# Matt Watson

> Matt Watson is the co-founder and CEO of Origin, a Boston-based fintech that in September 2025 launched what it calls the first SEC-regulated AI financial advisor. A former Citigroup high-yield credit trader who previously co-founded Indio Technologies (acquired by Applied Systems in 2019), Watson has raised more than $75 million for Origin from Founders Fund, Felicis, General Catalyst and 01A to make certified-financial-planner-quality advice available to people who normally can't afford it.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Origin
- **Organizations:** Origin (useorigin.com), Indio Technologies (prior), Applied Systems (post-acquisition), Citigroup (early career), Forbes Business Council
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Johns Hopkins University
- **Known for:** Raised $75M+ total for Origin from Founders Fund, Felicis, General Catalyst, 01A, Abstract, Lachy Groom, Built the first AI financial advisor regulated by the SEC (announced Sept 9, 2025), Prior exit: Indio Technologies acquired by Applied Systems in 2019

## Career timeline

- **early career** — High-yield credit trader at Citigroup, covering power and mining
- **2016** — Co-founded Indio Technologies, a commercial insurance software platform
- **2019** — Indio Technologies acquired by Applied Systems
- **2019** — Co-founded Origin
- **2020-06** — Origin raises $12M in Series A (TechCrunch)
- **2021-08** — Origin raises $56M Series B at $400M valuation (Dick Costolo/Adam Bain's 01A, General Catalyst, Lachy Groom; Founders Fund, Felicis, Abstract also in)
- **2025-09** — Origin unveils first SEC-regulated AI financial advisor; outperforms leading LLMs and CFPs on CFP mock exam by 17 points

## Achievements

- Raised $75M+ total for Origin from Founders Fund, Felicis, General Catalyst, 01A, Abstract, Lachy Groom
- Built the first AI financial advisor regulated by the SEC (announced Sept 9, 2025)
- Prior exit: Indio Technologies acquired by Applied Systems in 2019
- Member, Forbes Business Council
- $400M valuation on Origin's 2021 Series B

## Latest updates

- **2025-09** — Launched the first SEC-regulated AI financial advisor; Origin's model outscored every leading LLM and human CFPs by 17 points on CFP mock exam.
- **2024** — Origin expanded into direct-to-consumer wealth tools alongside its B2B employee benefit.

## Links

- Website: https://useorigin.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-watson-b07a098a
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/_m_watson
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfpxzr13zw

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matt-watson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-09