Matthew Hershenson
Founder at Playground Global
Profile
Matt Hershenson, a Founding Partner at Playground Global, knew he was going to be an engineer from an early age.
As a teenager, he had an after-school job at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, where his size made him ideal for running cables under the raised floors in labs and machine rooms and above the dropped ceilings in the offices.
He also learned how to repair and maintain the Computer Science Department’s Xerox Altos.
His earliest professional experience was at Apple, where he worked first in manufacturing engineering in Apple’s “Mac Factory” and later worked in the PowerBook group on the design of Apple’s line of PowerBook laptops.
In 2000, Matt co-founded Danger, which went on to produce the first consumer smartphone.
After creating nine versions of the T-Mobile Sidekick and beginning the process of going public, Danger was purchased by Microsoft.
Matt stayed at Microsoft for two years after the acquisition, serving as a Partner in Hardware Engineering.
Leveraging his mobile hardware experience, Matt joined Google’s Android team as Director of Hardware.
At Google, Matt built the Android hardware team to span all aspects of hardware development - from chip design to regulatory compliance and everything in-between.
Matt and his team shipped over 10 generations of devices across phones, tablets, and streaming receivers.
In late 2014, Matt joined up with the founding team to start Playground.
The idea was to invest in transformative companies with multigenerational impact, while working side-by-side with portfolio companies to help them advance faster than if they were on their own.
Today, Matt is still unafraid of technological risk.
His reasoning is: if you’re going to go through the trouble, you might as well create something with significance.
Matt lives in the Bay Area with his wife of over 20 years and three children.
Matthew Hershenson active positions
| Companies | Position | Start |
|---|---|---|
Playground Global
 Playground Global Investment ManagersFinance Playground Global (Playground Global) is a venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Andy Rubin. The firm is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. | Founder | - |
RightHand Robotics, Inc.
 RightHand Robotics, Inc. Information Technology ServicesTechnology Services RightHand Robotics, Inc. provides piece-picking solutions. The firm offers ReFlex SF, a system that comprises a 3D-printed palm filled with dynamixel servos, a palm, three compliant fingers, an interface circuit board and a basic software driver to publish motor commands and read sensor values. The company was founded by Leif Jentoft, Lael Odhner and Yaroslav Tenzer in 2014 and is headquartered in Somerville, MA. | Director/Board Member | - |
Skydio, Inc.
 Skydio, Inc. Packaged SoftwareTechnology Services Skydio, Inc. designs and develops software for drone technology. It develops GPS-denied software to navigate drones. The firm delivers a step change in usability, reliability, and capability for the emerging drone market, allowing existing applications to scale while opening up many new ones. The company was founded by Abraham Bachrach, Adam Bry and Matthew W. Donahoe in 2014 and is headquartered in Redwood City, CA. | Director/Board Member | 2017-07-31 |
DirectorCorps, Inc.
 DirectorCorps, Inc. Publishing: Books/MagazinesConsumer Services DirectorCorps, Inc. publishes magazines for directors of financial institutions, credit unions, insurance companies, senior officers and investment advisors. The company was founded by William B. King in 1991 and is headquartered in Brentwood. TN. | Director/Board Member | 2018-09-30 |
Sparta Software Corp.
 Sparta Software Corp. Internet Software/ServicesTechnology Services Sparta Software Corp. provides data and technology to the pursuit of human resilience. It provides a new way to objectively evaluate and compare athletes through technology, and ensure every team member reaches their full athletic potential within an organization. Its products Sparta Scan, uniquely collects and analyzes foundational data on an athlete’s force patterns. The company was founded by Phil Wagner in 2014 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. | Director/Board Member | 2017-11-30 |
Inscopix, Inc.
 Inscopix, Inc. BiotechnologyHealth Technology Inscopix, Inc. develops and produces miniature integrated microscopes and related devices. It is categorized under the research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences industry. The firm specializes in neuroscience, life science research tools, in vivo brain imaging, electrophysiology, neurotechnology, miniature microscope, calcium imaging areas. The company was founded by Mark Schnitzer, Kunal Ghosh and Abbas El Gamal in 2011 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. | Director/Board Member | 2019-12-31 |
| Playground Acquire LP | Director/Board Member | - |
Ayar Labs, Inc.
 Ayar Labs, Inc. Electrical ProductsProducer Manufacturing Ayar Labs, Inc. develops connectivity solutions. It offers teraphy silicon chips, supernova light supplies, and system reference designs that break barriers in moving data with electronic-photonic integrated circuits. The company was founded by Alex Wrigjht-Gladstein, Mark Wade, Chen Sun, Vladimir Stojanovic, Milos Popovic and Rajeev Ram and is headquartered in Emeryville, CA. | Director/Board Member | 2018-09-30 |
Former positions of Matthew Hershenson
| Companies | Position | End |
|---|---|---|
Google LLC
 Google LLC Internet Software/ServicesTechnology Services Google LLC engages in the operation of internet portal and search index website. It provides online advertising technologies, search engine, cloud computing, and software solutions. The company was founded by Lawrence E. Page and Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin on September 4, 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA. | Corporate Officer/Principal | 2014-09-30 |
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| ░░░░░░░ ░░░░ | ░░░░░░░ | ░░░░░░░░░░ |
Experiences
Positions held
Connections
1st degree connections
1st degree companies
Male
Female
Members of the board
Executives
Linked companies
| Listed companies | 1 |
|---|---|
| MICROSOFT CORPORATION | Technology Services |
| Private companies | 10 |
|---|---|
Google LLC
Google LLC Internet Software/ServicesTechnology Services Google LLC engages in the operation of internet portal and search index website. It provides online advertising technologies, search engine, cloud computing, and software solutions. The company was founded by Lawrence E. Page and Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin on September 4, 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA. | Technology Services |
Danger, Inc.
 Danger, Inc. Packaged SoftwareTechnology Services Danger, Inc. provides wireless communication services. The company's services include enabling wireless operators to offer mobile data products to consumers such as web enabled cell phone features, including internet browsing and messaging capabilities. The company was founded in 1999 and is located in Palo Alto, CA. | Technology Services |
DirectorCorps, Inc.
DirectorCorps, Inc. Publishing: Books/MagazinesConsumer Services DirectorCorps, Inc. publishes magazines for directors of financial institutions, credit unions, insurance companies, senior officers and investment advisors. The company was founded by William B. King in 1991 and is headquartered in Brentwood. TN. | Consumer Services |
Inscopix, Inc.
Inscopix, Inc. BiotechnologyHealth Technology Inscopix, Inc. develops and produces miniature integrated microscopes and related devices. It is categorized under the research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences industry. The firm specializes in neuroscience, life science research tools, in vivo brain imaging, electrophysiology, neurotechnology, miniature microscope, calcium imaging areas. The company was founded by Mark Schnitzer, Kunal Ghosh and Abbas El Gamal in 2011 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. | Health Technology |
Skydio, Inc.
Skydio, Inc. Packaged SoftwareTechnology Services Skydio, Inc. designs and develops software for drone technology. It develops GPS-denied software to navigate drones. The firm delivers a step change in usability, reliability, and capability for the emerging drone market, allowing existing applications to scale while opening up many new ones. The company was founded by Abraham Bachrach, Adam Bry and Matthew W. Donahoe in 2014 and is headquartered in Redwood City, CA. | Technology Services |
Playground Global
Playground Global Investment ManagersFinance Playground Global (Playground Global) is a venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Andy Rubin. The firm is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. | Finance |
RightHand Robotics, Inc.
RightHand Robotics, Inc. Information Technology ServicesTechnology Services RightHand Robotics, Inc. provides piece-picking solutions. The firm offers ReFlex SF, a system that comprises a 3D-printed palm filled with dynamixel servos, a palm, three compliant fingers, an interface circuit board and a basic software driver to publish motor commands and read sensor values. The company was founded by Leif Jentoft, Lael Odhner and Yaroslav Tenzer in 2014 and is headquartered in Somerville, MA. | Technology Services |
Sparta Software Corp.
Sparta Software Corp. Internet Software/ServicesTechnology Services Sparta Software Corp. provides data and technology to the pursuit of human resilience. It provides a new way to objectively evaluate and compare athletes through technology, and ensure every team member reaches their full athletic potential within an organization. Its products Sparta Scan, uniquely collects and analyzes foundational data on an athlete’s force patterns. The company was founded by Phil Wagner in 2014 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. | Technology Services |
Ayar Labs, Inc.
Ayar Labs, Inc. Electrical ProductsProducer Manufacturing Ayar Labs, Inc. develops connectivity solutions. It offers teraphy silicon chips, supernova light supplies, and system reference designs that break barriers in moving data with electronic-photonic integrated circuits. The company was founded by Alex Wrigjht-Gladstein, Mark Wade, Chen Sun, Vladimir Stojanovic, Milos Popovic and Rajeev Ram and is headquartered in Emeryville, CA. | Producer Manufacturing |
| Playground Acquire LP |
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