WEALTH August 22, 2026 0 Comments

Why SQUID’s CEO Matthew Coffey Is Stepping Away—And What It Means for the Future of Innovation

Ever wonder how the lines between work and friendship can vanish faster than morning fog when you’re in the thick of building something from scratch? That’s exactly the reality Matthew Coffey, CEO of SQUID, lives daily. Saturdays for him aren’t about a lazy start or a rigid routine — instead, they weave through travel, deep dives into random podcasts, a hint of work that just slips in, and the ever-blurring mingling of social ties with professional passion. From long runs and rugby scrambles to unexpected hobbies like dry stone walling and bracing swims in the Atlantic, Coffey’s weekends are a vivid snapshot of a founder’s life where every stone turned is also a story, every friendship a potential partnership, and every moment a blend of hustle and heartbeat. Intrigued by how this balance plays out away from the boardroom? LEARN MORE

‘The line between work and friendship gets blurred very quickly when you’re building something’ – Matthew Coffey, CEO, SQUID

10am The honest answer is that I don’t really have a standard Saturday. I’m at that stage of life where there are a good few weddings happening, which makes for quite a lot of weekend travel.

I genuinely enjoy it. You end up in parts of Ireland or abroad that you might never otherwise visit. Every place has its own quirks and little routines, and I always find myself wondering what gives somewhere its character.

Usually, Saturday might just start with catching up on sleep. No alarm, no agenda. Once I’m up, I head to Luna for a coffee and one of their cinnamon pastries. It’s become a bit of a ritual at this point.

11am I head out for a long walk or a run. A good walk will normally involve a podcast on something deliberately non-work-related. My listening history probably looks like several different people share the same account.

One day it’s AI, the next it’s wildlife, philosophy, sport, politics, filmmaking or some completely random topic I had never thought about until that morning. I’m probably more interested in learning a little about lots of things than becoming an expert in one.

12.30pm I get back and catch up on a bit of work. Startup life has a way of bleeding into the weekend, but I don’t mind it.

The line between work and friendship gets blurred very quickly when you’re building something, and a lot of the people I spend time with at the weekend are people I met through work.

2pm I’m currently blundering through three different forms of non-contact rugby each week, so I’m not especially good at any one of them.

I’ve played for Ireland a few times over the years, but I still feel slightly behind the curve in all of them. I’ve also started spending more time in the gym. I wouldn’t pretend I love every minute of it, but I like the discipline and the feeling of progression, and you nearly always feel better afterwards.

3.30pm During the year, I got into a good routine of heading down to watch one of my friends play rugby. It’s a great excuse to get out of the house and support someone, and it seems to turn into a fairly big night out more often than not.

5pm Whenever I get the chance, I head down to Schull in West Cork. I spent a lot of time there growing up, and it’s still the place where I find it easiest to switch off.

When I was younger, it was all about getting into the sea. I still love swimming and getting out in boats, but these days I probably appreciate the walks, the hills and the landscape just as much.

The weather in West Cork is famously unpredictable, so when a good day comes along, you don’t overthink it. You get out on the water, head across to one of the islands, go for a swim or throw a barbecue together with friends. Because the weather is never guaranteed, you tend to remember the good days.

There’s something about getting into cold Atlantic water that clears your head almost immediately. The older I get, the more I notice how relaxed I feel afterwards.

6.30pm I’ve also developed a slightly random fascination with dry stone walling. Watching people around Schull turn what looks like a pile of loose rocks into a wall made me realise how incredibly skilled it is.

I had a go at building a stone bench myself. It is recognisable as a bench, which is probably the fairest review. But while I was making it, I got into a brilliant state of flow. I was completely focused on figuring out how to lift, position and balance the stones. I enjoyed it enough that I’m now trying to make a few other small things.

8pm Most weekends seem to end with a few drinks somehow. Whether it’s post-rugby pints, a night out with startup friends, or something that just materialises, it rarely takes much convincing.

I’m not especially good at doing nothing. But getting outdoors, playing sport, travelling and spending time by the sea are probably the closest I get to properly switching off.