How a $500 TV Ad Turned Credit Karma into a $7B Empire

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