Matt Middleton is an entrepreneur changing the financial events industry with his company, Future Proof. His practical approach helps professionals worldwide handle complex projects more easily and efficiently. Growing up with financial challenges inspired his determination to create something lasting. He spent almost ten years at Informa, the world’s largest event organizer, gaining deep experience in B2B events across financial services and other fields.
During that time, he developed skills in growing audiences, securing sponsorships, and planning strategies. This hands-on experience gave him a clear understanding of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to bringing people together.
By 2021, as the world changed because of COVID, Matt saw a chance to rethink events. He used his practical experience to design gatherings that focus on real connections instead of strict formats.
Leading Future Proof
Since founding Future Proof in 2021, Matt has led with a people-first approach. He manages a small team all year, focusing on quick feedback and constant improvements to keep events fresh and centered on attendees.
He encourages a casual atmosphere, shorter sessions, and smart technology like pre-event matchmaking profiles that create excitement weeks before the event.
Matt encourages a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves culture where the team tackles problems as they come, making large events feel personal and efficient.
Key Achievements
Under Matt’s leadership, Future Proof has grown quickly into a leading event series that’s modernizing wealth and investment management. Recent events have attracted thousands of attendees from around the world.
Innovations such as the AI Playground at Future Proof Citywide 2026 offer hands-on demos from dozens of companies and stages for honest discussions about the latest tools.
Besides Future Proof, Matt co-founded RetailClub and Safeguard Events in 2025. Since August 2025, he has been CEO of etf.com and serves on the board of Create & Cultivate, a leading events platform for women in business.
Personal Values
Matt’s style is warm and genuine. Early in his career, he changed his hairstyle and way of speaking to fit in, but now he encourages being yourself to inspire real innovation. He focuses on practical ideas for the next 5 to 10 years, helping teams turn insights into results without feeling overwhelmed.
He values relationships more than flash, building communities through joy, purposeful networking, and human skills like leadership that technology can’t replace.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Matt stays grounded. He credits his team’s talent and ongoing adjustments based on attendee feedback for their consistent success.
Looking ahead, Matt wants to transform the financial services world by making Future Proof a key hub for wealth professionals dealing with AI, technology, and change. Events like Citywide in Miami Beach (March 8-11, 2026) will offer more interactive zones with hands-on experiences. He plans to grow community-building efforts, improving what works to create lasting connections and efficiency in a fast-paced industry.
Ultimately, Matt hopes to create a lasting impact beyond events by focusing on character, relationships, and tools that help make projects run more smoothly for the next generation.
