Matthew V. Blackwell grew up in Connecticut, the oldest of four siblings, in a close-knit family that believed in hard work and personal responsibility. At a young age, he realized what it meant to build something from the ground up. This attitude shaped the way he approaches life today.
He graduated from high school with honors and then earned a degree in industrial engineering from Union College. His career began in data analysis before taking over operational management in his family’s company. He later took the plunge and founded his own electric bike company. It was a bold move that involved long days and real risk. As the market changed, he adapted. He learned. He continued forward.
Today, Matthew leads Woodbridge Farms, a growing e-commerce company focused on consistent growth and strong customer relationships. He also manages SeaSide Properties and oversees a portfolio of real estate investments. There have been both victories and setbacks along the way, but he doesn’t dwell on either for long.
At home, Matt isn’t the type of father who watches from afar. He’s in it. His weeks range from scout meetings to dance nights, from swimming meets to MMA competitions, with him cheering just as hard at the end as he did at the beginning.
For Matt, success is nothing special. It’s stable. It’s family. And it shows up every day.
Q: When you think about inspiration, where does it start for you?
For me it starts with family. I grew up in Connecticut, the oldest of four children. Because I was the oldest, I was always a few steps ahead – the first to try things, the first to mess up, the first to figure it out. That sticks with you. I learned early on that people pay more attention to what you do than what you say.
I have also watched a company grow from within. When you see something emerge over time, you understand that success is not a single big moment. They are small decisions that are made every day.
Q: You have experienced both victories and setbacks in business. How did you shape them?
I’ve seen both sides. I helped run a family business for years. Then I got out and started my own electric bike company, CyclelElectric. We sold conversion kits and pre-built bikes. At the beginning it was exciting. I believed in the product.
But competition from overseas increased. Margins shrank. Sales became inconsistent. At some point I had to turn it off.
This experience changed me. It taught me that passion is important, but so is timing and market reality. After that I learned to read numbers differently. I also learned that closing a business is not a failure. It’s data. It tells you what works and what doesn’t.
Q: You also had personal challenges. How did you move on from there?
Like most people, I have had seasons that tested me. There were moments when I had to face mistakes, take responsibility, and decide what kind of future I wanted to build. These experiences forced me to slow down and think in ways I hadn’t before.
Instead of looking at this time as something that defined me, I decided to look at it as a turning point. I read more. I became more serious about business and leadership. I wrote down clear goals for myself – not just financial, but also personal standards for how I wanted to proceed each day. I became more determined.
Challenges can either harden you or refine you. I chose to allow myself to be refined. They gave me clarity about what matters most – my family, my integrity and building something sustainable over time.
Q: What did the reconstruction look like in practice?
It looked like a structure. I returned to operational leadership positions. I focused on process improvement and cost control. I paid attention to details that I might have missed before.
When I founded Woodbridge Farms in 2023, I took a different approach than CyclelElectric. I didn’t chase the hype. I focused on stable demand, supplier relationships and cash flow discipline. Boring things. But boredom creates stability.
At the same time, I began managing our family’s real estate portfolio through SeaSide Properties. Real estate requires patience. You think in decades, not quarters.
Q: How do you inspire confidence in your ideas now?
I don’t try to inspire people with big speeches. I show numbers. I show consistency.
If I tell someone we can increase sales by 10%, I explain exactly how. Here is the change of supplier. Here is the margin change. Here is the marketing test. Confidence comes from preparation.
It’s similar at home. When I built a tree fort for my kids, I didn’t just start by hammering boards. I pulled it out. Measured twice. Planned weight loads. This is how I approach business now. Creativity supported by structure.
Q: You are very practical at home. Is this related to your leadership?
Absolutely. I built a chicken coop. We installed solar panels and a battery system so parts of our home are off the grid. I manage raised beds and a small food forest.
These projects remind me that results take time. You can’t rush a tomato plant. You can’t shortcut the wiring without consequences. They do the job right and wait.
Leadership is similar. They establish systems. You support people. They adapt when something doesn’t work.
Q: You also race cars. This seems different than gardening.
On the surface it is different. But racing my older BMW M3 requires concentration, discipline and self-control. If you overcorrect, you’ll end up in a skid. The business can be the same. You don’t react emotionally. You react strategically.
Racing also clears my head. It reminds me that calculated risk is healthy. Reckless risk is not the case.
Q: What would you say to someone who doubts themselves?
The world doesn’t stop because you feel insecure. I experienced this firsthand. There were days when I didn’t feel ready to take charge, rebuild, and perform publicly again. But you still move.
Success is not one-dimensional. It rises and falls. For me, family success comes first. A career is a tool to support this. When you clearly define success, decisions become easier.
You won’t avoid mistakes. I don’t have that. But you can decide what to do next. And this choice, repeated over time, is what changes your life.
