Matt ReynoldsPhoto: Courtesy of Matt Reynolds
How he got his start: Matt Reynolds wasn't always a tech innovator. He started his career in the retail banking industry—"a mammoth industry that oftentimes felt disingenuous and slow moving," he says. Thus, Reynolds began to crave an environment where he could fine true value in the work he was doing.
Through a chance introduction, he found Humanitix, a start-up ticketing company that donates all profits from its booking fees to funding education projects for disadvantaged children.
"I found a perfect opportunity to blend a love of the customer journey with a desire to make an active change in the world," Reynolds says. "We’re a group of individuals who not only were out there to disrupt a behemoth that is the events industry, but do it in a way that also sought to bring about incredible social change by supporting children’s education."
He adds that "it’s a win-win scenario to know that by actively offering an amazing platform to event hosts, I’m in turn making the events industry into a force for good. How could I not invest in a place that I believe is a world leader in how innovation and business should be run?"
What innovation means to him: Reynolds says innovation bleeds into everything he and his team do daily. "Maintaining an incredibly close relationship with event hosts and those that use Humanitix means innovation comes through intimate conversations every day," he explains. "It’s the 'whys,' the 'what ifs,' the 'could we's' [and] maybe even the 'wouldn’t it be cool ifs' that happen dozens of times during—and after—engaging interactions with event hosts, that keep us on our toes and constantly working toward something that is both powerful and intuitive."
Reynolds adds that these innovations are made in real-time and not in far-flung boardrooms. "When I also look back, innovation to me isn’t always about radical revolution—as exciting as that might be," he says. "As part of a company that cares about the genuine experience of event hosts, I’m driven to find innovation in the small things, the 1%s, those little 'a-ha' moments that actually make things so much better for users."
"I take pride in knowing that an event host was able to deliver an awesome experience, and while using Humanitix, actively helped generate positive social impact in the form of funding children’s education," Reynolds (pictured right) says.Photo: Courtesy of Matt Reynolds
Memorable moments: Reynolds thinks back to the Pitch Music & Arts Festival in March 2023 for a recent memorable moment. "For me, there’s a lot of pride here in how far Humanitix has come," he says. "It’s a great example of the amazing reputation we’ve built as a company in forming great partnerships and camaraderie among festival staff. It’s the genuine commitment from our team to innovating and bettering the event experience that I see how great our technology operates in the field."
He adds that “it just works” is common feedback his team hears. Although simple, "I personally never want to undermine just how powerful that can be," he says. "As the dust (quite literally) settles after an event like this, I take pride in knowing that an event host was able to deliver an awesome experience, and while using Humanitix, actively helped generate positive social impact in the form of funding children’s education."
His vision for the future of the events industry: "Event ticketing shouldn’t be hard," he puts plainly. "I see the best players in the events industry to come will be those that genuinely care about the experience for event hosts and ticket buyers alike. I believe users across both sides yearn for platforms that are personalized, intuitive, and partners in the growth of the events industry. This will be seen in the investment of meaningful innovation and support networks from ticketing agencies that are willing to meet this new challenge."
