For many founders, the drive to build something new comes from a personal place. For Tefari Bailey, the founder of Hutsy (Techstars 2025), a fintech platform dedicated to financial inclusion, the inspiration started with family and a front-row seat to the flaws in the traditional banking system.

A Legacy of Hard Work

As a first-generation Canadian, Tefari’s work ethic was shaped by watching his mother and grandmother move from Jamaica and work 18-hour days to provide for their family. This "no-excuses" mentality became the bedrock of his entrepreneurial journey.

"If they're able to work 18, 19 hours in a day, that's why I'm good trying to be the best version of myself and trying to ensure that Hutsy is the best version of the company."

Identifying the Gap in the Market

Before Hutsy, Tefari spent years at TD Bank, rising from an entry-level teller to a financial advisor. He saw firsthand the devastating gap in the financial system: hardworking people being denied small loans for essentials like car repairs or dental surgery.

When the bank said no, these individuals often had only one choice: the payday lender next door.

"They would get it from the payday lender right next door, but at a 300% interest rate. I decided to start a bill coverage app to help individuals get those short-term loans."

The Techstars Pivot: Finding the "GPS" for Credit

Driven to provide a better alternative, he applied to the Techstars New York City Accelerator. Being in the financial capital of the world allowed him to connect with mentors who helped refine the business model into the current iteration of Hutsy.

Today, Hutsy is a comprehensive financial tool:

• Speed: Connecting borrowers to pre-approved loan offers in seconds.

• Education: For those not yet eligible, an AI agent acts as a guide to help them build their credit.

• Long-Term Impact: "To provide them hope and the GPS to get to a prime credit score."

The Reality of the Solo Founder

Building a startup is never easy, but doing it as a solo founder, and a cross-border one at that, adds a unique layer of difficulty. As the only Canadian founder in his Techstars cohort, he commuted from Canada to New York every single week.

"As a solo founder, it's tough. There's nobody to run decisions off of. You make the ultimate final call at the end of the day."

Despite the isolation of the "final call," the results speak for themselves. Within just two months, Hutsy scaled to over half a million dollars in ARR, with 5,000 paying users and a profitable bottom line.

Looking Ahead

Hutsy is more than a business; it’s a mission to provide financial stability to families across North America. By delivering maximum value to the customer every day, the company is proving that you can build a profitable, high-growth startup while making a genuine social impact.

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