10 Minutes With... Kristyn Smith, Startup Grind
Kristyn Smith took over as director of Startup Grind Wichita in late 2019 and hosted her first event in February 2020, but the group's monthly meetings haven't been held since then. Back from the pandemic, Smith says Startup Grind is ready to be a connector again for local startup founders and entrepreneurs.
By Shelby Kellerman - Managing Editor
February 18, 2022, 05:00am CST
Kristyn Smith never got her due as the new director of Startup Grind.
While she's been a familiar face at the organization since 2017, Smith took over as director in late 2019 and hosted her first event in February 2020 — just before the pandemic struck — and the group hasn't met in person since. The Wichita chapter of the national organization typically hosts monthly startup events to teach, inspire and connect local entrepreneurs. Finally, two years later, Startup Grind is gearing up to host its first in-person event Feb. 22.
Smith, who's also an educator at the College of Innovation and Design at Wichita State University, hopes to bring the attention back to the meet-ups. She joined a Q&A with the WBJ to talk about her experience in the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem and where the gaps and opportunities are.
Your background is in design and marketing. How do you think that plays into your role at Startup Grind? Having the technical…