Redefining Digital Connections: An Exclusive Interview with Kristin LaSalle, Co-Founder of Spinnr and Vengo AI
Kristin LaSalle is the dynamic Co-Founder and CMO behind two revolutionary apps that are changing the way we connect and engage in the digital world. Kristin’s first venture, Spinnr, is transforming social interaction with a refreshing 100% video-based platform that prioritizes authentic friendships over likes and followers.
Meanwhile, Vengo AI is harnessing cutting-edge technology to help businesses, influencers, and entrepreneurs build personalized AI identities that drive meaningful engagement. In this exclusive interview, Kristin shares her inspiring journey, the vision behind these groundbreaking apps, and how she’s leading a movement to create more authentic, inclusive digital communities.
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What inspired the creation of Spinnr, and how did you envision it standing out from other social platforms?
We saw that after the pandemic, a lot of people were struggling to make new friendships or even just get back to socializing, whether in-person or online. Traditional meeting apps can be really frustrating because they come with certain expectations, and social networks are mostly about showing off or promoting something, so it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not.
From the start, our main focus was on building a space for real friendships and community. We figured if we could do that, the app would grow on its own—and it has! The question we kept asking ourselves was: How can we help people build meaningful relationships in this new way of communicating and make a difference in a world that feels more isolated than ever?
Spinnr takes a unique approach with its 100% video-based interactions. How do you think this format fosters more authentic connections among users?
By making Spinnr video-based, we cut down on a lot of issues like bots and people who use the internet for the wrong reasons. This makes Spinnr a safer platform for meeting new people. It’s designed to help people form real friendships through shared hobbies and interests.
Unlike traditional social media, which often revolves around likes, followers, and surface-level interactions, Spinnr is all about genuine engagement. With 100% video interactions, users create video profiles, send video messages, and connect through video calls. This format reduces toxic behaviors like bullying and trolling, giving users a safe, ad-free space to build meaningful connections.
Our Daily Spins and interactive games make it easy for people to bond quickly online. So, by the time users decide to attend one of our events, they’ve already gone through a sort of ‘friendship interview’ and feel like they know each other, making real-life meetups much more natural.
Privacy is a significant focus for Spinnr, with minimal data collection and an ad-free experience. Why was this important to you, and how do you see this shaping the future of social media?
Privacy has been a core priority for Spinnr since day one. We collect minimal data and provide an ad-free experience because we want our users to feel secure, knowing that we’re not selling their information for profit. We built something special, and it’s so great that we can skip the ads altogether.
This was really important to us because we saw a big problem on other social platforms. The constant ads and distractions make it hard for people to actually engage with content from their friends or see meaningful updates. Our goal is to bring back a more authentic user experience—one where people don’t feel overwhelmed or forced to view things they didn’t ask for.
We believe this focus on privacy and a user-first approach will be key to the future of social media. It’s about creating a space that’s more meaningful and centered around real connections.
Even for business owners and event planners, we’ve made it easy. They can start a squad and post events in an organized way without spamming or bothering users. Anyone who joins the squad can connect directly with the business owner and stay updated, but it’s all on the user’s terms.
Can you share more about how Spinnr Squads function, particularly how artists and influencers are leveraging this feature to connect with their audiences?
Spinnr Squads offer a space where influencers, artists, and creators can start their own fan communities and invite users from both inside and outside the app to join. These squads are private, meaning the creator has full control over who gets invited, keeping the environment free from bullies or trolls.
What’s really exciting is that influencers can fully design and monetize their squads to fit their brand and vision, sharing exclusive content directly with their fans. Our AI tools help them communicate with fans, even in different languages, and they can also create interactive experiences like trivia or games to keep engagement high.
This user experience allows celebrities and influencers to connect with their audience all in one place, without the hassle of managing multiple platforms or paying for different services. Within their squads, they can share videos, host live updates, run Daily Spins, play games, or share anything from knowledge and music to new merchandise and show clips. It’s a scalable, personalized way to interact with fans—without the noise and distractions of other platforms.
In what ways does Spinnr help artists and influencers expand their fan base while maintaining control over their communities?
Spinnr is designed to give artists and influencers a unique way to grow their fan base while staying in complete control of their communities. With features like Spinnr Squads, they can create private, invite-only spaces where they connect directly with their most dedicated fans—without the distractions or negative behavior found on other platforms. This gives influencers the freedom to share exclusive content, run interactive games, and host live updates, all in a space they fully control.
A great example is Hollywood actress Emily Peachey from The Fault in Our Stars. Emily loves engaging with her fans, but between her busy work schedule and the overwhelming number of DMs she receives, it was impossible for her to respond to everyone—something she genuinely wishes she could do. Spinnr has been a game-changer for her because now she can interact with her entire community in one place, using features like AI-assisted communication to engage with fans, even across language barriers. This lets her keep up with the demand and maintain that personal touch, without being stretched too thin.
With Spinnr, artists and influencers can focus on what matters most: connecting with their audience on their terms, without the hassle of managing multiple platforms or dealing with trolls. It’s an easy way to build deeper, more meaningful relationships, while also growing their fan base organically.
What plans do you have for Spinnr’s future development? Are there any exciting new features or partnerships in the works?
We have some exciting things in the pipeline! We’re currently exploring potential partnerships, including discussions around white labeling the app with larger brands, which is really promising. We’re also working on ways to support big charitable organizations by helping them operate more efficiently with our platform.
One feature that our community has been asking for—and we’re actively working on—is Spinnr Streams, which will be our version of group video chats. This will allow everyone in a squad to connect face-to-face, making it even easier for people to bond and engage in real-time. It’s something we’re really excited to bring to life!
Vengo AI has backing from major tech players like Microsoft and OpenAI. What has the journey been like to get support from such influential companies, and how has this influenced the app’s growth?
We’re incredibly proud to have support from industry giants like Microsoft and OpenAI. It really validates our vision and all the hard work we’ve put into Vengo AI. Partnering with these companies has given us access to cutting-edge AI tech, a vast cloud infrastructure, and a solid reputation in the industry. This has helped us fast-track development, and build trust with potential customers. It’s been a game-changer for our growth and credibility.
Vengo AI is focused on helping businesses, influencers, and entrepreneurs create personalized AI identities. Can you elaborate on how this transforms their customer or fan interactions?
Vengo AI enables businesses, influencers, and entrepreneurs to create personalized AI identities that can engage with their audience 24/7 in a meaningful and authentic way. By giving their brand a custom AI voice, they can have deeper interactions that feel personal, even at scale.
Whether it’s answering questions, providing recommendations, closing sales, or just keeping the conversation going, the AI helps them stay connected with their customers or fans in a more dynamic and interactive way. It’s like having 50 virtual team members that represents their brand perfectly, creating a more engaged and loyal audience.
You’ve mentioned Vengo’s mission of democratizing AI. How do you ensure that AI tools are accessible to individuals and small businesses, not just large corporations?
Our mission at Vengo AI is to truly democratize AI by making these powerful tools accessible to everyone, not just large corporations with big budgets. We’ve designed our subscription model with small businesses and entrepreneurs in mind, offering a range of affordable packages that scale to fit the needs of any operation, whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or running a growing business. The goal is to remove barriers to entry, so business owners can leverage cutting-edge AI for personalized customer interactions, marketing, and engagement without needing a huge upfront investment.
Additionally, our platform is easy to use, with no need for advanced technical skills, ensuring that anyone can create their own AI identities and harness the power of AI for their business. This way, we level the playing field, allowing individuals and small businesses to compete and grow in today’s digital world.
As AI technology evolves, where do you see Vengo AI fitting into the larger landscape of AI-driven business solutions in the next five years?
As AI continues to evolve, we see Vengo AI becoming an essential part of the AI-driven business landscape. In the next five years, we aim to be a go-to platform for businesses, influencers, and entrepreneurs looking to integrate personalized AI into their customer and fan interactions. Our focus will be on making AI not just accessible but indispensable for businesses of all sizes, helping them enhance customer engagement, automate personalized experiences, and build stronger connections.
Vengo AI’s strength lies in its ability to create unique, branded AI identities that feel human, empathetic, and tailored to each business’s needs. As the demand for more interactive and real-time digital experiences grows, we’ll continue refining our technology to offer even more advanced, intuitive solutions—whether it’s AI-driven customer service, personalized marketing, or interactive content. Our vision is to empower businesses to harness AI in a way that deepens relationships and enhances customer loyalty, all while staying approachable and easy to use.
In the broader AI landscape, we see Vengo AI leading the charge in democratizing AI, making it possible for businesses of any size to use advanced technology to compete and thrive in the digital age.
Both Spinnr and Vengo AI seem to center around building meaningful connections—whether through real-time social interactions or AI-driven customer engagement. What core values tie these two apps together for you?
When my team and I created both Spinnr and Vengo AI, we focused on fixing what wasn’t working on other platforms. We asked ourselves, ‘How can we create something that offers a better, more authentic user experience?’ At the core of both apps is our commitment to authenticity and staying true to our values.
Spinnr is all about genuine social interactions—connecting over shared hobbies and interests—while Vengo AI emphasizes real, authentic customer engagement that enhances relationships and builds trust. Both platforms reject the idea of superficial interactions or hard sales tactics, aiming instead to create meaningful connections, whether it’s between friends or between businesses and their customers.
Community building is another big value that ties them together. Spinnr helps people find friends and share experiences, while Vengo AI allows businesses to connect with their audience on a deeper level. It’s all about fostering real conversations and interactions, making both platforms places where users feel understood and valued. Ultimately, we want to bring people and brands back to the basics of meaningful communication.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs, especially those entering the tech and AI industries?
Now is the perfect time for women to embrace their skills and creativity in tech and AI. When I started over a decade ago, it was rare to see women at meetups and conferences, let alone leading the conversation. Now, I walk into rooms full of women sharing their incredible innovations and journeys, and it makes me proud to be one of the OGs in the industry.
Some advice that’s guided me and still does:
Embrace Your Unique Perspective: As a woman, your experiences bring valuable diversity to the tech world. Don’t shy away from that—use it to solve problems and fuel innovation. Be a part of your team, work with them, and remember, everyone is sailing the same ship.
Build a Strong Network: Surround yourself with other women in tech and seek mentors who can guide you. A solid network offers support, opens doors, and provides opportunities to grow.
Stay Resilient: The tech industry is tough, and hearing ‘no’ will happen more than once. But resilience and a growth mindset will carry you through those setbacks. Trust me, I’ve heard ‘no’ countless times—you just have to keep moving forward.
Prioritize Work-Life Balance: Maintaining a balance between your professional and personal life is key. It’s something that will sustain your success and well-being in the long run.
Lastly, Stay True to Your Values and Vision. Open communication builds trust with your team, customers, and co-founders. I always make sure my team knows how I really feel so we can make decisions upfront, not when it’s too late. This honesty creates a bond that leads to a stronger, more aligned team—one that isn’t afraid to say more than just ‘yes.’
What’s next for you and your teams at Spinnr and Vengo AI? Are there any new projects on the horizon that you’re particularly excited about?
We’re really excited about some upcoming partnerships as we white label Spinnr with big brands. This will allow us to help a wide range of communities around the world through these collaborations. While we can’t share all the details just yet, stay tuned to our socials and Spinnr for some exciting announcements coming soon!
As for Vengo AI, we’re thrilled to have launched our first version with over a dozen paying customers. Now, we’re gearing up for the launch of our newest version—a self-serve platform packed with features like analytics, sales leads, and the ability to re-train your AI anytime. This new system is designed to turn customer conversations into real sales opportunities, helping businesses drive more sales while delivering better customer experiences. We’re set to launch in just a few weeks, and we can’t wait to see the impact it will have!
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