This immigrant couldn't get an apartment because she was a 'credit ghost.' Today, her $20 million a year startup helps others build their credit

In 2011, Kristy Kim thought she was living the American dream. Fresh out of UC Berkeley and starting a career in investment banking in San Francisco, the 22-year-old was eager to find her first apartment, but her rental applications kept getting rejected.

“It was a lot of struggle... because, here is me, who studied hard, who worked hard to get a job and make money, and realizing that: ‘Oh, I don’t have a credit score in the U.S., I am credit invisible — a credit ghost,’” Kim told CNBC Make It.

Kim had immigrated to the United States from South Korea by herself at age 11. Without any family in the country to co-sign for her apartment, she had to get creative. She resorted to going on Craigslist, where she found an apartment she liked and reached out to the landlord directly.

“I basically pitched him: ‘Hey, I don’t have a credit score, but trust me, I have a job and I can have you talk to my boss [and] my boss can vouch for me,’” said Kim. Her plan was successful and Kim secured her first apartment.

Those early struggles with adapting to the U.S. financial system stuck with Kim. Today, the 38-year-old is the co-founder and CEO of TomoCredit — “tomo” short for tomorrow — a San Francisco-based fintech startup that helps people, especially those with a limited credit history, to build their credit and improve their personal finances.