Matt Ainsworth
Fractional operator, ecosystem builder, speaker, and startup mentor. I help founders build the right things, with the right people, in the right markets.
Where I add value
I work with early-stage founders and operators who need senior, experienced support without a full-time hire.
Fractional Operator
Stepping into early-stage teams to own commercial and operational work that founders don't have bandwidth for. Partnerships, BD, go-to-market, account management, comms.
Ecosystem Builder
Building communities and cross-border networks that create real opportunity. 20+ years working across the Australia and Japan startup ecosystems.
Speaker & Mentor
Talks and workshops for founders on tech, AI, product, pitching, developer hiring, and navigating the build. 50+ founders mentored across Australia and internationally.
Two decades, two ecosystems
Building in Australia and Japan, and the bridge between them.
The AUS × JPN bridge
Sydney to Tokyo to Perth, then back home. I often travel back between these. Eight+ years in Japan working with VCs and startups, and a decade-plus of working in product, marketing, comms, tech and more in Australia.
What I'm building
Two ventures I co-founded and run alongside my fractional and advisory work.
Coaching for non-technical founders
Coaching and advisory for non-technical founders navigating AI and tech decisions. Webinars, programs, and the Lean CPTO tool.
techbridgestudio.com Innovators CampusAU × JP startup education & events
Startup education and events bridging the Australia and Japan ecosystem. Programs, speaker events, and the Founder Stage curriculum.
innovators-campus.com AU × JP Startups Community13,000+ member Facebook community
The free entry point into the Australia × Japan startup ecosystem. Founders, investors, and operators across both markets.
Join the communityTopics I speak on
Practical, founder-first talks drawn from 20+ years building, mentoring, and working inside startups across two continents.
From founders I've worked with
Matt is truly intelligent, well-traveled, and highly experienced in both Japan and Australia. With his business background, cultural understanding, and tech-savviness, he mentored me to establish my business in Japan and expand to Australia in less than a year.
Matt is incredibly kind and generous with his time and knowledge. As a founder without a strong technical background, I felt uncertain about where to start with AI and tech. He guided me patiently from the very beginning. Thanks to his support, we successfully implemented IT and AI technologies and modernised our operations with confidence.
Matt is a great and responsible person to work with. I tried different coaches before but he is the best — I got a lot of insight every session. If you work with him, I promise you will develop some great outcomes.
I'm Matt, based in Sydney. Born here, spent 10+ years living abroad — eight of them in Tokyo, a stretch in Perth — before coming back to the East Coast in early 2025. My career sits at the intersection of startups, community, and commercial growth, across product, sales, marketing, comms, and BD in both Australia and Japan.
I currently head up sales at Tekkon, a tech staff augmentation company placing Nepal-based developers with Australian startups. I also run Tech Bridge Studio, a coaching platform for non-technical founders navigating AI and tech, and support Innovators Campus, a startup education and events community bridging Australia and Japan.
I've mentored 150+ founders, spoken at workshops across Sydney, Perth, and Tokyo, and worked alongside VCs and startups including Timee, DeNA, ANRI, and CyberAgent Capital. I've also mentored through programs including Plus Eight, Core Innovation Hub, and Startup Weekend.
Let's have a conversation
Whether you're interested in working together, booking me to speak, or just want to connect — drop me a note.