Matthias Tran

About

👋🏼 I build brands into communities and turn voices into movements. I’m a social media and growth marketing strategist and community builder with 8+ years of experience working across companies from early-stage YC-backed startups to billion-dollar brands. I’ve scaled socials on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, driving organic results like 10M+ impressions in two months and consistent viral content for both B2B/B2C. My work spans organic and paid growth, full-funnel marketing (i.e. opt-ins, emails, landing pages, etc), and hands-on community building where I engage directly, test, and iterate in real time to help brands grow and turn their users into advocates. 🚀 I’ve worked across growth marketing, content strategy, organic social, paid campaigns (Google/Meta/LinkedIn/X), and business operations. Startups, especially early-stage ones, have taught me how to experiment boldly, while impact-driven organizations pushed me to connect marketing with meaning. What excites me most is being in environments where creativity, speed, and results meet, and where ideas can turn into outcomes almost instantly. 📈 What I love most is creating recognizable voices for brands in a time when content can be mass produced by anyone. For me, social media is about building connections, sparking conversations, and turning people into brand/product advocates. I write quickly, think creatively in real time, and naturally spot opportunities in trends and news cycles. Most of my strongest content comes from instinct and personality, while I also embrace AI tools in my workflows to sharpen strategy and make campaigns more effective. In a world where content is endless, what matters most is voice. Communities grow around brands that feel human and consistent, not generic. I approach social as connection rather than broadcast, aiming to build trust and rally people around ideas. 🌏 Outside of work, I spend my time producing and curating music, learning new languages, watching documentaries and video essays, and exploring the city. These interests feed into my creativity, which I bring into every project. 🛠️ Tools: Adobe Suite, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Canva, Figma, Hubspot, Mailchimp, Hootsuite, Sendible, Notion, Wordpress, Squarespace, ChatGPT, Claude AI, Perplexity, MidJourney, Gemini, and more. 👨🏻‍💻 Digital Portfolio: https://tinyurl.com/mpt-portfolio (Shoot me a DM more extensive case studies & current clients).

Experience

• Business Operations & Client Success Manager · Upfront (YC W23)02-01-2023 – 08-01-2024

  - Analyzed and Systematized Data: Researched, analyzed, and organized 5,000+ rebate programs for clean energy products (e.g., EV chargers, HVAC, Water Heaters) by mapping over 2,000,000+ data points using MySQL, Excel, Google Sheets, and Retool. - Team Leadership: Led a team of 5 scraping analysts to research clean energy rebate programs, providing data-driven guidance, quality assurance, and detailed feedback. - System Development and Implementation: Developed and implemented a rebate scraping system to extract and organize incentive data, facilitating customer access to clean energy products and supporting strategic decision-making. Created comprehensive training materials, including a 10-page, 3000-word scraping guide used for all energy products. - Client Success & Account Management: Managed 200+ client requests through Retool, building strong relationships with Marin County customers and professionals to ensure high success and return rates for Upfront Local, a text-based home services marketplace. - Customer Savings Achievement: Helped residential customers in the U.S. save over $2,000,000 through rebates for clean energy products in the startup's first year of business.

• Director of Social Media & Executive Content | Partner · ReVibe Media08-01-2021

  - Generated 100M+ impressions across LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok through organic content, community, and real-time distribution - Scaled B2B SaaS campaigns to 1.5M+ impressions and B2C AI campaigns to 6.5M+ impressions within weeks using distribution-first execution - Achieved engagement rates exceeding 20% by aligning content with platform-native behavior and audience psychology - Built founder-led content marketing and thought leadership systems for B2B SaaS and AI companies, including LinkedIn ghostwriting, editorial strategy, and distribution - Partnered directly with founders and executives to shape positioning, messaging, and go-to-market narratives across content, landing pages, and sales assets - Developed distinct executive voices and editorial guidelines to ensure consistency across content and channels - Built content production systems and workflows across ideation, drafting, editing, and publishing to support consistent output - Managed full content ecosystems, including social media, newsletters, and campaign assets, aligned to buyer journey and pipeline growth - Collaborated cross-functionally with design, paid media, and development teams to maintain message consistency across channels Mission-driven collective specializing in digital marketing and growth strategy for socially conscious companies and brands. Clients: YC-funded startups, CPG brands, and billion-dollar enterprises.

• Social Media Manager & Digital Marketer · 600 Block Records03-01-2022 – 02-01-2023

  - Drove a remarkable 2500% surge in follower count within a year, catapulting the audience from under 100 to 2600+ followers, fostering a robust online community. - Achieved an outstanding average engagement rate of 5% on Instagram, exceeding industry standards by 7.5 times, through strategic content planning, and audience engagement tactics. - Orchestrated and directed two highly successful photoshoots to promote Pugs Atomz's merchandise, resulting in heightened brand visibility, increased product sales, and amplified audience engagement. - Generated, curated, and published over 100 pieces of compelling content, managing social media accounts across multiple platforms including Instagram, Twitter, and Email. - Leveraged a suite of advanced digital marketing tools such as Canva, Buffer, Hootsuite, and Mailchimp to streamline content creation, scheduling, and email marketing campaigns, optimizing efficiency and maximizing reach. - Developed and implemented a comprehensive weekly and monthly content calendar for social media channels, ensuring consistent brand messaging and strategic content distribution to enhance audience engagement and retention.

• Senior Venture Capital Fellow · Angelfund.ai09-01-2020 – 02-01-2021

  - Conducted over 100 strategic meetings with founders to meticulously evaluate startup viability and identify innovative sourcing strategies for local opportunities, contributing to the expansion of the company's investment pipeline. - Utilized Google Suite, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, along with HubSpot and LinkedIn, to conduct comprehensive analyses of potential investment opportunities, facilitate data-driven decision-making, and establish valuable connections within the industry. - Conducted extensive research on more than 1000 startups, applying stringent evaluation criteria to identify high-potential investment prospects and align with the company's investment objectives. - Successfully recruited and onboarded over 20 promising startups, achieving a cohort record and demonstrating exceptional talent acquisition capabilities, resulting in a well-rounded portfolio for the company. - Recognized as the youngest Venture Fellow in the company's history, setting a precedent for excellence by surpassing performance benchmarks and recruiting the largest number of viable startups for the platform within my cohort, contributing significantly to the company's growth trajectory.

• Brand Strategist & Social Media Manager · Gaia Labs01-01-2021 – 06-01-2021

  - Developed and solidified the brand identity by designing the logo, selecting typography, and establishing a cohesive color palette, creating a strong visual presence for the company. - Increased Instagram follower count by 3000% within three months, growing the audience from fewer than 50 to over 1500 followers by implementing targeted social media campaigns and leveraging viral content strategies. - Secured recognition and a following from prominent organizations in sustainable fashion, including Fashion Revolution (@fash_rev, 526k+ followers) and Girlfriend Collective (@girlfriend, 534k+ followers), enhancing brand credibility and visibility. - Achieved an average engagement rate of 12.5%, surpassing the industry average of 0.67% on Instagram by 18.5 times, through effective content curation, hashtag optimization, and active community engagement. - Utilized social media management tools such as Hootsuite for scheduling and monitoring posts, Canva for designing visually appealing graphics, and Google Analytics for tracking performance metrics and optimizing strategies based on data insights. - Executed data-driven social media strategies that resulted in a significant increase in brand awareness and follower engagement, contributing to overall growth/success of the venture.

• Brand Strategist & Social Media Manager · The Good Co.10-01-2020 – 06-01-2021

  - Crafted and executed a comprehensive brand identity strategy, including the development of logo, typography, and color palette, resulting in a cohesive and visually appealing brand image. - Implemented strategic social media campaigns and content strategies, resulting in a remarkable increase of 6800% in follower count within three months, growing from <50 to over 3450 followers. - Utilized social media management tools such as Hootsuite and Buffer to schedule posts, analyze performance metrics, and optimize content strategy, alongside Canva for content creation, ensuring visually captivating and engaging posts. - Established and nurtured partnerships with various community organizations and nonprofits, facilitating 10 impactful collaborations that contributed to brand visibility & social impact initiatives. - Achieved exceptional average Instagram engagement rates of 10% on The Good News and 13.33% on The Good Quotes, surpassing industry averages by 15 times and 20 times respectively, through compelling content creation and strategic audience targeting.

• Junior Partner & Receipt Member · JUV Consulting07-01-2018 – 06-01-2020

  - Led a team of 6 marketing consultants in providing strategic guidance to startups, corporations, and nonprofits, leveraging youth insights to revolutionize their marketing strategies. - Conducted comprehensive market research using tools such as Qualtrics and SurveyMonkey to create surveys, conducted surveys, and analyzed survey data. - Organized and conducted focus groups using platforms like Zoom and Google Meet to gather qualitative insights into target demographics and market trends. - Advised a diverse portfolio of clients, including a cryptocurrency startup, a national radio nonprofit, a Fortune 500 premium clothing brand, a Fortune 1000 generic clothing company, and other youth-focused brands, resulting in measurable improvements in brand awareness, customer engagement, and market share. - Utilized cutting-edge tools and technologies, including social media analytics platforms like Sprout Social and Hootsuite, market research software such as SPSS and NVivo, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems like Salesforce, to analyze data, identify trends, and develop targeted marketing campaigns tailored to each client's specific target audience. - Implemented innovative marketing strategies that resonated with Gen Z consumers, driving increased brand loyalty, customer acquisition, and revenue growth for client businesses. - Played a key role in enhancing the agency's reputation as a leading authority in Gen Z marketing, contributing to a significant increase in client retention and referrals.

• Growth Marketing Manager & Socials Lead · Deviate Labs11-01-2024 – 01-01-2026

  - Operated as embedded Head of Growth / Socials across 20+ B2B SaaS and marketplace clients, owning GTM execution from positioning and messaging through demand generation and pipeline support. - Translated ambiguous executive goals into clear B2B positioning, ICP definitions, and messaging systems, aligning product value to buyer pain across ads, landing pages, email, and sales collateral - Drove seven-figure organic B2B distribution, including 1M+ organic LinkedIn impressions in a single month, using narrative-led, participation-driven content designed to influence buyers and buying committees. - Delivered 4,000%+ growth in impressions and 5,000%+ growth in reach on LinkedIn for B2B executives by shifting content strategy toward POV, market education, and credibility signaling. - Scaled organic visibility for a B2B SaaS brand on X/Twitter to 1M+ impressions, 30+ viral posts, and ~3% engagement rates, supporting category awareness and sustained top-of-funnel demand. - Designed and optimized full-funnel B2B systems, including ICP-specific landing pages, ABM flows, gated content, webinars, and 5–7 step nurture sequences aligned to sales motion and lead quality. - Partnered cross-functionally with paid media, design, and development to accelerate launch velocity, reduce rework, and ensure message consistency across growth channels. - Established executive-level client communication standards, delivering clear, insight-driven updates that improved alignment, trust, and long-term retention.

• Senior Content Strategist & Head of Socials | Project Lead · Revibe Media01-01-2021

  - Scaled communities to 500K+ followers and drove 100M+ post engagements across Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn through original content, community management, and viral campaign execution. - Built and executed social media and growth marketing strategies that consistently outperformed industry benchmarks — achieving engagement rates surpassing 20% (29x higher than standard). - Managed and produced full content ecosystems — from founder-led storytelling and community management to cultural commentary and high-impact creatives (organic + paid) — generating 1.5M+ impressions for B2B SaaS campaigns and 6.5M+ impressions in six weeks for a B2C AI platform. - Partnered directly with founders and C-suite leaders to design GTM campaigns, one-pagers, and landing pages, aligning messaging with investor decks, sales funnels, and customer journeys. - Oversaw cross-functional creative production with designers, copywriters, and developers, ensuring brand consistency across websites, webinars, paid media, and organic channels. - Leveraged an advanced stack of AI tools (GA4, RB2B, Adobe Suite, Canva, CapCut, Figma, HubSpot, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Midjourney, Veo 3, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Later) to create content, systematize workflows, analyze data, and optimize campaigns for maximum impact. - Led multi-industry client portfolio spanning YC-backed startups, record labels, consumer tech & electronics, SaaS, and B2B/B2C brands — delivering measurable growth and investor visibility. Mission-driven collective specializing in digital marketing and growth strategy for socially conscious companies and brands. Clients: YC-funded startups, CPG brands, and billion-dollar enterprises.

• Growth Marketing Project Manager & Socials Lead · Deviate Labs11-01-2024 – 01-01-2026

  - Delivered 4000%+ growth in impressions and 5000%+ growth in reach by shifting content toward POV, market education, and credibility. - Operated as embedded Head of Growth across 20+ B2B SaaS and marketplace clients, owning positioning, messaging, and demand generation - Drove 1M+ LinkedIn impressions in a single month through founder-led content and participation-driven distribution [B2B Enterprise Client] - Scaled X (Twitter) presence to 1M+ impressions and 30+ viral posts through real-time distribution and conversation strategy [B2B Enterprise Client] - Translated executive goals into ICP definition, buyer journey mapping, and messaging systems aligned to pipeline growth - Designed and optimized landing pages, ABM flows, gated content, newsletters, and multi-step nurture sequences aligned to sales motion - Connected content performance to pipeline outcomes, ensuring top-of-funnel visibility translated into qualified interest - Led client communication, editorial feedback, and performance reporting, improving alignment and retention Deviate Labs is a boutique agency that blends engineering-led "growth hacking" with marketing to scale startups and multi-billion dollar brands. Known for its proprietary ASP™ Sales Flywheel, the firm specializes in rapid customer acquisition for high-profile clients like Dollar Shave Club and Hello Bello.

Education

• Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree, International Relations

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