Adam Turmakhan | Entrepreneurship Unlocked w/ Nate Linder #13

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Unlocked, I sit down with Adam Turmakhan, the founder of TurmaFinTech, a company focused on helping community banks and credit unions finally make better use of the data they already have.Adam’s story is a great example of how most entrepreneurs actually get started. He didn’t grow up dreaming of being a founder. He began his career in banking, working as a financial analyst, first in Kazakhstan and later in the United States. Over time, he started noticing a big problem in the industry. Smaller financial institutions are sitting on massive amounts of valuable data, but they often lack the tools, resources, and internal capabilities to turn that data into real business growth.We talk about how big banks are already far ahead when it comes to using data and AI, and why community banks and credit unions tend to fall behind. Adam explains the real reasons this happens, including bureaucracy, limited resources, and how hard it can be for large institutions to adopt new technology, even when they know they should.Adam also shares what it has been like building a fintech company as a young founder while selling to decision makers who are often decades older than him. We get into how he thinks about trust, why he avoids overselling, and why being honest about what you can and cannot do is one of the biggest advantages in business, especially in traditional industries like banking.We also spend time talking about AI, where it actually makes sense to use it, and where most companies get it wrong. Adam explains why AI should be used to solve very specific business problems, not just because it is trendy, and how it can help banks better understand their customers, reduce churn, and grow in smarter ways.On the personal side, Adam opens up about his journey coming to the U.S. from Kazakhstan, overcoming his fear of public speaking, and how entrepreneurship has pushed him to grow far outside of his comfort zone. He shares what excites him most about what he is building right now and why helping struggling banks is a big part of what motivates him.If you are building a company in a traditional industry, selling to enterprise or institutional clients, or navigating entrepreneurship as a young founder, this episode will definitely resonate.You can learn more about TurmaFinTech at https://www.turmafintech.com/Support the show