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Bill Kerr is the Founder and CEO of Athyna, a global talent platform dedicated to hiring, managing, and retaining world-class talent. He also mentors and invests at Startmate and is a Limited Partner at Blackbird VC. Athyna was born from the necessity of building a global team on a tight budget during his first startup, AdventureFit, and has since evolved to leverage AI for rapid and accurate talent matching. Bill believes resilience, adaptability, strong team culture, and leveraging technology are essential for startup success. He has navigated challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic with exceptional leadership, emerging stronger. Passionate about helping founders, investors, and leaders, he shares insights through Open Source CEO. As an investor, he looks for strong teams and scalable business models, balancing his roles through clear priorities and continuous learning.
Bill, as the founder and CEO of Athyna, what inspired you to create a global talent platform, and how has your vision for the company evolved since its inception?
Athyna was born out of necessity while running my first startup, AdventureFit. I had to build a team on a shoestring budget, so I hired globally. This led to the realization there was a massive opportunity to help others do the same. The vision has always been to create the world’s leading talent network, connecting incredible talent with great companies, at lightning speed. Over time, we’ve fine-tuned our approach and now, with Athyna AI, we’re leveraging AI to take it to the next level.
With your experience as a mentor and investor at Startmate, what key qualities do you believe are essential for startups to thrive in today’s competitive landscape?
I believe the key qualities for startups to thrive include resilience, the ability to pivot, building a strong team culture, and leveraging technology. Entrepreneurs need to be flexible and ready to adapt based on market feedback. Building a solid team where everyone is motivated and aligned with the company’s goals is crucial. Staying updated with technological advancements and integrating them into your operations can provide a significant competitive edge.
How do you see AI and automation reshaping the business world, and what strategies should companies adopt to stay ahead of these technological advancements?
AI and automation are transforming business by increasing efficiency and accuracy. Companies are integrating AI to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and provide better customer experiences.
At Athyna we decided to build Athyna AI, allowing us to analyze huge amounts of data quickly, matching candidates with job opportunities based on skills, experience, and cultural fit. This not only speeds up the process, but increases the accuracy of matches, meaning that both businesses and talent get exactly what they’re looking for. Embracing continuous learning and staying adaptable to technological changes are essential for staying ahead.
In your opinion, what are the most critical skills that future professionals should develop to succeed in the evolving job market?
Future professionals should develop skills in adaptability, continuous learning, and technology proficiency. Being able to quickly adapt to new tools and technologies, staying informed about industry trends, and maintaining a growth mindset are critical for success in the evolving job market. Also, building a strong network and seeking out mentors early on is a massive skill that’s not talked about enough.
One of the most challenging moments was during COVID-19 when we lost 70% of our revenue almost overnight. It was a real test of our resilience. We had to make tough decisions—it was the only time we’ve ever made layoffs, actually. There is no easy way to navigate layoffs, really. You just have to be upfront and honest and be as open-handed with the team as you can be.
We made the mistake of not doing all of our layoffs in one hit. We had to come back and do a second round a few weeks after the first, but with everything that was going on during COVID in March 2020, we really weren’t to know what was going to happen.
But we got through it and we came out of it stronger, more agile, and with the knowledge that we are hard to kill. I think that knowledge actually goes a long way.
What role do you think global talent platforms like Athyna will play in the future of work, and how can they address current gaps in the job market?
Global talent platforms like Athyna will be crucial in the future of work by democratizing job opportunities across the globe. We help companies save up to 70-80% of their hiring costs and the talent does 40-50% better on their end, shrinking the work gap. Think US company hiring Brazilian developers. It’s a win-win, really.
As an active investor, what do you look for in potential investment opportunities, and how do you assess their long-term viability?
As an investor, I look for startups with a strong team, a clear market need, and a scalable business model. Investing is something I’ve really only begun the last couple of years. I am a mentor and investor at Startmate, the YC of the southern hemisphere. All mentors need skin in the game so I do $10k checks every six months there. I invested $50k into Blackbird, the region’s first ever billion dollar fund and I have now written 4-5 angel checks. I am so busy though I really spend very little time on it. I go by my gut and by who is leading the round.
A recent startup I invested into was Kiki. I like the product and the founder and the round had both Sequoia and Blackbird in it. That’s the best VC in both the Southern and Northern hemisphere if you ask me. So I spent 4-5 minutes looking at the deck and then I wrote them a $10k check. Investing for me is about giving back to the startup community and helping founders I align with. If I were to sell Athyna at some point, which may happen some years down the line, I’d probably step into a much more active role. But for now, with the time that I have on a week to week basis. This is how I invest.
Oh and I also have ~$50k in ETFs and Apple, Airbnb and Coinbase stock. I dollar cost average on a week to week basis there.
How do you manage to balance your various roles, from running Athyna to investing in startups and mentoring future leaders?
It’s a struggle but setting clear priorities and boundaries helps. I focus on what matters most and delegate tasks to my capable team. Having a structured routine and making time for personal well-being are also super important in me managing multiple responsibilities effectively.
One thing I adopted lately was accountability sessions. I do these with a number of the team. We meet, set our goals for the one hour together as to what we’ll work on and then we put on a playlist and work. I do one of these every day and it keeps me really honest.
What advice would you give to young professionals about adapting to the rapid changes brought about by AI and automation in their careers?
I’d tell my younger self to embrace failure and view it as a learning opportunity, and to focus on continuous learning and stay adaptable. The landscape of global business is constantly evolving, and keeping yourself updated with new tools and technologies is vital. Develop a growth mindset and be open to learning new skills to stay relevant in the changing job market.
How do you stay updated with the latest trends and developments in AI, automation, and leadership, and how do you incorporate this knowledge into your work at Athyna and beyond?
I love this question. I am a voracious reader, and well, I guess audio-booker if that’s a term. Books that have helped me are:
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
- How to Win Friends and Influence People
They would be my leadership stack. I loved Predictable Revenue back in the day. Fanatical Prospecting and The Sales Acceleration Formula as well. They helped me to build Athyna’s outbound engine.
In terms of other things that have inspired me—I got a lot out of a couple of books on Bezos and a couple on Elon. Mainly just to get me to push myself. Those are the type of books you put down and think “I need to be better.” I also love the Founders Podcast, Acquired, and My First Million when it comes to podcasts to improve.
I’m very big on engaging with industry experts to stay on the cutting edge of trends. Incorporating this knowledge involves continuously refining our strategies at Athyna to ensure we remain innovative and effective.
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