SXSW PITCH FOUNDER PROFILES: Will Kreth of HAND
The 45 finalists for SXSW Pitch 2025 represent some of the most promising startups from across the US and from around the globe.
Learn more about SXSW Pitch by reading these short interviews with the founders behind these awe-inspiring new companies that were selected as finalists for this year's event.
In this installment of this series, we talk with Will Kieth, who is CEO / Founder of HAND (Human & Digital). A former Austinite, Kieth now lives in Brooklyn
https://lnkd.in/gR55aQNa
HAND is a finalist in the "Entertainment, Media, Sports & Content" category of SXSW Pitch. This category takes the stage at 11:30 am on Sunday, March 9
https://lnkd.in/guJU_7YB
SXSW: What does HAND do?
KRETH: We bring simplicity and scale to talent identity with Identity Intelligence – our interoperable talent ID framework – built to enable reliable verification of quantifiably notable real (legal & natural) persons, their virtual counterparts, and fictional entities.
SXSW: What is your startup's biggest strength at present?
KRETH: Relationships.
SXSW: What is your startup's biggest challenge at present?
KRETH: Scale for network effects.
SXSW: How concerned are you about the growing sophistication of deep fake technology?
KRETH: Very -- yet it's not too late to bring common sense to delineating what's real vs. what's fraudulent.
SXSW: Is AI over-hyped or under-hyped?
KRETH: Can we just go with "Inescapably 24/7 hyped"?
SXSW: When do you think we as a society will reach the singularity?
KRETH: Are we living in a simulation right now?
SXSW: What do you think is the biggest challenge that the tech industry currently faces?
KRETH: Hubris.
SXSW: Do you think that new tech-based solutions can reverse global warming?
KRETH: Reverse? Please. Best we can hope for is slowing. Track record has been pretty grim.
SXSW: If you had an opportunity to live on the moon (or another planet), would you do it?
KRETH: No. Mars is for quitters. Fight for the earth.
SXSW: What non-tech person inspires you the most?
KRETH: Jane Goodall.
SXSW: What social media platform are you most active on?
KRETH: LinkedIn, because it's less unhinged than most of the others.
SXSW: What kind of people do you want to meet at SXSW 2025?
KRETH: Smart ones. Grounded ones.
SXSW: What is your impression of Austin as a hot-spot of entrepreneurism?
KRETH: Legit. Has been that way since before I moved there in the '90s.
Also plan to attend the Startup track at SXSW (March 7-10) if entrepreneurism is your passion.
https://lnkd.in/gKkNse6Y
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