Professional Role and Company Overview
Matthew Costello is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Voyager Portal, a Houston-based maritime software company founded in 2018 alongside COO Bret Smart. Voyager Portal provides a low-code digital platform focused on reducing cost, complexity, and risk in non-containerized bulk and breakbulk global shipping operations, specializing in demurrage and operations management for bulk charterers. The company is positioned to modernize marine supply chain management, which accounts for over 90% of global seaborne trade.
Leadership and Industry Impact
Under Costello’s leadership, Voyager Portal has established itself as an integral tool in the maritime shipping industry, helping customers manage full supply chain shipping workflows with a strong focus on customer-centric solutions. The company has demonstrated steady growth, including continuous improvement in profitability over recent quarters and growth to approximately 40 employees as of mid-2024.
Voyager Portal has secured notable strategic funding, including a $10 million Series A funding round in December 2021 and a subsequent strategic investment from Singapore-based Motion Ventures in July 2025 to accelerate global expansion and product development. This highlights investor confidence in the company’s scalable technology and market positioning.
Voyager has also entered significant partnerships, such as with Stellium, to unify commodity shipping operations via an integrated SAP TM solution, and with Chinsay, reinforcing its commitment to transforming maritime supply chain workflows.
Professional Background
Matthew Costello's career includes experience as a Senior Broker in the Chartering Tanker Trading Department at Stolt-Nielsen Limited (2015-2016), providing him with first-hand operational knowledge in maritime logistics and chartering. His transition from a chartering career to founding Voyager Portal was influenced by identifying systemic inefficiencies in the maritime shipping sector during his business school tenure.
Costello obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from IMD Business School in 2017, an institution noted for its strong connections to the shipping industry, which informed Voyager’s business model and product development strategy. His academic choices align closely with industry leaders, including CEOs of major shipping companies.
Earlier in his career, Costello began working in Beijing, where he founded and funded the first joint Australian-China scholarships for Australian graduates, signaling an early aptitude for cross-cultural collaboration and entrepreneurship.
Industry Recognition and Thought Leadership
Matthew Costello has been featured in prominent industry and business publications including Forbes, which recognized him and cofounder Bret Smart in the 2021 Next 1000 list for their innovation in shipping logistics software. He has participated in multiple podcasts and video interviews, notably Maritime SoftwareHub's "Demurrage 2.0" episode (July 2024) and has publicly shared insights on building chartering strategies in volatile markets, reflecting his deep understanding of freight challenges anticipated in 2025.
Key Achievements and Business Milestones
- Founded Voyager Portal in 2018, growing the company into a recognized SaaS provider in maritime logistics within six years.
- Led Voyager through a Series A funding round raising $10 million in December 2021.
- Secured strategic funding from Motion Ventures in July 2025 to expand AI-driven maritime technology capabilities.
- Forged strategic partnerships with industry players like Stellium and Chinsay to deliver integrated technology solutions for commodity and marine supply chain management.
- Successfully improved company profitability over multiple quarters and expanded headcount to about 40 employees by mid-2024.
- Evolved Voyager Portal from an IMD MBA summer research project to a commercialized global platform impacting bulk shipping operations.
Professional Interests and Skills
Costello is focused on leveraging digital transformation to optimize shipping workflows and cost structures within the bulk and breakbulk shipping industry. His expertise spans shipping chartering, supply chain risk reduction, SaaS product development, and maritime logistics innovation.
His leadership style emphasizes customer-centric innovation and proactive risk management, demonstrated by his public advocacy for reducing demurrage costs and operational risks in maritime shipping.
This profile of Matthew Costello underscores a leader with deep sector experience, proven entrepreneurial capability, and a strategic vision for integrating technology into the maritime supply chain. Voyager Portal’s funding success, industry partnerships, and operational growth under his direction suggest a robust platform for expanding the company’s market footprint globally.
