From Heartache to Innovation: The KoinTyme Journey

In the quiet moments following profound loss, we often find ourselves reflecting on what truly matters. For me, Reno Provine, that moment came in the aftermath of losing my amazing wife, Leni, to cancer. Her passing left an unfillable void, but also sparked a question that would eventually lead to the founding of KoinTyme: How could I channel decades of technical expertise into something meaningful that honors her memory?

A Father-Daughter Vision

The answer came through a conversation with my daughter, a Computer Science graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With her fresh perspective from five years at Amazon as a Software Engineer and my three decades in IT and telecommunications dating back to 1992, we realized we had complementary skills that could create something special.

"Dad," she said during one of our late-night strategy sessions, "there's this huge gap in the market. Small businesses need the same caliber of technical expertise that enterprise companies get, but most consultancies ignore them or price them out."

She was right. Having worked with companies of all sizes throughout my career, I'd seen firsthand how small businesses with 50 or fewer employees were chronically underserved. They needed technological transformation just as much as the giants—perhaps even more so—but lacked access to the resources that could make it happen.

Bridging the Technology Gap

That realization became the cornerstone of KoinTyme. We built this company specifically to bridge the technology gap for smaller organizations that deserve enterprise-level expertise without enterprise-level budgets.

What sets us apart is the unique blend of experience and innovation we bring to the table. My journey began in 1992, navigating the evolution of modern IT infrastructure and telecommunications systems. I've witnessed—and participated in—virtually every major technological shift of the past three decades. This isn't theoretical knowledge from textbooks; it's hard-earned wisdom from implementing solutions across countless business environments.

My daughter brings cutting-edge expertise fresh from the halls of one of the nation's top five Computer Science programs and the development floors of Amazon. Her deep understanding of computer science theory, software architecture, machine learning algorithms, and AI frameworks represents the future of technology. Between 2018 and 2023, she worked on systems at a scale most technologists only read about.

Our Core Services: Tailored for Small Business Success

This powerful combination of established experience and innovative thinking informs everything we do at KoinTyme. We've strategically developed service offerings that address the most critical needs of small businesses:

HubSpot CRM Solutions: As a certified HubSpot Solutions Partner, we don't just implement the platform—we transform how you engage with customers. Our approach integrates your unique business processes with HubSpot's powerful capabilities to create customized workflows that automate your most important customer touchpoints.

Data Analytics: Small businesses generate just as much valuable data as large enterprises, but often lack the tools to unlock its potential. Our analytics solutions combine my decades of experience in data systems with my daughter's expertise in modern data science techniques to transform raw information into actionable business intelligence.

Custom Chatbots: We don't believe in generic, templated bots. Each of our chatbot solutions is custom-designed to reflect your brand voice while leveraging sophisticated AI capabilities. My daughter's background in machine learning algorithms ensures these aren't just scripted responders but intelligent digital assistants that genuinely enhance customer experience.

AI and LLM Training and Setup: Many consultancies treat AI as a black box. We open that box, demystify the technology, and implement practical AI solutions tailored to your specific business needs. From training custom language models to integrating AI-powered workflows, we translate complex technology into tangible business advantages.

Fractional CTO Services: Few small businesses can afford a full-time technology executive, but all need strategic technology guidance. Our fractional CTO service provides access to enterprise-level technology leadership on a scale that makes sense for smaller organizations. I personally draw on my extensive career to help chart technology roadmaps that align with business objectives.

Cloud Services: The cloud should be a business accelerator, not a complex puzzle. We architect cloud environments that optimize both performance and cost, drawing on both my legacy infrastructure knowledge and my daughter's experience with modern cloud-native applications at Amazon.

Custom Software Development: Sometimes off-the-shelf solutions just don't fit. Our development approach combines my practical experience in business software with my daughter's deep computer science knowledge to create custom applications that perfectly address your unique challenges.

The KoinTyme Difference

What truly distinguishes KoinTyme isn't just our technical capabilities—it's our perspective. We've deliberately chosen to focus on businesses under 50 employees because we believe these organizations deserve the same quality of technical guidance as their larger counterparts.

Our clients often tell us that working with KoinTyme feels different from their experiences with other technology consultancies. I believe that difference stems from three core principles:

1. We listen more than we talk. Technology consulting shouldn't begin with predetermined solutions. It should start with understanding your business challenges, goals, and constraints. Only then can we recommend appropriate technologies.

2. We translate complexity into clarity. Technical jargon has its place—but not in client conversations. We pride ourselves on making complex concepts accessible, ensuring you fully understand both the "what" and the "why" of our recommendations.

3. We build capacity, not dependency. Our goal isn't to make you perpetually reliant on our services. We aim to enhance your team's capabilities, providing knowledge transfer alongside our implementations.

A Personal Mission

For me, KoinTyme represents more than a business venture. It's a tribute to Leni, whose courage and compassion continue to inspire everything we do. She always believed that the measure of a life well-lived was in how much you helped others succeed. Through KoinTyme, we're building something that honors that belief every day.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet they're often last in line for advanced technological support. By focusing specifically on these underserved organizations, we're creating something truly distinctive in the consulting landscape—a firm that brings enterprise-level technology expertise to the businesses that need it most.

If you're a small business owner feeling overwhelmed by technology decisions or frustrated by consultants who don't understand your scale, I invite you to reach out. At KoinTyme, we're not just building a company; we're building relationships with businesses ready to transform through technology.

The journey from heartache to innovation hasn't been straightforward, but the most meaningful paths rarely are. With each client we help, I feel we're extending Leni's legacy of making a difference—and that makes all the difference to us.

Reno Provine is the co-founder of KoinTyme, an AI and technology consulting firm specializing in solutions for businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Learn more at www.kointyme.com.