Hi, I’m Shiren Mathai — product strategist, builder, and lifelong believer in entrepreneurs.
For more than 20 years, I’ve led and rebuilt products that help others bring their ideas to life — from formation platforms that helped thousands of small businesses launch, to complex rebuilds for national organizations. I’ve seen every side of entrepreneurship: the excitement, the uncertainty, and the quiet grind between “dream” and “done.”
Illinois Spark exists because I’ve been where you are.
When you’re starting out, the hardest part isn’t your idea — it’s knowing where to begin, who to trust, and how not to overspend on services you don’t need. I built Illinois Spark to change that.
1. I’ve built what others only talk about.
As Head of Product and Chief of Staff at Incfile (Bizee), I helped grow the company from $60 million to $120 million + in revenue — by listening to founders like you and building the tools they needed most.
2. I fix chaos and make progress real.
Through my consulting firm Lost Points LLC, I’ve led national projects, rebuilt platforms under impossible deadlines, and guided organizations through digital transformation — always focused on measurable outcomes.
3. I build teams that last.
From startups to national associations, I’ve built and scaled high-performing teams across UX, product, and engineering — then handed them off to succeed without me. That’s the same mindset behind Spark: build once, grow sustainably.
4. I understand both sides — the founder and the operator.
I’ve been a corporate executive, a consultant, and a small-business owner. That blend of experience means my advice isn’t theory — it’s battle-tested practicality.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about business — it’s about ownership.
The goal isn’t to work more; it’s to own more of what you create.
Clarity beats complexity.
The best decisions come from simple, transparent guidance — not jargon or upsells.
Community matters.
Illinois Spark is built to keep costs low and support local entrepreneurs. When you grow, the state grows with you.
Every guide, tool, or referral you find here has been reviewed, tested, or personally used by me or my network of founders.
We use AI to help refine our content — but every insight, recommendation, and decision is guided by real human experience.
My job is to make your path clearer, your choices smarter, and your first steps easier.
Because your spark deserves to grow.
Founder, Illinois Spark
Fractional CTO/CPO | Product Strategist | Entrepreneur | Story Listener