Justin Roberts (Kickfin)

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Overview

Justin Roberts is a notable entrepreneur and co-founder of Kickfin, a pioneering company in the digital gratuity management sector. With a background in human resources and organizational communication, Roberts has applied his skills to revolutionize how restaurant and hospitality workers receive tip payments. Kickfin has gained prominence for enabling direct and instantaneous tip payouts, eliminating cash handling inefficiencies in the hospitality industry. Under Roberts' leadership, the company has achieved significant growth and recognition, including being ranked among the top growth companies in North America.

Recent Developments

Recent activities reflect Justin Roberts' commitment to innovation in the digital payment space, particularly within the hospitality sector:

  • January 2025: Kickfin launched its integration with RPOWER POS, enhancing the capabilities of restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues to automate tip calculations and distributions directly to employees' bank accounts. This move streamlines operations and reduces the dependency on cash-driven transactions.
  • December 2024: Kickfin was featured in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list, achieving a 2,144% revenue growth over three years. This notable ranking underscores Kickfin's leadership in offering efficient, digital-first solutions for tip management.
  • August 2024: Justin Roberts signed a significant partnership between Kickfin and the Toast Partner Ecosystem, enhancing instant tip distribution for restaurants, facilitating the process of directly sending earnings to workers without handling cash.
  • April 2024: Kickfin was recognized in Inc.’s list as one of the top 10 fastest-growing companies in the Southwest, highlighting the company’s explosive growth and innovation in the tip management industry.

Personal Information

AttributeInformation
Full NameJustin Roberts
NationalityAmerican
OccupationCo-Founder and Co-CEO of Kickfin
Known ForLaunching Kickfin, a leading digital gratuity management software
EducationBachelor's degree in Organizational Communication and Human Resources from California State University, Chico

Early Life and Education

Justin Roberts was raised in California, where he developed an early interest in business and communication. He pursued his higher education at California State University, Chico, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Communication and Human Resources. During these formative years, Roberts honed his skills in communication and interpersonal relations, which later played a crucial role in his professional ventures. His educational background laid a solid foundation for his understanding of business operations and strategy, essential in launching and managing successful startups including Kickfin.

Career and Notable Achievements

Justin Roberts’ career began with roles in human resources and benefits management, which provided him with deep insights into employee remuneration and organizational efficiency. His professional journey includes:

  • Co-Founder of BayPoint Benefits (2007–2015): Roberts was instrumental in establishing this firm focusing on employee benefits consultancy, which shaped his understanding of financial and benefit solutions.
  • Formation of DoubleDesk Technologies (2013-2015): A venture that emphasized digital solutions, fortifying his tech industry expertise.
  • Kickfin Launch (2017-Present): Co-founding Kickfin marked a pivotal point, as the company provided groundbreaking solutions for the hospitality industry by digitizing tip payment processes and successfully integrating with major Point of Sale systems.
  • Series A Funding for Kickfin (2022): Spearheading a successful Series A funding round amounting to $6 million, which facilitated Kickfin’s growth trajectory.

Current Work and Impact

Justin Roberts continues to spearhead Kickfin as a co-CEO, focusing on product innovation and expanding market reach in the gratuity management space. His work has significantly impacted the hospitality industry by modernizing tip management, reducing operational costs, and improving employee satisfaction through immediate access to earnings. Under his leadership, Kickfin has maintained its standing as the leading provider of instant, cashless tip payments and solidified its presence in major hospitality venues across the United States.

Conclusion

Justin Roberts has made a lasting impact in the hospitality and technology sectors by addressing inefficient tip payment systems with pioneering digital solutions. Through Kickfin, Roberts continues to lead efforts in improving financial transactions within the service industry. His commitment to innovation suggests a promising future for digital pay systems in hospitality and beyond, marking him as a vital contributor to modern financial technology solutions.

References

  1. Kickfin Makes Inc.'s List of Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies
  2. Kickfin Integrates with RPOWER POS to Automate Tip Distribution
  3. Instant Tip Payouts Give Restaurants Better Ways to Pay Workers
  4. Kickfin Closes $6M Series A to Fuel Growth
  5. LinkedIn Profile of Justin Roberts
  6. Kickfin's Recognition in Deloitte Technology Fast 500