The director of analytics at Open Loot Studios in Austin, Texas, Matthew Thwaites leads engineers in building data systems that drive game feature enhancements and marketing strategies. He designs and deploys machine learning models and A/B/n testing to enhance user retention and increase purchaser conversion rates. Previously, Matthew Thwaites was a marketing analytics manager at Big Time Studios, leading a team of three to execute user acquisition campaigns. His efforts brought in over 600,000 new users and generated over $20 million in monthly revenue.

Matthew Thwaites has an MBA in statistics and data science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in the top 5 percent of his class as a Palmer Scholar and earned the Hildebrandt Award, the top honor in statistics. While at Wharton, he also served as a teaching assistant in predictive analytics and led an analytics fellowship team applying computer vision algorithms to optimize Division I sports teams’ strategies.

For his undergraduate studies, Matthew Thwaites studied economics at Yale University, graduating cum laude while balancing rigorous academics with leadership and athletics. As president of Trumbull College, he represented a 450-person student body, and as a varsity distance runner, he competed in cross-country and track, setting multiple top-10 fastest times in long-distance running.

Matthew Thwaite’s leadership was further shaped during his time as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. Across several roles, he managed soldier training and logistics operations and contributed directly to diplomatic efforts abroad. Matthew Thwaites has a U.S. Army Bronze Star medal.