Greetings! I'm Matt Shields, and it's a pleasure to provide you with more information about my background and the things I've been involved in .

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1977, and from an early age, I was exposed to entrepreneurship thanks to my family. I was a bit of a quiet, shy kid who preferred tinkering with NES games and remote-controlled cars. However, my hands-on skills quickly developed as I spent time working on home improvement projects with my father and fixing motors with my grandfather.

My journey into the world of entrepreneurship began when I turned 18 and joined a local electrical contracting company as an electrical apprentice. This was another family-run business specializing in large commercial projects and additions. My knack for fixing things around the house and my interest in real estate led me to purchase my first fix-and-flip property at the age of 19. While I dabbled in college classes related to real estate and business, I didn't focus on earning a degree.

By the time I was 22, I had gathered enough experience in the electrical industry to take the state certification exam and become an electrical contractor. That's when I founded Shields Electric. Over the years, we built a solid client base that included service contracts and commercial projects.

True to my entrepreneurial spirit, I been on the look out for opportunities to diversify into other industries. This drive led me into energy management, where Shields Electric began developing software and systems for remote HVAC and lighting control during the early days of the Internet of Things (IoT). Throughout this period, I also invested in single-family properties for fix-and-flip or rental purposes.

However, the economic downturn of 2008 resulted in a series of third-party bankruptcies that forced Shields Electric out of business. It was a challenging time, but it also marked a significant turning point in my career. I recognized the potential of the emerging app industry and combined it with our programming experience, ultimately leading to the birth of Virtus Ventures, which has since evolved into a digital transformation company.

In 2012, Virtus Ventures was invited to work on a project with a well-known toy manufacturer to create an augmented reality experience, This was our first run into the retail technology space. We've since worked on technology solutions for some of the world's biggest brands.

I never lost my connection to the construction industry, leveraging my deep understanding of the field to incorporate technology into forward-thinking businesses, streamlining their processes and information management.

In 2017, my exploration of multifamily investment opportunities led to the founding of Significan Lifestyle Communities, complete with a vertically integrated property management and construction operation. Today, Significan manages a real estate portfolio valued at $60,000,000.

In 2020, I launched the "Pass The Secret Sauce" podcast, later rebranded as "Invest In Sqft," where I've had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of highly successful entrepreneurs, making it one of the top 3% most popular podcasts today.

Our latest venture, Intelense.ai aims to tackle a big issue that 87% of companies are liquidated rather than acquired. I'm committed to driving innovation and making a lasting impact in the world of business and technology.