Matt Schlicht

Yo, you gotta hear about Matt Schlicht. This dude’s a straight-up startup machine. He’s a YC S12 alum, so he’s been in the game for a minute, and he’s crushed it across a bunch of different projects. Like, he’s not just riding one wave, he’s building, experimenting, and really pushing the boundaries of tech and community.

Started out with a bunch of small stuff, Hipset, ZapChain, Tracks.by, even some early social plays like FriendShuffle and It’s Trending. But the real deal? His first big break was at Ustream. He was the first head of product there, and that platform got bought by IBM for 130 mil. That’s no joke. That gig taught him how to build something expandable and legit, and it set the tone for everything he’s done since.

Then, he jumps into the chatbot world big time. Created Chatbots Magazine, which turned into the go-to for anyone serious about bots. He also founded the Bots Group, the biggest community of bot devs out there. That shows he’s not just about tech, he’s about community, spreading ideas, and pushing the whole industry forward. No cap, he’s recognized as one of the top community builders in AI and startups.

Fast forward, he co-founded Octane AI, now his main gig as CEO. This platform is all about personalized marketing, Messenger, SMS, the whole combo, helping e-comm brands crush their sales. Basically, he took his knack for community and scaled it into a multi-million dollar company that’s changing how brands talk to their customers.

And get this, he’s been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 twice. That’s some serious recognition. Plus, he’s advised big names like Socialcam (which got bought by Autodesk), so he’s got a rep for spotting winners and helping them grow.

But what really stands out? The dude’s a community builder and idea generator. His social media game is nuts, over 800k followers on TikTok, dropping tech, animation, and startup wisdom like it’s nothing. Dude’s all about sharing knowledge and inspiring others.

So, bottom line? Matt’s process is about relentless hustle, building communities, and turning ideas into real, expandable stuff. He’s not just about making money, he’s about pushing tech forward, empowering others, and constantly experimenting. That’s why he’s such a big deal, he’s living proof that if you stay curious, build with purpose, and don’t bullshit, you can really change the game.