Athyna: Global Talent, Simplified Payroll with Bitwage

Athyna, founded by CEO Bill Kerr, is a global talent platform dedicated to connecting exceptional professionals with companies worldwide. Originating from his first venture, AdventureFit, Athyna has evolved into a cutting-edge solution that leverages AI to bridge the gap between businesses and remote talent. A long-time Bitwage client, Athyna fosters a sustainable ecosystem of talent and innovation. We had the privilege of interviewing Bill Kerr to learn more about his journey, leadership, and vision for the future of global hiring!

Let's dive in!

The Beginnings

Bill, let’s start with your entrepreneurial journey. How did you become interested in entrepreneurship? Was this something you envisioned as a kid?
My interest in entrepreneurship came from a mix of necessity and curiosity. Growing up, I was always looking for ways to make money and create something of my own. I started reselling toys at school and even bought my first real estate investment at 19. I was always driven by the idea of building and owning something. As a kid, I envisioned having a booming real estate portfolio, but it wasn’t until I started experiencing the business world firsthand that I truly saw entrepreneurship as my path.

First Job

What was your first job, and how did it shape you as an entrepreneur?
My first job was working at a local golf course as a ‘cart boy.’ It was a great gig, and I learned a lot. Driving carts around the course felt like driving a car before I was legal to drive, which was pretty exciting! But beyond the fun, it taught me about customer service, sales, and the importance of hard work. That job taught me a lot about people and service, even though I eventually got fired! I still remember my last paycheck—$14.

Shaping the path as an entrepreneur

You’ve had a lot of experiences—can you tell us about one that really shaped your path as an entrepreneur?
After high school, I dove into real estate, buying my first house at 19. It was my first taste of investment, risk, and reward. I’ve since read studies that show taking risks early shapes your tolerance for them later. But it wasn’t until the second anniversary of my first startup, AdventureFit, that I truly considered failure. A friend came up to me at the event and said, “Congrats on making it to the 2-year mark, most companies would have died by now.” That was when I realized that failure was a real possibility, and it pushed me to think differently about the risks I was taking.

Whats Athyna?

Tell us more about your latest venture, Athyna. What problem are you solving, and what challenges have you faced?
Athyna is a global talent platform that uses AI to match exceptional professionals with companies looking for top-tier talent. We’ve streamlined the hiring process, making it quicker and more efficient. The biggest challenge has been navigating the complexities of different markets and maintaining a high standard of quality and cultural fit. Our AI-driven approach helps businesses find the perfect match faster, but there’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of scaling and market penetration.

Mentors and Coaches

Who have been some of your mentors and coaches over the years?
I've been fortunate to have several mentors over the journey. Right now, my main advisor is Bryce Maddock, CEO of TaskUs, who is also one of our investors. He has given me awesome advice on how to scale this business, as he has built a very similar business from $0 to $1 billion in revenue.

The funny thing is, I actually pitched Bryce in one outbound email. A really good example of why you should always shoot your shot in life and in business.

Personal Branding

You’ve spoken about the importance of personal branding. What strategies have you used to grow your personal brand, and how does it fit into your business?
Personal branding is definitely a tool in today’s business world, even though I’m not a huge fan of social media. I haven’t had a SIM card for 18 months to limit distractions, and I plan to use only an Apple Watch soon. But I know that social media helps build an audience, which ultimately helps my business. I focus on being authentic and sharing valuable insights with my audience. I try not to take it too seriously. The bigger creators post infographics and threads, but I think people connect with authenticity. My presence might not be the strongest, but I believe I have a high trust factor with my followers.

Being Agile and Adaptive

What do you think companies need to do differently to grow in 2024 and beyond?
Agility and adaptability are key. Businesses need to embrace remote work and leverage AI for efficiency. A strong company culture will also be critical, and companies must prioritize customer experience. One thing I believe will give companies a real edge is forming media partnerships. This can reduce customer acquisition costs, especially with the rise of reverse CAC. Look at HubSpot’s acquisition of The Hustle; that’s a great example of how media partnerships can drive growth. Businesses should be thinking about building their own media to capitalize on this.

Raising $2.5 Million for Athyna

You've raised $2.5 million for Athyna. How did this come about, and what role do creators play in your growth strategy?
We just closed a $2.5 million funding round, and what’s exciting is that 15 of the world’s top creators are now investors in Athyna. Creators are incredibly powerful right now, and they’ve been a huge asset for us. This is the future—having people who are trusted by millions back your company. They’re helping us grow, both financially and in terms of reach.

5 Jobs of a CEO

You’ve mentioned that CEOs have five key jobs. Can you share more about that?
I think the five jobs of a CEO are pretty straightforward:

1. Set the strategy.
2. Hire and retain the best talent.
3. Create and maintain the culture.
4. Allocate resources wisely.
5. Make critical decisions.

If you’re doing anything else, you’re probably not doing your job as a CEO.

Hobbies Outside of Work

Any hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work, I love surfing, staying active, weightlifting, and traveling. These help me recharge. I’m also a voracious reader and enjoy diving into books on leadership, business, and personal development. Oh and fantasy. I am a huge Game of Thrones nerd. I've also been working on OpensourceCEO which is a great place to find expert interviews, founder deep dives and career-boosting tools.

Best way for people to connect with you?

Anyone can connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out via email. I’m always interested in collaborating with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact.

About Bitwage

At Bitwage, we’ve been helping businesses manage their global payroll for over 10 years, providing a seamless way to pay remote teams worldwide in traditional currencies or leveraging the power of cryptocurrency. We focus on offering individuals and businesses with the freedom to choose how to pay and how to get paid, offering the most complete, fast, low-cost, and non-custodial payroll solution available.

Bill Kerr, CEO of Athyna, a long-time Bitwage client has trusted Bitwage for years, showing the value we bring to businesses navigating the remote work landscape.

Ready to join the payroll revolution?