Necessity is the Mother of Invention: The Story Behind Aces
Finding a Better Way
At Aces Poker Run, we know firsthand the challenges of organizing a poker run: tracking cards, managing participants, and keeping everyone updated on standings—it’s a lot to handle. That’s exactly why the Aces Poker Run app was created.
Our founder, Matt Knutson, began working with Wertz Warriors Poker Runs in 2008. With his background in technology, Matt quickly recognized an opportunity to simplify the process and bring poker runs into the digital age. By 2009, he had developed a computerized solution to streamline card tracking and hand ranking, reducing the hassle and providing organizers a fast and accurate way to determine the winners.
Why We Made Aces Poker Run App
At Aces Poker Run, we know firsthand the challenges of organizing a poker run: tracking cards, managing participants, and keeping everyone updated on standings—it’s a lot to handle. That’s exactly why the Aces Poker Run app was created.
Our founder, Matt Knutson, began working with Wertz Warriors Poker Runs in 2008. With his background in technology, Matt quickly recognized an opportunity to simplify the process and bring poker runs into the digital age. By 2009, he had developed a computerized solution to streamline card tracking and hand ranking, reducing the hassle and providing organizers a fast and accurate way to determine the winners.
Aces Poker Run App Debuts 2023
The journey of the Aces Poker Run app began in August 2021, when Matt, started designing and refining the concept on the back of a napkin. However, it wasn’t until October 2022—when he teamed up with co-founders Trevor Smith and Greg Brandt—that the app truly came to life, with the first lines of code written soon after.
The goal was ambitious: to have the app ready for the Wertz Warriors July 2023 event. After months of development, the Aces Poker Run app officially launched in June 2023, making its debut in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
From Skepticism to Success
Our first event was a valuable learning experience. Despite a few challenges, the success was undeniable. One seasoned poker run organizer—who had previously resisted adopting technology during our laptop-tracking era—was so impressed that he immediately signed up their August 2023 event to use the app, declaring, "This app is a game changer!" After their event, he went on to say, "I will never go back to the old way."
Several other local event organizers attending the Wertz events were inspired to adopt Aces Poker Run as their platform of choice. One organizer, who had always been overwhelmed by the daunting task of running a poker run, finally decided to take the leap. With the app’s support, they successfully set up and ran their first event in September 2023, sharing, "The app made it possible."
Revolutionizing Poker Runs
We are proud to be a Michigan-based company, founded by poker run enthusiasts who truly understand the challenges and excitement of organizing these unique events. Since its launch, the Aces Poker Run app has supported over 100 events, engaged more than 5,000 participants, and helped raise over $250,000 for event organizers. It has quickly become the go-to tool for managing poker runs, transforming the way events are organized and experienced.
As we continue to grow, we remain committed to improving our app and expanding its reach to bring the excitement of poker runs to even more communities. Over the past two years, we’ve learned a great deal from our organizers and participants, and we’ve listened carefully to their feedback. With this in mind, we’re hard at work developing version 2.0, set to launch in February 2025.
In the meantime, we are focused on providing outstanding support and creating better help documentation to make the app as user-friendly as possible. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out—whether by chat, email, or phone. We’re here to help you revolutionize your event so you can work less and enjoy more, alongside your participants.
Our founders
Matt Knutson, CEO
Matt Knutson, CEO
Matt Knutson, CEO
25+ years of experience in technology and operational leadership. 18 years as Enterprise CIO & VP in technology and security. 16 years as a staff member with Wertz Warriors Poker Runs. Bachelor of Science and MBA from Colorado Technical University.
Trevor Smith, CIO
Matt Knutson, CEO
Matt Knutson, CEO
CEO of Tricky Tree Branch Consulting. Over 7 years as a DevOps Engineer with large healthcare organizations, including Genoa Healthcare (Optum Networks). 8+ years of experience in enterprise infrastructure and security within the healthcare industry. Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Youngstown University.
Greg Brandt, CTO
Matt Knutson, CEO
Greg Brandt, CTO
CEO of Brandt Consulting, LLC. 25 years of experience designing innovative software solutions. Extensive consulting expertise in healthcare and eCommerce, with a focus on web, mobile, and cloud-based technologies.
