Matt Holm

Background

• Top developer who worked on Tesla Gigafactory deal
• One degree away from Elon Musk - has helped Elon's team directly (per Gary, Nov 2025)
• One of the best community builders Gary knows
• Organizes Tesla owner's club
• Currently going through divorce (situation worsened again as of Nov 2025 after temporary improvement)
• Described as someone who "knows people who know people"
• Has children with soon-to-be ex-wife
• Opening new club in downtown Austin (expected around late 2025/early 2026)

Professional Activities

• Real estate development, including major industrial projects
• Community building and networking
• Tesla-related organizing and events
• Entertainment Venue Operations: Owner/operator of Print Shop, 12-year-old Austin venue
• Block-wide Development: Leading major downtown Austin entertainment district expansion
• Event Production: Corporate events, concerts, comedy shows, and wedding coordination

Interactions with Gary Sheng

• 2025-05-22: Joined dinner at Cooper's BBQ

  • Gary helping him think through "next chapter" post-divorce
  • Gary gave him Led Zeppelin vinyl from Ari
  • Discussed venture studio concepts

• 2025-06-08: Morning walk with Gary and Dan Hollander

  • Discussed divorce strategy and timeline
  • Shared concerns about post-divorce dating and relationship skills
  • Planning for upcoming travel to Spain/Ibiza in July
  • Gary advising on maintaining emotional center during proceedings

• 2025-07-30: Extended conversation during walking group meetup with Gary, Ryan Quinn, and Jon Werner

  • Gary shared details about his transition to manufacturing work with Dr. Lael Alexander
  • Matt provided extensive modular housing insights from his failed $50M startup experience (New Community Energy)
  • Shared critical lessons about shipping constraints, design principles, and scaling philosophy
  • Discussed upcoming August 14th Zach Levi ranch event coordination and logistics
  • Covered Austin Surf Club developments and community networking opportunities
  • Matt offered ongoing consultation for Gary's manufacturing initiatives

• 2025-08-03: Comprehensive venue tour with Gary, Chris Jett, and Alina Jett at Print Shop

  • Provided detailed tour of current 3,000 sq ft venue and revealed major expansion plans
  • Shared strategic vision for taking over entire city block with festival space concept
  • Demonstrated basement space (former city morgue) with 20,000+ sq ft of additional venue potential
  • Discussed $2M annual revenue history and growth projections with block-wide expansion
  • Revealed celebrity chef partnerships and EDM programming strategy
  • Showed technical infrastructure plans including advanced sound system and VIP amenities
  • Engaged in venue naming brainstorming with Alina's music industry insights

• 2025-12-19: SOHO HOUSE - MAJOR REVELATION AS FORMER TEACHER - Extended lunch at Soho House with Gary, Zachary Smith, and Scott (retiring Microsoft engineer). Matt revealed he was a 4th grade teacher for 10 years - "No one in your friend group knows that" - before transitioning to real estate because teaching salary was too low ($2,800/month vs $30,000/month side business). Gary pitched Schoolhaus concept; Matt immediately engaged with deep expertise. Provided tactical education advice: ideal 6-hour school day = 2 hours academics at own pace + 2 hours "choose your gift" (guitar, filmmaking) + 2 hours outdoor/physical activity. Key quote: "Get my kids off their fucking screens, put them on a screen for two hours, and give them four hours of outdoor activities, done." Confirmed church schools strategy: "All you really need is the Sunday school class. They always have a secondary space unused other than Wednesday night services." Updated on new club: $1M+ South By bookings, needs more fundraising, Spotify booked. Personal life: "up and down, down, down, up, down, down, down... just enough roller coaster." Gary: "I think it's so cool that you're a teacher. I think we have a lot more to talk about."

• 2025-11-28: Mentioned by Gary during call with Russ Ballard

  • Gary revealed Matt is "one degree away from Elon" and has "helped Elon's team directly"
  • Described as "most charismatic dude" who has substantial word-of-mouth business
  • New club opening in downtown Austin needs promotion and "young hot people" attending
  • Gary suggested Russ could work as content creator/social media manager for Matt
  • Divorce situation has worsened again after temporary improvement earlier in year
  • Gary sees opportunity for someone to help grow Matt's real estate business through social media presence

Personal Situation

• Going through contentious divorce proceedings (situation worsened again as of Nov 2025 after temporary improvement)
• Wife is allegedly having affair with trainer
• Taking strategic, non-emotional approach to divorce process
• Being forced to file for separation/divorce by wife's actions
• Concerned about narrative control - wife positioning herself as victim
• Gary predicting he'll be "full cement head" (possibly meaning focused/hardened) through the transition
• As of November 2025: Gary noted Matt was "about to get divorced" early in year, situation improved temporarily but then "got worse again"

Dating & Relationship Concerns

• Has been in committed relationships since age 23
• Never really dated in modern era (no cell phones/internet when last single)
• Acknowledges "arrested development" relationship-wise
• Planning to resist jumping immediately into new committed relationship
• Wants to learn how to date and have fun while staying safe
• Considering learning from friends like Adrian who are skilled at dating
• Experiencing online dating challenges (mentions being catfished previously)

Travel & Social Plans

• Planning trip to Spain in July 2025
• Will attend real estate/community events
• Part of walking group that meets regularly
• Connected to various high-value networking events

Potential Collaboration Areas

• Real estate development for new ventures
• Community building for various initiatives
• Tesla/EV-related projects
• Potential involvement in "Trump City" or similar large-scale developments
• New downtown Austin club - needs social media presence and promotion (Nov 2025)
• Content creation opportunity - Gary suggested Russ Ballard could help Matt with social media/content to grow real estate business
• Networking leverage - Matt's connections (including proximity to Elon Musk) valuable for broader initiatives

Notes

• Part of Gary's network of high-value connectors
• Expertise in large-scale industrial real estate could be valuable for future projects
• Community building skills complement Gary's movement-building initiatives
• Currently dealing with significant personal stress but maintaining professional focus
• Values Gary's friendship and strategic advice during difficult transition

Transcripts

Transcript ID	Date	Summary
2025-12-19-matt-holm-zachary-smith-soho-house-schoolhaus-pitch	2025-12-19	Soho House lunch where Matt revealed his 10-year teaching background and provided education strategy insights for Gary's Schoolhaus concept
2025-08-03-matt-holm-chris-jett-alina-jett-venue-tour-and-business-strategy	2025-08-03	Venue tour and business strategy discussion at Print Shop with expansion plans
2025-07-30-gary-sheng-matt-holm-ryan-quinn-jon-werner-austin-networking	2025-07-30	Austin networking meetup with modular housing insights and community building discussions
2025-06-08-gary-sheng-matt-holm-dan-hollander-morning-walk	2025-06-08	Morning Walk: Gary Sheng, Matt Holm, Dan Hollander
2025-05-12-dinner-1618-asian-fusion	2025-05-12	Dinner conversation at 1618 Asian Fusion covering personal backgrounds, real estate markets, and Trump World city concept
2025-05-12-early-dinner-gary-matt-mike	2025-05-12	Early dinner conversation covering Trump World concept, Gary's background, and business opportunities
2025-05-27-brian-lang-mat-holm-walking-club	2025-05-27	Walking club meeting where Brian Lang and Gary discussed education innovation