Fintech South 2022: Kristin Slink with Tech AF

Intro: [00:00:08] Broadcasting live from the Georgia World Congress Center for Fintech South 2022, it’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Brought to you by Atlanta Blockchain Center. Now here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:27] Lee Kantor here broadcasting live from FinTech South 2022. And I am so excited to be talking to Kristin Slink with Tech AF. Welcome, Kirstin.

Kristin Slink: [00:00:37] Thank you for having me today.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:38] Well, tell us about Tech AF. How are you serving folks?

Kristin Slink: [00:00:41] Absolutely. So, I have to start a little bit about me. So, I’m a former Fintech founder. I started in online lending about 12 years ago.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:49] Before it was cool.

Kristin Slink: [00:00:49] Before it was cool. So, buy now, pay later, before it was even a thing.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:54] Wow.

Kristin Slink: [00:00:54] I was in that space. I actually recognized an inefficiency at the time. And so, I set out to raise money and build a company around making it a better user experience for businesses that were offering loans to their customers at the point of sale. And so, I grew that as a non-technical founder, just came from the industry, made a lot of mistakes.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:14] Sure.

Kristin Slink: [00:01:14] Sold that company in 2018 to a company based here in Georgia. And so, I based that — that company was based in San Diego. Moved out here about four years ago. Worked with them for a little bit and then really wanted to give back. And so, since then, I was working at Georgia Tech at their incubator running the Fintech Vertical for the last three years.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:33] At ATDC?

Kristin Slink: [00:01:33] At ATDC.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:33] Uh-huh.

Kristin Slink: [00:01:34] Yes, and so, I just recently left to start Tech AF. And so, I am focused on early-stage entrepreneurs when they have an idea, particularly if they are non-technical, and are not sure how to get a product bill or get that company off the ground.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:49] So, how has the adjustment been from California to Georgia?

Kristin Slink: [00:01:53] It’s been really nice. I actually really dig Atlanta. If you were to ask me five years ago if I would see myself living in Atlanta, I would be like —

Lee Kantor: [00:02:02] No.

Kristin Slink: [00:02:02] — no way.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:02] Where is Atlanta? I travel through there, but I’ve never stayed there.

Kristin Slink: [00:02:07] Yes, I was in San Diego for 11 years. And so, it was time for a new adventure. And when I came out here, I just really fell in love with the city, especially the ecosystem and our Fintech community, which you can see from today.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:19] Now, talk a little bit about the difference, like, what’s the Fintech scene like in San Diego or California?

Kristin Slink: [00:02:26] At the time I was a Fintech founder, nonexistent.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:29] Really?

Kristin Slink: [00:02:30] Yes. So, it was really difficult to find people that understood the industry and could help connect you with businesses, mentors, and resources to take the business to the next level. Coming here to Atlanta and actually being one of those resources for founders was really eye-opening to the power of this community and how really Southern hospitality is a thing.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:50] It’s kind of, I think, the secret sauce, the level of collaboration is –.

Kristin Slink: [00:02:54] Yes.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:54] — is real. It seemed like people sincerely want to help each other out.

Kristin Slink: [00:02:57] Absolutely. And everyone’s coming together, too. So, it’s an ecosystem. We all specialize in different things. You know, I’m particularly focused on non-technical founders at that early ideation. There’s programs like ATDC that are there once they have that company.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:11] Right.

Kristin Slink: [00:03:11] And then we have funds and stuff for when they grow and become big like Green Light that we saw yesterday with Jason Cook on stage.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:17] So, now for you personally, when you have an exit, you could have left and gone anywhere. Why did you stay here? Was it because of the ecosystem? Now, you, kind of, are starting to have roots here.

Kristin Slink: [00:03:28] It was kind of like I already picked up and moved here, so I might as well see if I like it. And I really just fell in love with the city after I really got into the ecosystem meeting people. It just is really a vibrant community.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:40] So, that — so, Tech AF, how did that whole thing come about? So, you exited and now what is the vision of Tech AF?

Kristin Slink: [00:03:47] Yeah, it’s really to support founders where I wasn’t supported. And so, my own personal experience of trying to figure out how to build a tech company without knowing anything about tech and also helping early-stage founders. I really recognize a gap for those founders of a really easy way to learn how to create a business, solve a real problem, and tech is just the product.

Kristin Slink: [00:04:09] And so, it’s really demystifying a lot about the tech industry. You know, certain founders are celebrated, the tech bro, so to speak.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:17] Sure.

Kristin Slink: [00:04:17] And so, it’s really just shedding a light that founders can come from anywhere. They can look like anyone. And as long as they have those skills to move that business forward and know what to look for and know who to go to to get that tech built and surround themselves with a good team, you can make anything happen. It’s just putting that work in and understanding the steps to get there the quickest way.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:37] So, how does it work? Is, you know, it a physical location? Is it all online?

Kristin Slink: [00:04:42] Yes.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:42] What is the community?

Kristin Slink: [00:04:43] It’s a 16-week program that I do and I run cohorts. And so, I’m running one starting on July 6th. I already have a handful of people that are coming through, all from different industries that notice an inefficiency in their own day-to-day, that recognize, I think I have a solution to this problem, but they just never saw themselves as a tech founder.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:02] But it’s virtual?

Kristin Slink: [00:05:03] It’s virtual and then I also do some in-person activities here locally, but it’s really not specific to Atlanta. I really can help anyone, anywhere.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:11] But it’s a program that has a beginning and end and there’s a community within it. It’s not asynchronous where I can just jump in and —

Kristin Slink: [00:05:18] Yes, so we run it together. There’s five modules –.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:21] As a cohort.

Kristin Slink: [00:05:21] Correct? So we go through it together. We do weekly coaching calls. I also team the entrepreneurs up together. There’s a lot of group sharing and everyone has their different, you know, superpowers to help one another. And so, it’s really collaborative. We have an online community and it’s really just being there for one another. And then I also bring experts in to talk about their experiences or certain proficiencies that they have. Maybe they’re really great at customer service or they’re really great at setting up sales teams. Bringing in that level of knowledge from the community also helps these early-stage founders.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:53] And it’s industry agnostic as long as it touches technology in some way?

Kristin Slink: [00:05:57] Correct. So, not a service-based business. Although, if it is a service-based business and they’re looking for technology to put into their — to scale, that’s a perfect person to me, so.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:06] And then what level — like, what stage do they have to be — can they have just an idea on a napkin stage or do they have to have revenue like where do they —

Kristin Slink: [00:06:14] I specialize on the napkin stage? So, most resources for early-stage founders really want them to have a product revenue and customers. I’m before that stage. So, I help them get into those programs like ATDC or get ready for an investment.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:29] So, it could be a young person, like, a college student or it could be anybody at any stage? Like, if they have an idea —

Kristin Slink: [00:06:36] It could be anyone — it could be anyone at any stage. I have been really honing in on executives. So, someone who’s been in industry and recognizing something there, so.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:45] So, you’re looking specifically for that executive that maybe has backburner than an idea and is ready to take that next step —

Kristin Slink: [00:06:52] Exactly.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:52] — into making a real.

Kristin Slink: [00:06:54] I work in Fintech. I do customer service. I realize that there’s this big gap in what I’m doing. There’s no products out there that exist. I have this unique idea about how to fix it. I just don’t know how to get there.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:05] Right.

Kristin Slink: [00:07:05] So, I help people like that really recognize their potential and get them to the place where they can take advantage of a lot of the resources.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:12] So, now is this July cohort the first one or has there been one before this?

Kristin Slink: [00:07:18] There has been ones before this. So, I tested this out last year with five different women and they are all moving forward, building their products, and their companies, which is really exciting.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:27] And then — so, there are — obviously before they have revenue, before they have investment, it’s all self-funded most of these people?

Kristin Slink: [00:07:36] Yes, it’s all self-funded. And I actually help them after they graduate the program to figure out how much is going to cost for them to build the tech, how to focus on generating revenue, and also trying to find non-dilutive sources of capital.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:48] Right.

Kristin Slink: [00:07:48] Because they are so early stage. So, I don’t want to take equity and I don’t want them to give away equity unless they have to.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:54] Right.

Kristin Slink: [00:07:54] So, it’s really building that value of the business and the vision before they go out and they seek that external capital where someone’s going to want equity or want something from them early on.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:04] So, now for you, how — what are you looking to get out of Fintech South? Is it just a network and, kind of, meet more people or are you speaking? What’s your role here at Fintech South?

Kristin Slink: [00:08:13] I spoke yesterday during the innovation showcase. And so, I was on a panel. It was an entrepreneur me, a VC, Dan Drechsel from Panoramic Ventures, and an executive from Pfizer. And so, we were talking about innovation within Fintech. And I always say that I am the advocate for early-stage founders.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:30] And then, so what do you need more of now? How can we help?

Kristin Slink: [00:08:33] Awareness. So, letting everyone know what Tech AF is and that we exist here for founders at the ideation stage before they get into all the programs. Because what happens, a lot of times, is you think you can get funding with an idea on a napkin. And so, those founders go out and they start to try to raise money and get turned down and it really —

Lee Kantor: [00:08:52] And they get frustrated or they quit and then —

Kristin Slink: [00:08:53] It defeats it, right?

Lee Kantor: [00:08:55] Right.

Kristin Slink: [00:08:55] It feels defeating. And so, I’m trying to get to them before that point to help them.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:58] So, they can get a win to help them be ready –.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:01] Yes.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:01] — for that first step almost.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:02] We have a lot of losses as entrepreneurs. And so, it’s really just.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:04] Right, it’s really it’s hard.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:06] It is.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:06] It’s hard. It’s there’s no easy way to do it.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:09] It’s not.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:09] I mean, unless you’re lucky or super-connected.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:12] Yes.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:13] You know, otherwise, you’re in a grind. So, you better get as many resources and have as much community around you to support you.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:19] Yes, so community mentorship, guidance, even confidence.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:24] Right.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:24] Leadership building on some things —

Lee Kantor: [00:09:24] And hard truths.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:25] Yes.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:25] So, I’m sure that’s what a lot of it is, too, is to manage their expectations.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:29] And very authentic. So, I’ll tell the truth of how it is. Some things aren’t fun. Selling a company isn’t fun, for example, you know, and I’ll talk about that. But it’s really understanding the reality and knowing what you’re going to get into. And there’s just so many people out there that are so resilient and they just need a chance to shine.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:46] Right. And opportunity.

Kristin Slink: [00:09:48] Exactly. So, I’m trying to help level the playing field, so to speak.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:52] So, if somebody wants to connect with you or get involved in the community, what is the website?

Kristin Slink: [00:09:56] It is www.iamtechaf.com.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:01] Good stuff. Well, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Kristin Slink: [00:10:05] Thank you so much for having me today.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:06] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll be back in a few at FinTech South 2022.

Outro: [00:10:18] This episode has been brought to you by Atlanta Blockchain Center, the catalyst for Atlanta’s emergence as the Premier Blockchain Innovation Hub globally. Through cultivating entrepreneurship, inclusivity, and education. To learn more, go to atl.blockchaincenter.com.