Ken Lin founded Credit Karma in 2007, bootstrapped through the recession, survived a near-shutdown by TransUnion, and ultimately sold to Intuit for $7.1B. In this episode, Ken shares how a $500 DIY TV ad broke their growth, why he avoided an IPO, the non-negotiables that mattered most in M&A, and where AI is taking personal finance next. A must-listen for any founder navigating scale, culture, and billion-dollar decisions.
(0:00) Introduction to Ken Lin, Credit Karma founder
(0:32) Ken Lin's journey from Intuit to entrepreneurship
(2:15) The inception and evolution of Credit Karma
(7:26) Overcoming the Great Recession and funding strategies
(12:00) Crafting cost-effective marketing and scaling with TV ads
(20:38) Fostering a scrappy company culture and partner relationships
(24:03) Credit Karma's early traction and overcoming TransUnion challenges
(31:14) Building a strong company culture and ethical business practices
(37:32) Insight into IPOs, fundraising, and acquisition dynamics
(43:03) The path to Credit Karma's acquisition by Intuit
(50:32) Deal negotiations and cultural alignment with Intuit
(55:28) The acquisition during COVID-19 and future insights
(1:06:56) Ken Lin's next steps after Credit Karma
