In this episode, Matthew Stafford shares his evolution from physical labor to digital growth—unpacking how he built an agency that helps e-commerce brands grow by focusing on revenue per visitor, not just flashy CRO tactics. He breaks down what “revenue optimization” really means, why traffic alone isn’t the answer, and how AI is giving builders a superpowered edge.

This is a must-listen for anyone serious about scaling an online business, building smarter systems, or turning browsers into buyers.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Start with the Customer Journey: Revenue optimization begins the moment a visitor lands on your site. Every step—from homepage to checkout—should have one clear purpose.
• It’s Not About More Traffic: Stafford emphasizes that most e-commerce sites are leaking money due to poor UX and unclear messaging. Fixing that beats buying more visitors.
• Hierarchy of Focus Wins: Understanding the primary action on each page (e.g. filter, narrow, add to cart) is essential to guiding users toward conversion.
• Data + AI = Scalable Insights: Stafford shares how his team uses AI to analyze reviews, behavioral data, and analytics at scale—unlocking insights no human could spot manually.
• You Don’t Need Perfection to Start: Stafford reminds builders that action beats over-planning. Test. Learn. Improve. That’s how scalable systems are built.
• The Right Clients Make the Difference: BGS looks for businesses doing $100–200k/month who are ready to invest in growth—not beginners or discount hunters.

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt sits down with Gerry Hayes — founder of Dorio and the creator of Venture Staking, a bold new model that reimagines how people invest in startups.

Gerry shares his journey from the world of law and government to entrepreneurship, and how his early frustration with the gatekeeping of traditional venture capital led him to build a more inclusive system — one designed not just for the wealthy elite, but for everyday people eager to learn and grow alongside real founders.

Through the lens of education, Gerry walks us through the concept of Venture Staking: how individuals can buy low-cost “stakes” to follow a startup’s journey, learn from real entrepreneurs, and eventually earn the right to invest. It’s a system built on shared learning, shared risk, and shared opportunity — flipping the script on everything we’ve been told about startup investing.

Key Takeaways:

• Traditional Venture Capital Is Built for the Elite: The Accredited Investor Rule, rooted in 1930s-era thinking, excludes everyday people from participating in high-upside investment opportunities — and it’s long overdue for disruption.
• Venture Staking = Education + Access: Gerry’s model isn’t about selling equity upfront — it’s about letting people learn the game of entrepreneurship by riding along with founders through their early journey.
• "Buy a Ticket to the Journey": For as little as $10, you can become a venture staker — gaining access to behind-the-scenes updates, insights, and potentially future investment opportunities as the startup grows.
• Training Founders from the Ground Up: Dorio screens entrepreneurs not by their pedigree, but by their passion, preparation, and potential. Venture stakers are encouraged to back builders who are just getting started — but ready to go the distance.
• Global Momentum Is Growing: While the U.S. hesitates, international markets are embracing the idea of democratized venture funding. The future of retail VC might emerge outside Silicon Valley entirely.
• Entrepreneurship Starts from the Inside Out: Gerry emphasizes that building something meaningful starts with deep intention, not external validation — and that focus, clarity, and mission are the foundation of lasting impact.

In this episode of The Builders, Matt sits down with James Elliman — a cybersecurity-focused IT expert who’s built a thriving managed services company by eliminating complexity and frustration for small businesses.

James shares how his journey began with tearing apart computers at age six, progressed through corporate IT burnout, and ultimately led to creating all-in-one tech solutions that puts the customer experience first.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Corporate inefficiencies sparked innovation. James left the world of meetings and semicolon debates to build something faster, leaner, and more personal.
• He built a business by eliminating vendor finger-pointing. Clients don’t get bounced around — James and his team handle everything, from licensing and routers to security and support.
• Simplicity is the innovation. James transformed tech chaos into clarity with a standardized flat-fee model and clean, easy-to-understand service packages.
• Life experience matters. Bartending helped James develop top-tier communication and sales skills — key to his growth and client trust.
• Networking over ads. His business scaled through genuine relationships, referrals, and word of mouth, not just pay-per-click.
• AI is powerful — but not a silver bullet. In cybersecurity, pattern recognition is valuable, but human intuition and service still lead.
• Ongoing innovation with a human touch. James is doubling down on scalable systems while hiring sales help, staying true to his vision of service-led tech.

Whether you’re scaling an IT business, building customer-first systems, or wondering how to balance AI and service, this episode offers grounded, story-driven insights for builders.