For Matt, the most fulfilling aspect of his work is when he can show someone that they can do something with their body that they did not think was possible: “Seeing the look on their face makes it all worth it.”

Inspiration for Sequoia CrossFit came to Matt when he was working at a different gym where he was also a client. “I realized I could do better,” he remembered. He first opened his business in 2015 out of a truck, and he would drive to a park with equipment for group classes. It took two years to find his brick and mortar location in East Oakland.

Before he opened his current business, Matt worked in hospitality for over ten years, and he has used this experience in conjunction with his experience as a former triathlon coach to deliver high-quality customer service. Originally from Houston, Texas, Matt moved to Oakland ten years ago. “I love living in East Oakland,” he said.  “I knew that I wanted to help people achieve their fitness goals, and I saw an opportunity to improve on existing services,” explained Matt.

”I used my loan from Main Street Launch to fund construction, the buildout, startup costs, extensive renovation, purchasing equipment, and rent,” said Matt.  “If I were to do it over again I would have spent more money on marketing.”

“My experience at Main Street Launch was fantastic, everyone was helpful and understanding. My nerves were calmed and my fears were put to rest,” remembered Matt.

You can check out Sequoia CrossFit’s website here.  Your first class is free, so sign up today.