Matt O'Donnell
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From scrappy to scalable
Early-stage startups don't need traditional HR. They need someone who understands engineering culture, speaks the language of founders, and knows how to build systems that grow with you.
Building HR functions in technical environments
I specialize in being the first HR hire at highly technical companies. I build the systems, earn the trust of engineers, and scale teams through ambiguity.
Technical Credibility
15 years of building technical teams and supporting technical leaders has rubbed off
Hypergrowth Expert
100→600 employees. 15→150 engineers.
First HR Hire
Building from zero is my specialty.
HR Command Center
I'm not just using AI in HR, I'm building the next generation of HR tech.
Key Highlights
- Chat-First Interface — Natural language commands for all HR workflows
- 25 Custom AI Skills — Performance reviews, comp analysis, PIPs, and more
- Multi-Provider AI — Claude, OpenAI, and Gemini with automatic failover
- Production Infrastructure — Auth, RBAC, rate limiting, testing
I've spent 15+ years building people functions at technical companies, usually as the first HR hire. No playbook, no systems, no tools.
Working with technical teams pushed me to start building myself. When I say "AI-first HR," I mean I actually build it.
Happily married with a toddler. I make music and movies, and run a 14-person fantasy football league.
