Get to Know Us
FoundryHR was built to support early-stage startups at one of their most critical moments: the transition from a scrappy team to a growing company.
We specialize in setting up the foundational HR infrastructure—payroll, benefits, equity, compliance—and helping founders navigate the messy middle between DIY and fully built-out people teams.
Services
You're building something big—we make sure your people systems can keep up.
Payroll & Benefits
Without the Guesswork
​Platform Selection: Helping founders choose the best payroll and benefits provider based on team size, funding stage, and growth plans.​
Implementation Support: Oversee account setup, ensure accurate payroll data entry, configure benefits enrollment, and integrate with accounting software.​
Cap Table & Option Planning: Guiding founders on how to allocate equity for early hires and benchmark against industry standards.
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Performance Management
Align Teams. Grow Leaders. Drive Results.​​
​Goal-Setting Frameworks: Implement a lightweight OKR or KPI system to ensure employees are aligned with company objectives.​
Performance Review Process: Design a simple, scalable review cycle to provide feedback and drive retention.​
Manager Training: Equip first-time managers with basic coaching and feedback skills to build a strong leadership culture.
Compliance & Risk
Clear Policies. Confident Decisions.​
Policy Drafting: Provide foundational HR policies (e.g., offer letters, employee handbooks, remote work policies) tailored to startup needs.​
Compliance Reviews: Ensure the company is meeting federal and state employment laws (e.g., exempt vs. non-exempt status, proper employment classifications).​
HR Risk Guidance: Advise on termination procedures, employment law considerations, and other risk factors unique to startups.
About
I’m Matt O’Donnell — an HR leader with over 15 years of experience helping startups scale with intention. I’ve led People functions at fast-growing companies like Agoric, Sundae, and Vecna Robotics, building systems that support growth without losing culture. Earlier in my career, I honed my skills in complex, high-performance environments at Accenture and the Dentsu Aegis Network. I hold a Master’s in Organizational and Leadership Psychology, which fuels my belief that effective HR is both human and strategic. I started FoundryHR to bring that balance to early-stage startups—bridging the gap between scrappy beginnings and scalable, high-trust organizations.
