Stay Connected
WEALTH
STREAM NEWS
STREAM NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest news from the Hispanic Wealth Project
Kamryn Villegas: From Homemade Cookies to Financial Freedom
Wealth Stream News sat down with Kamryn Villegas, co-founder of KW Court Reporting alongside her twin sister, Whitney Kumar, to talk about turning a specialized skill into a business, growing through uncertainty and preparing for the company's acquisition by Veritext.
From visiting law firms with homemade cookies to building a company with almost 700 clients, the sisters' journey shows how ownership can create opportunities beyond earning a living. For Villegas, it also meant being able to support her children and make choices on her own terms.
From visiting law firms with homemade cookies to building a company with almost 700 clients, the sisters' journey shows how ownership can create opportunities beyond earning a living. For Villegas, it also meant being able to support her children and make choices on her own terms.
How did you get started in court reporting, and what led you to launch your own company?
Kamryn: My sister started court reporting school first and thought I would love it. I was drawn to the earning potential, flexibility and different directions you could take that skill.
I became a freelance reporter, and Whitney worked for Los Angeles Superior Court. When budget cuts led to layoffs of civil court reporters, attorneys needed to hire reporters for trials. I knew depositions, and she knew trials. We saw an opportunity to start an agency and help law firms navigate that change.
I became a freelance reporter, and Whitney worked for Los Angeles Superior Court. When budget cuts led to layoffs of civil court reporters, attorneys needed to hire reporters for trials. I knew depositions, and she knew trials. We saw an opportunity to start an agency and help law firms navigate that change.
How did you win those first clients?
Kamryn: We both had toddlers. Our parents would follow us in their car and watch the kids while we visited law firms, bringing chocolate chip cookies my mom made.
For years, we probably had five clients, and we treated every client like they were our only client. We took the jobs ourselves and understood the work. We cared deeply that someone had trusted this new company with their business.
For years, we probably had five clients, and we treated every client like they were our only client. We took the jobs ourselves and understood the work. We cared deeply that someone had trusted this new company with their business.
What changed your mindset about growing the business?
Kamryn: I was going through a divorce and needed to provide for myself and my children. I did not know what support I could count on.
Every day, I woke up asking how we could get more clients and do things better. Growing the company was no longer something I could leave for later.
Every day, I woke up asking how we could get more clients and do things better. Growing the company was no longer something I could leave for later.
The pandemic threatened the company. How did you turn that into an opportunity?
Kamryn: At first, we thought we might lose the business. Then we started figuring out how to help attorneys conduct depositions remotely.
We asked questions about swearing in witnesses and handling exhibits, invested in software and hosted short webinars. The first week, maybe four attorneys logged in. By the second week, we had almost 200.
We also acquired two agencies. When things opened back up, attorneys knew we could help them work remotely. That became a turning point for our growth.
We asked questions about swearing in witnesses and handling exhibits, invested in software and hosted short webinars. The first week, maybe four attorneys logged in. By the second week, we had almost 200.
We also acquired two agencies. When things opened back up, attorneys knew we could help them work remotely. That became a turning point for our growth.
What did preparing for a sale teach you about ownership
Kamryn: We had grown from about five clients to almost 700. Buyers started approaching us, but we had not been thinking about selling. We were surprised by what the business could be worth.
We brought in a fractional CFO, started working with a budget and separated personal expenses. We spent a year preparing, then went back to Veritext with a stronger business and received a better offer.
The fit mattered, too. We wanted to trust the company taking forward something we had built from scratch and felt Veritext was the right fit for us and our commitment to court reporters.
We brought in a fractional CFO, started working with a budget and separated personal expenses. We spent a year preparing, then went back to Veritext with a stronger business and received a better offer.
The fit mattered, too. We wanted to trust the company taking forward something we had built from scratch and felt Veritext was the right fit for us and our commitment to court reporters.
What are you working on now?
Kamryn: I am involved in a startup developing an AI litigation simulator to help attorneys prepare for cases. Someone I had worked with at a law firm approached me after seeing that we had sold the company.
I was also participating in a business-scaling program and wondered what I would scale after selling. Now I have another opportunity to apply what I am learning, along with the relationships and experience I built.
I was also participating in a business-scaling program and wondered what I would scale after selling. Now I have another opportunity to apply what I am learning, along with the relationships and experience I built.
What would you tell the next generation about building wealth through ownership?
Kamryn: Just start. You do not need everything figured out. Put yourself out there and keep showing up.
Surround yourself with people who think about ownership, investing and building something that lasts. The right community will push you, open doors and help you see what is possible.
Surround yourself with people who think about ownership, investing and building something that lasts. The right community will push you, open doors and help you see what is possible.
How do you define wealth, and what legacy do you hope to leave?
Kamryn: Wealth is freedom: the ability to make choices for myself and my family without being limited by money or circumstances. It meant being able to support my children and create opportunities I did not have before.
I hope my legacy is showing that two Latina sisters could build something meaningful from scratch, exit successfully and open doors for the next generation to think bigger about ownership, investing and lasting impact.
Disclosure: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.
I hope my legacy is showing that two Latina sisters could build something meaningful from scratch, exit successfully and open doors for the next generation to think bigger about ownership, investing and lasting impact.
Disclosure: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.
More Wealth Stream News
Hispanic Wealth Project Pillars
Click on one of the pillars below for more articles.
