In this episode of Travillian Next Trailblazers, host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Kim Snyder, the founder and CEO of KlariVis, whose journey from CFO of a small community bank to leading a fast-growing data company is anything but typical. With a clear passion for solving real problems in banking, Kim shares how lived experience, not just vision, shaped the creation of KlariVis. From launching just before the pandemic to scaling through grit and trust, she shares candidly about the highs, lows, and lessons of building a company that helps community banks compete with the big players.
Listen to the conversation below or read the summary.
SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS
(00:33) Meet Kim Snyder and the Origin of KlariVis
Kim Snyder, Founder and CEO of KlariVis, joins the podcast to share her entrepreneurial journey. With a background as a CPA and former CFO at Valley Bank in Roanoke, Virginia, Kim identified recurring data challenges within community banks. After starting a consulting firm following the bank acquisition, she and her team observed the same data issues at nearly every institution they worked with, including stale reports, time-consuming analysis, and a lack of real-time insights. This sparked the idea for KlariVis: a platform built by bankers, for bankers, to deliver meaningful, accessible data analytics.
(02:37) First Concerts and Personal Connection
The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted icebreaker. Kim’s first concert was Jimmy Buffett, while host Keith recalls a spontaneous night seeing John Cougar Mellencamp. Kim also shares her excitement for an upcoming Eric Church concert at Red Rocks. These anecdotes add a personal dimension to the conversation, highlighting shared musical interests and the importance of memorable life moments.
(04:12) Early Entrepreneurship and Consulting Roots
Kim traces her path from startup employee to banker, and then to founder. After her bank was sold in 2015, she launched a consulting practice focused on the banking industry. Her team eventually created a mock bank dataset in Excel and layered Power BI on top to build interactive dashboards. Several consulting clients expressed strong interest in this concept, validating the product-market fit and encouraging Kim to build KlariVis as a standalone platform.
(10:59) The Data Problem in Community Banking
Kim explains that community banks face persistent data issues: delayed reporting, static spreadsheets, and a disconnect between data producers and decision-makers. As a former CFO, she often had to sift through dozens of daily reports, most of which were not actionable. Scorecards arrived weeks after the month closed, making it difficult to drive performance. KlariVis set out to solve these challenges with real-time dashboards and analytics designed specifically for community banking.
(14:24) Launching During COVID and the Importance of Timing
KlariVis officially launched in Q1 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had strong momentum, collecting over 180 business cards at trade shows, but the lockdown forced an immediate pause. With revenue on hold, Kim and her husband chose to self-fund and focus entirely on building the product. They took PPP loans and raised capital, using the time to improve the platform. When they returned to conferences in 2022, banks remembered them and were impressed by how far the product had come.
(18:04) Post-Pandemic Growth and Early Client Wins
By the end of 2021, KlariVis had grown from six to thirteen clients and entered the ICBA accelerator, which helped further scale the company. Kim reflects on the decision to pause sales during the pandemic as a blessing in disguise, allowing the team to refine the product without the pressure of immediate growth. The strategy paid off as banks reengaged, validating that KlariVis had delivered on its promises.
(19:36) Advice for Founders and Entrepreneurs
Kim offers candid advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. First, solve a problem you deeply understand. Her firsthand experience in banking fuels her passion. Second, prepare for the emotional rollercoaster: highs and lows are constant, and resilience is key. Third, surround yourself with people who have done it before, and hire people who are better than you, especially in areas outside your expertise. Trust and team alignment are critical in the early stages.
(24:25) Evolving the Product and Embracing AI
KlariVis recently launched features like Transactional Intelligence and Profitability, helping banks identify missed opportunities, such as customers using external investment or merchant platforms. They also hired a Chief Data & AI Officer in January to lead further innovation. The platform remains enterprise-grade yet highly intuitive, designed with community banks in mind. KlariVis aims to equip all levels of the bank, from operations to the C-suite, with actionable insights.
(27:22) Scaling with Intention
Rather than waiting for growth to happen, Kim focuses on hiring ahead, especially in customer success and implementation. Since many of her team members are bankers, recruitment takes time, and so does onboarding. Hiring proactively helps avoid bottlenecks and maintain service quality as the company scales. In the community banking world, reputation spreads fast, making consistent support and delivery essential.
(30:00) Childhood Roots and Core Values
Kim shares that she grew up on a cattle farm with two older brothers, where she learned the value of hard work and teamwork. Playing sports and spending time outdoors shaped her character and still influence how she leads today. The upbringing instilled resilience, discipline, and a strong work ethic. Traits that have served her well as a founder and CEO.
