Meet Matthew Porter – the founder of Porter PhysEd Fitness

Matthew spent 11 years as a physical education teacher and 8 years as a personal trainer, but his passion for fitness goes even further back. After watching family members struggle with preventable health issues, he knew he didn’t want to follow the same path. That early wake-up call lit a fire in him to pursue strength training and empower others to take control of their own health.

But like many people, Matthew faced limitations—overworked, underpaid, and frustrated by the lack of gym equipment that met his standards. He wanted something better: high-quality, versatile tools that didn’t require a garage full of machines or an expensive membership. When he couldn’t find what he needed, he built it himself.

It started in his garage with a borrowed welder from his brother, who also taught him how to use it. (He returned it about eight months late.) Without that skill, none of this would’ve been possible. What began as passion projects made for free quickly turned into something bigger, as friends and fellow trainers started asking him to build equipment for them too. That garage-built hobby grew into a business grounded in smart design, quality construction, and practical innovation.

Matthew's mission is simple: create the most versatile and durable gym equipment on the market—gear that helps people train independently, save space, and get more out of every workout.

Still tinkering and prototyping in his garage, Matthew continues to push the limits of what home fitness equipment can be, all while staying true to what got him here: a belief that effective training should be accessible to everyone.

Origin of Porter PhysEd Fitness

When did you first start creating or selling fitness equipment?
It all started in 2017 when I built my first home gym. I began creating gear for myself out of necessity. I officially started selling products in 2023.

What problem were you trying to solve when you started PorterPEF?
I needed a lat pulldown bar but didn’t have space or the budget for a full machine. So I created an attachment for my existing cable tower - something that worked for my setup and solved a real problem.

Who is this gear made for?
Anyone who wants to work out - home gym lifters, athletes, garage gym owners, or anyone trying to get stronger with limited space.

What was the first thing you ever made?
The first thing I built was a wooden weight tree designed to fit in my single-car garage. Then came a deadlift jack. My first steel build was a rack-integrated lat pulldown. I sent a video of it to @kaizendiygym, and when he shared it on his Instagram, it picked up some traction. He encouraged me to start posting more of my creations - and that’s really where it all started.

Why do you think people resonate with the brand?
Because I’m one of them. I’m a home gym user first, making things to improve my own setup - if it helps me, it might help others too.

What does the name Porter PhysEd Fitness mean to you?
It started with my person Instagram handle @porter_physed. It stuck.

How is your approach different from other equipment brands?
I’m not here to mass-produce equipment - I’m solving my own problems first. If other people find value in the solutions I build, I make more.

What values are most important when building a product?
Functionality and quality come first. I care about precision and the details - if it’s not right, I don’t want it out there.

How do you test or develop new ideas?
I test everything myself. I want people to feel encouraged to tinker, to build their own stuff, and to know that they can create gear that works for them.

What’s your long-term vision for the company?
To keep building the attachments I dream up and get all these ideas out of my head and into the world.