# Kai Stinchcombe

> Kai Stinchcombe is the founder and CEO of True Link Financial, a San Francisco-based fintech company that builds financial tools for vulnerable populations - seniors with dementia, people with disabilities, and individuals in recovery. Inspired by his grandmother Ruth's experience being defrauded by telemarketers while living with Alzheimer's, Kai co-founded True Link in 2012 to give families and caregivers smart, customizable controls over spending. The company has helped over 250,000 families and raised $50M+ including a $35M Series B led by Khosla Ventures. Beyond True Link, Kai is known for his viral, contrarian essays dismantling blockchain hype, and for co-founding the Roosevelt Institution, a progressive student policy think tank that won a MacArthur Award.

- **Role:** Founder / CEO at True Link Financial
- **Organizations:** True Link Financial, Roosevelt Institution
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA in History, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Colorado College, MA in Political Science, Stanford University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Roosevelt Institution, which won a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, Built True Link Financial to $38M+ annual revenue serving 250,000+ families, Raised $50M+ in venture funding including Series B from Khosla Ventures

## Career timeline

- **2004** — Worked on John Kerry presidential campaign
- **2004** — Co-founded the Roosevelt Institution, a progressive student policy think tank, at Stanford
- **2005-2012** — Served as CTO or Head of Data Science at three different startups
- **2012** — Co-founded True Link Financial with Claire McDonnell
- **2014** — Appointed to Obama administration task force on technology and aging
- **2017** — Published viral essay 'Ten Years In, Nobody Has Come Up With A Use For Blockchain'
- **2018** — Served on California Blockchain Working Group; published follow-up blockchain critique
- **2017** — True Link raised $8M Series A led by QED Investors
- **2020** — True Link raised $35M Series B led by Khosla Ventures and Centana Growth Partners
- **2022** — True Link celebrated 10 years, having helped 250,000+ families

## Achievements

- Co-founded Roosevelt Institution, which won a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions
- Built True Link Financial to $38M+ annual revenue serving 250,000+ families
- Raised $50M+ in venture funding including Series B from Khosla Ventures
- True Link recognized on Forbes Fintech 50
- Appointed to Obama administration task force on technology and aging
- Wrote two viral essays debunking blockchain technology that generated international debate
- Guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, London School of Economics, and UC Berkeley
- Served on California Governor's Blockchain Working Group

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Speaking at Special Needs Planning Symposium 2026
- **2023-08** — Featured in Y Combinator interview discussing True Link's 10+ year journey
- **2022-11** — True Link celebrates 10 years, having helped 250,000+ families
- **2020-07** — True Link closes $35M Series B led by Khosla Ventures and Centana Growth Partners

## Links

- Website: https://truelinkfinancial.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaistinchcombe
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/kaistinchcombe

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/kai-stinchcombe
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-12