About Me: No Gatekeepers, Just Clear Explanations

Hi, I’m Matt Starolis.

I’m an engineer, educator, and lifelong problem-solver. But before I was any of those things, I was just a curious kid frustrated that no one could clearly tell me how my Nintendo actually worked.

Too often, kids—and adults—are told they’re not ready or smart enough to understand how things really work. That’s nonsense. Complex ideas aren’t complicated because they’re hard; they’re complicated because most people suck at explaining them.

My path took me from computer engineering at UT Austin, to building companies in Silicon Valley, founding startups, and leading teams at places like Microsoft. But none of those roles fulfilled me as much as teaching. Now I spend my days making sure my students never feel that same frustration I did at nine years old—no one should have to wait to meet someone who finally tells them the truth clearly, powerfully, and respectfully.

How I Teach

I’m relentlessly focused on making STEM accessible—not by simplifying it into meaninglessness, but by translating complexity into clarity. Every student I work with gets an approach tailored specifically for them—no cookie-cutter BS. I constantly refine what I do, using direct feedback and analyzing class recordings with AI. Great teaching is continuous improvement; I practice what I preach.

The Real Reason I Teach

I teach because knowledge should never be gated behind elitism, jargon, or lazy explanations. The student struggling in calculus isn’t struggling because they're incapable—they’re struggling because no one has truly taken the time to speak clearly and directly. My mission is to change that.

When I’m Not Teaching

I’m tinkering with AI, amateur radio, or chilling with my dogs, probably connecting dots between seemingly unrelated things. Curiosity never turns off.

Let’s Connect

If you believe education should empower rather than intimidate, or if you're just tired of the gatekeepers, reach out: matt@starol.is