, doubling site traffic to 12 million monthly pageviews and 3 million MAUs within the first year.- Organized and ran highly successful charity tournaments that broke viewer number records on Twitch TV for non-publisher events (190k CCU, 6+ million total).
-
Lead Systems EngineerRackspace Hosting Aug 2011 - Sep 2012San Antonio, Texas, Us- Led cross-functional teams in designing and implementing complex systems architectures, ensuring mission-critical systems' availability, scalability, and security.- Conducted extensive research and analysis to identify emerging technologies and trends, evaluating and recommending relevant tools and solutions.- Developed and implemented disaster recovery plans to minimize system downtime and data loss. -
Senior System EngineerRackspace Hosting Nov 2010 - Aug 2011San Antonio, Texas, Us- Managed and maintained Linux and Windows Core Cloud servers for small businesses and enterprise clients.- Oversaw domain services as SME for Cloudkick offering.- Provided technical support to clients and resolved critical issues promptly and professionally.
-
System Administrator L2Lexicom Computer Systems Inc Dec 2009 - Nov 2010Montgomery, Alabama, Us- Managed and optimized Linux and Windows networks for 500+ customers, ensuring high availability and optimal performance, improving customer satisfaction and retention rates.- Implemented various security protocols, such as multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and password policies, ensuring secure user access and compliance with industry standards.- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement network and security solutions that aligned with business objectives, resulting in improved operational efficiency and productivity. -
Senior It ManagerAuburn University'S Engineers Without Borders Jan 2008 - Dec 2009- Spearheaded all IT support operations, managing a team of professionals and overseeing tasks ranging from Mac OSX Server setup and management to multiple website design and administration.- Architected and implemented an advanced computer network that increased productivity by 3x, significantly decreased server downtime, and improved network performance and configuration accuracy.- Collaborated with leadership and cross-functional teams to establish and execute IT strategies that aligned with company objectives and goals. -
Chief Operations OfficerDataracks, Inc. May 2004 - Oct 2009- Directed all aspects of operations, including web hosting, server management, client relationships, and team management, resulting in increased efficiency and profitability.- Spearheaded the development and implementation of a virtual training system for technicians, enabling remote learning and improving team skills without the need for costly travel.- Streamlined billing systems and implemented cutting-edge SEO techniques for company websites and select client sites, resulting in increased traffic, engagement, and revenue. -
FounderGamertobe May 1998 - Aug 2000- Successfully founded and operated a profitable business, hosting over 200 websites and 40 game servers and serving over 10 million page views per month.- Demonstrated strong leadership and negotiation skills by convincing a small business ISP to run a T1 line 30 miles out to a rural location, allowing for seamless operations and growth.Acquired in 2000
Matt Gunnin Education Details
-
Auburn UniversityComputer Software Engineering
Frequently Asked Questions about Matt Gunnin
What company does Matt Gunnin work for?
Matt Gunnin works for Vertical Labs
What is Matt Gunnin's role at the current company?
Matt Gunnin's current role is 4x Founder (2 exits) | CEO/Co-Founder @ AI Stealth + Esports One | Founded Leaguepedia (2011) | Building the next frontier AI for Sports & Esports.
What schools did Matt Gunnin attend?
Matt Gunnin attended Auburn University.
Free Chrome Extension
Find emails, phones & company data instantly
Aero Online
Your AI prospecting assistant
Select data to include:
0 records × $0.02 per record
Download 750 million emails and 100 million phone numbers
Access emails and phone numbers of over 750 million business users. Instantly download verified profiles using 20+ filters, including location, job title, company, function, and industry.
Start your free trial