Working at a FinTech Startup - Kronos?
What to expect working at a FinTech Startup- Kronos?
By Vicki Chen, Marketing Associate
The thing is, I’m not a finance or tech major. I’ve never even considered working in a FinTech startup, not to mention a FinTech startup that has taken upon itself the duty to revolutionise the entire crypto ecosystem. So how did an art major end up as a marketing associate at Kronos?
I worked in the events industry for a year or two, doing digital marketing, social media management, PR and event coordination. For me, marketing was the perfect bridge between business and art; It was an alternative way to remain innovative and artistic. Eventually, I still left the company due to a lack of creative freedom. I realised I needed to be in a space with a big appetite for experimentation. Then I went on to teach art and do marketing for an American school. I quit just before my 10th month because I got bored. Well, technically, I was frightened by the complacent lifestyle I was leading, teaching high school students art and posting Facebook ads. I was looking for something more, just wasn’t sure what.
I first came across Kronos while I was mass-sending resumes to companies that I found interesting. Startups caught my eye. The typical image of a startup is a fun, creative, and fast-paced environment that, 99% of the time, has a snack bar. With that in mind, I applied extensive research on the company and its CEOs to Kronos. I watched any interviews I could find online and even had to Google what a hedge fund was. Then, I went in for an interview. There was a break room with beanbags, a fridge stocked with coconut water and coffee, and, yes, a self-replenishing snack bar. I only sat there for a brief moment before Jack, the company’s Co-CEO, this tall guy wearing a black T, navy pants, and flip-flops, came in to meet me. Interesting wardrobe. I remember telling Jack, “I don’t know if I’m fit for the industry, I’m not good at math.” To which he replied, “I’m not so good at math either, so much for the Asian stereotype huh? Trust me, but I think you’d be a good fit for this industry.” At that time, with no prior experience in finance, tech, or crypto, I decided to take a leap of faith. I started as a marketing associate at Kronos, doing digital marketing, social media management, and PR.
It’s been 4 months since, although it feels like It’s been a year… a long, exciting, frustrating, and deeply rewarding year. The crypto space has been unlike any industry I have ever been in. It’s predominantly a young crowd, from early 20s to late 30s. It’s very cosmopolitan, you get to meet people from all over, people with different perspectives and agendas. Since the industry is fairly new, too, there are a lot of self-proclaimed entrepreneurs, and startups pop up left and right.
With these factors combined, the crypto world becomes very dynamic and refreshing; it becomes an incredibly experimental space where change is constantly happening because many things are not set in stone.
With that being said, what can you expect from working at Kronos, a startup invested in the crypto space?
1. You will feel lost half the time
It’s tough. As a total newb in the crypto space, I spend most of my days figuring things out, re-figuring things out, and taking apart the things I thought I’d figured out.
Somedays I get out of meetings like, what the hell is a liquidity dark pool? And other days I celebrate small victories like explaining that exact term to newcomers.
What’s different is that in such an unsaturated and niche market, everyone’s a little lost, trying to figure something out. That’s when people really start listening to each other and paying attention to issues that need to be solved.
2. Brainstorm 24/7
“What do you think?” becomes a regular routine.
There’s a shit ton of discussions at Kronos, whether it’s with your team, your bosses, your clients and other crypto enthusiasts. Sometimes pitching ideas are a smooth sail, sometimes they get brutally tossed, and many times they evolve into something better.
It can be intimidating at first because what you say holds value.
3. If you’re looking for stability, swipe left.
The second week in, I’m working for a private party until midnight, meeting strangers from all over the world and explaining what Kronos does. The alcohol helped.
In the second month, I’m coordinating an entirely new brand launch in Shanghai. With 7 days' notice, the venue, the catering, the visuals, and the media must be ready.
A crypto startup is just as volatile as the crypto market. It’s hard to keep up, but we learn to adapt and run with it. It’s chaotic, but if you’re like me- you thrive in chaos and enjoy conquering it- hit super like!
4. Be Ms./Mr. Independent
There’s hardly any micromanaging at work or any detailed guidance.
There’s no instruction manual; you kinda just hit the ground running.
In an environment where surprises are part of everyday life, everyone juggles five things at a time. You are expected to pull your own weight in your area of expertise because people rely on you to specialise.
5. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns
Don’t get me wrong, work is a lot of fun.
We travel and meet interesting (sometimes absurd) people, have happy hours and movie nights, make inside jokes about the industry, share new trends to experiment with, and even give each other advice on our love lives…
But it’s also downright hard work. You can forget about your 9–5 work schedule. You can forget about scrolling through Instagram at work in your free time. There is always something to do, but most of the time, you actually enjoy doing it.
The crypto space and Kronos are a tightly-knit group. When the people around you are passionate about change and go above and beyond to reach their goals, it inspires you to do the same.
I don’t think working at a startup is everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’ve read this far and still feel that tingle of excitement, give it a shot. You might find what you need.
