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How AidKit is modernizing aid distribution with technical infrastructure

Brittany Christenson, the CEO of AidKit, shares her journey from studying applied math to leading a tech company focused on social impact. AidKit aims to deliver aid with dignity, providing access to emergency relief and public benefits through innovative technology. Brittany discusses the challenges and opportunities in the nonprofit and government sectors, emphasizing the importance of customization in technology solutions. She also highlights the role of AI in enhancing their services while maintaining data privacy. Looking ahead, AidKit aims to expand its reach and impact, striving to serve millions and improve the efficiency of aid distribution.
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Posted
February 20, 2026
Category
Podcast
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Featuring

Grant Trahant
Founder of Causeartist, Host of Disruptors for Good and Partner at Pay it Forward Ventures
Brittany Christenson
CEO at AidKit

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Major Themes & Timestamps:

0:00–2:00 — Introduction & Brittany’s Background

  • Episode opens, Grant introduces Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit.
  • Brief overview of Brittany’s unconventional path (applied math → organic farming → nonprofit leadership → tech CEO).

2:00–6:00 — The AidKit Mission & Problem Space

  • Why AidKit exists: closing the gap between funds allocated and funds actually reaching people.
  • Pain points in traditional aid distribution (manual processes, delays, lack of accessibility).
  • Emphasis on delivering aid with dignity.

6:00–10:00 — What AidKit Actually Does

  • Overview of AidKit’s platform capabilities:
  • Eligibility verification
  • Fraud detection
  • Multilingual, accessible application flows
  • Payment disbursement across multiple rails (real time, ACH, direct deposit, virtual and physical cards)

10:00–14:00 — Architecture & How It Scales

  • How AidKit balances modular customization with a shared core architecture.
  • Making the platform reusable without building from scratch for every partner.

14:00–18:00 — Real-World Use Cases

  • Disaster relief examples (rapid deployment of applications after hurricanes and floods).
  • Maternal and infant health programs like RX Kids with GiveDirectly and Michigan legislative adoption.

18:00–22:00 — Fraud Landscape & Tech Challenges

  • Rising fraud risks due to AI-generated fake identities and documents.
  • AidKit’s defensive and offensive use of AI for:
  • Duplicate detection
  • Document validation
  • Real-time applicant guidance with an AI “co-pilot”
  • Strong privacy practices (no external AI model use on applicant data).

22:00–26:00 — Business Model & Funding

  • Why AidKit chooses performance-based pricing over billable hours.
  • Bootstrapped and profitable early years.
  • Series A raise in 2024 and how the company scaled responsibly.

26:00–End — Future Vision & Sector Context

  • Shrinking traditional federal program budgets (FEMA, SNAP/Medicaid cuts) as a driver for modernization.
  • AidKit’s vision for becoming standard infrastructure for equitable aid delivery.
  • Goals for scaling to serve millions and push past $1B in total aid delivered.

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