Matthew Swart
Entrepreneur, Digital Product Specialist & Problem Solver
👋 I'm an experienced entrepreneur and digital product specialist with over 25 years of experience building and growing online businesses. Having been an early adopter of e-commerce in South Africa, I combine technical expertise with business understanding to create effective digital solutions that solve real problems.
🚀 Currently, I'm working on improving the travel industry with subscription-based models and using AI to solve business challenges. I'm seeking partnerships, consulting opportunities, and collaborative ventures with practical-minded entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide.
Entrepreneurial Experience
Building businesses that make a difference.
Building an alternative to commission-based travel platforms, connecting hosts directly with guests.
- Developing a practical subscription-based business model (vs. traditional commission)
- Creating content and dynamic mapping experiences for travelers
- Integrating existing booking systems with zero-commission direct bookings
- Providing custom Shopify website development for tourism businesses
Licensed and implemented cutting-edge parametric furniture technology from Germany.
- Integrated complex 3D furniture configurator with Shopify e-commerce platform
- Developed real-time pricing and visualization for custom furniture designs
- Created seamless user journeys for customized product ordering
Built South Africa's leading independent accommodation booking platform from startup to market leader, founded at age 26.
- Grew to process over R2 Billion in holiday bookings, peaking at R320M annually
- Invented multiple travel tech innovations including the "request a quote" booking engine
- Pioneered the first travel affiliate program with front-end white-labelling worldwide
- Was first in South Africa to integrate Google Maps and implement web-to-SMS notifications
- Secured over R30M in funding from global venture capital firms (Tiger Global, SEEK)
- Scaled to 150 employees across offices in Cape Town and Nairobi
- Won multiple "South Africa's Favorite eCommerce Website" awards
- Achieved exit through acquisition by TravelStart
Core Competencies
What I bring to every project.
- Innovation & Idea Generation
- UX/UI Design
- E-commerce Optimization
- SEO & Traffic Building
- Shopify Platform Expertise
- AI Prompt Engineering
- Web Development (HTML/CSS)
- Data Analysis & Visualization
- Startup Experience
- Innovative Business Models
- Team Building & Leadership
- Fundraising & Investor Relations
Education & Background
The foundation for innovation.
Thesis: "Reverse engineering by means of photogrammetry for uniform reflective surfaces"
- Researched non-contact measurement techniques using projected textures
- Achieved measurement accuracy better than RMS = 0.14mm
- Combined technical precision with innovative problem-solving approaches
Professional Offerings
How I can add value to your business.
Leveraging advanced AI tools to solve complex business challenges, automate processes, and create compelling content at scale.
Expert configuration, customization and optimization of Shopify stores for peak performance and conversion. Specializing in tourism and service-based businesses.
Personal Pursuits
🌊Championship Windsurfing & Mindful Practice
My entrepreneurial approach is enriched by my diverse interests and experiences:
- Competitive windsurfer with multiple South African National Titles (2005, 2007, 2011)
- 20+ years of dedicated yoga practice with 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training
- Continuous learner with interests spanning technology, design, and mindfulness
These diverse pursuits have instilled discipline, resilience, and a unique problem-solving approach that I bring to every business challenge.
🤝Let's Work Together
I'm open to collaborations, consulting opportunities, and partnerships with entrepreneurs and businesses globally.