3361: Why AidKit Built a Tech Platform for Equitable Aid Distribution

Jul 27, 2025

Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit, leads a public benefit corporation dedicated to enhancing equitable aid distribution through innovative technology. She shares insights on transforming aid access into a dignified experience, combining user-centric design with robust fraud prevention. Brittany discusses the balance between growth and social values, revealing how AidKit evolved from a nonprofit during the pandemic to a certified B Corp. With a focus on trust and transparency, she highlights the role of community feedback in creating an impactful tech platform for vulnerable populations.

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ANECDOTE

Nonprofit to Tech Startup Shift

AidKit transitioned from a nonprofit to a for-profit B Corp to attract top engineering talent via equity.
This ensured access to Silicon Valley-level tools while maintaining social impact integrity.

INSIGHT

Community-Centered Tech Design

AidKit builds technology closely aligned with the communities it serves through advisory councils and user feedback.
This approach creates a dignified and easy application experience that benefits both applicants and administrators.

INSIGHT

Transparency and Dignity in Aid

Transparency ensures equitable distribution and accountability of aid funds benefiting vulnerable populations.
Designing for dignity includes minimizing burdens and stigma for aid applicants through thoughtful UX and language.

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In today’s episode of Tech Talks Daily, I connected with Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit, to explore how cutting-edge technology is being used not to disrupt markets or chase margins, but to deliver real, measurable social impact. AidKit is a public benefit corporation building infrastructure that helps vulnerable communities access aid quickly, securely, and with dignity.

While many tech conversations orbit around scale and efficiency, Brittany brings a different kind of energy, one grounded in values, user empathy, and purpose-built innovation. She shared how AidKit’s journey began as a nonprofit initiative during the pandemic, evolved into a for-profit startup to attract engineering talent, and most recently achieved B Corp certification, reinforcing its long-term commitment to balancing people, planet, and profit.

We discussed what dignity and equity look like in real-world software experiences, and how user-centric design can transform burdensome forms and gatekeeping processes into streamlined, accessible interfaces that actually work for people in need. Aidkit doesn’t stop at technology. Their model also includes multilingual support, advisory councils made up of program beneficiaries, and robust fraud prevention tools that protect both funds and privacy.

One of the standout takeaways was how Brittany views trust and transparency as core features, not afterthoughts. Governments rely on Aidkit to deliver programs with high stakes and public scrutiny, and that trust is earned through a combination of technical competence, clear communication, and reliable systems. AidKit is already supporting over 200 agencies and nonprofits, has processed more than half a million applications, and recently surpassed 330 million dollars in aid disbursements, including nine million dollars in a single week.

This conversation is not just about scaling a social impact startup. It is about leading with conviction, refusing to compromise mission for growth, and using the best of what technology offers to serve communities with care.

How can your tech strategy support social outcomes without losing sight of the people it's built for?