How Matterport CEO RJ Pittman is shaping the future of tech and digital transformation
In a recent interview with CEO.com, RJ Pittman, Chairman and CEO of Matterport, shared insights from his extensive career in technology and entrepreneurship. Pittman’s journey began at nine, and by 14, he had written his first business plan.
Despite initial rejections from his father, he persisted and eventually launched a venture to transform photocopy shops into desktop publishing centers using the Apple Macintosh. Reflecting on this early experience, Pittman noted, “I think I knew that technology was my calling at a pretty early age.”
His passion for innovation led him to Silicon Valley in the early 1990s, coinciding with the emergence of the World Wide Web. He contributed to several startups there before taking on significant roles at tech giants such as Google, Apple, and eBay. At Apple, Pittman helped launch the iPad in 2010, a product that redefined the tablet market. He described this period as “a very interesting period of time for Apple, experiencing an extraordinary inflection point of growth.”
Pittman discussed the rapid pace of technological advancement and highlighted the evolution of self-driving cars. He shared a personal anecdote: “I have two now-rising teenage kids who have never been in their own Uber, but I’m very comfortable putting them in a Waymo.” This reflects his confidence in the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles, a concept that seemed improbable just a few years ago. 
Pittman also addressed the cyclical nature of innovation and Silicon Valley’s resilience. He observed that despite economic downturns, the region remains a hub for groundbreaking ideas and startups. He emphasized, “Even in the toughest of times or the biggest and sharpest of downturns, Silicon Valley is still orders of magnitude more enabling for companies.”
Since joining Matterport in 2018, Pittman has led the company through significant growth, focusing on the digital transformation of the built environment. Matterport’s platform creates digital twins of physical spaces, enhancing accessibility and value. Under his leadership, the company continues to innovate, contributing to the evolving landscape of technology and real estate.