The slide above says it all.

30 ideas in 30 years.

Some made headlines. Some made me cry. All made me better.

Ideas? Everyone has them.

But building something real—that takes unreasonable optimism, relentless grit, and years of sleepless execution.

Here’s the hard truth:

40% of companies don’t make it past 3 years.

Half are gone by year 5.

Two-thirds by year 10.

And by year 20? Just 1 in 5 survives.

So why am I still here?

Because I didn’t just start companies. I finished what I started. From bootstrapping my first startup during my Astronomy studies—

To Mobypicture powering media giants—

To winning a Webby, a Red Herring Award, and being named Founder of the Year by The Next Web—

I’ve built, scaled, and (sometimes) crashed ventures across the spectrum.

Now, I’m opening the vault.

Not to share ideas.

But to help others master the hardest part of all:

Execution. Execution. Execution.

SO What do you need as a founder?

More than advice.
You need someone who’s been in the arena—who knows when to push, when to pivot, and when to shut up and listen.

Effective advisors don’t just share experience.

They bring perspective, momentum, and networked leverage.

They see the blind spots you can’t—and help you act before they become costly.
That’s what I offer: a strategic partnership.

From raising the right money at the right moment,
to nailing your first hires and product focus,
to making the hard decisions before they become regrets.

I’ve learned these lessons the long, expensive way.

• Like the time I gave the worst pitch of my life—and what it taught me about storytelling and investor psychology. (The worst pitch ever)

• Or the 7 painful (but funny) lessons from “Toading”—a concept that still stings. (7 lessons of Toading)

• And how we brought Kinder back from the edge, rethinking everything from team to mission (as featured in MT/Sprout). (Dutch - MT/Sprout)

Most startup deaths are not murders. They’re slow suicides by distraction.
Founders spend too much time perfecting the wrong thing, chasing the wrong signal, or listening to the wrong people.

What Founders Actually Get

Here's what partnering with me looks like:

I help early-stage founders cut through the noise and focus on the things that matter now. Whether you’re pre-product, post-MVP, or raising your first round, I help you:

• Monthly Strategy Sessions (2-4 hours): Deep dives into your business challenges and growth opportunities.
• Unlimited Access: Email, calls, and even WhatsApp messages for those urgent matters and quick feedback needs.

• Find product-market resonance faster

• Design a razor-sharp narrative that investors can’t ignore

• Avoid the distractions that kill momentum

• Make your next 100 days radically more effective

• Plug into a high-trust network that accelerates hiring, funding, and distribution
  
  

This isn’t just advice. It’s hands-on execution support from someone who’s been through every cycle—25+ times.

Help with:

Think of me as your co-pilot when things get complex—or just need to move faster.

✅ Mentoring & founder support

✅ Strategic troubleshooting

✅ Product & business model design

✅ Tech development & AI integration

✅ Fundraising guidance

✅ Finding the right co-founder

✅ Making smart, timely decisions

Plus, I open my network.

Not just names in a Rolodex—real connections in:

• Design & product development

• Engineering & AI

• Angel investors & funds

• Operators across media, health, tech, culture, and beyond

A Cross-Pollinating Network Built Over Decades

I don’t just know people—I connect ecosystems.

With over 10,000+ high-trust connections, I tap into a uniquely diverse network that spans industries, disciplines, and perspectives. This means warm intros, unexpected opportunities, and faster problem-solving.

Industries I actively bridge:

• 🚀 Tech, Startups, Investors & Founders

• 🎯 Advertising, Media Buying, Creative Agencies

• 🌍 Philanthropy, NGOs & Social Impact

• ✈️ Travel, Lifestyle & Hospitality

• ⚽ Sports & Athlete Brands

• 📺 Media, Television & Film

• 🧠 Education & EdTech

• 🌐 Web3 & Decentralized Innovation
  
  

I don’t believe in silos. Some of the best ideas come from unexpected places—and my network is designed to spark them.

To wrap it up—there’s a brilliant video by David Dunning (of the Dunning-Kruger effect fame): “Why incompetent people think they’re amazing.”

It’s a stark reminder of how easy it is to overestimate yourself—and how costly that can be when you’re building a company.

That’s where I come in.

With 25+ startups behind me and two decades of mentoring founders, I’ve developed a sharp radar for blind spots. I won’t just tell you what you want to hear—I’ll help you see what you’re missing, and focus on what actually moves the needle.

Because your time, your runway, and your shot at success deserve more than well-meaning guesswork.

"The founding of Tag The Love was the most important opportunity for us to engage the Rabobank Cycling team fans all over the world. Since then we have build a dozen more platforms amongst which one for the National Dutch Field Hockey teams and for our Olympic campaigns."sponsor manager Rabobank

"Mathys has a fantastic sixth sense for the business of technology. New frontiers where technology, market and businesses meets are the places he feels very much at home. If you need a commercial thinker or a solid partner for realizing your new business, Mathys is the person you should talk to first.

"Mathys is a creative highly experienced professional in the Internet and online advertising domains. Dedicated to all the projects he works on. I hope to stay in contact with Mathys for many years to come and build successful deal in the near future such as Transavia.com."

"Mathys has a true feeling for business and knows how to stimulate people to excellerate their perfomances. Besides that he has great knowledge in the IT/Internet branch and he and his companies survived the Dot-Com Bubble of the '90s." :)