Kris Van Meter

Founder, The Upland Group | Residential Real Estate Expert | AI Automation and Blockchain Technology

Atlanta Metropolitan Area

About

I help businesses and individuals get their time back, improve margins through operational efficiency, and grow topline revenue. Most people I talk to know AI matters for their business. They just don't know where to start, or who to trust with it. I build the actual systems: custom automation workflows, full applications, and intelligent tools that handle the repetitive work so you can invest your time where it matters most, whether that's growing your business, serving your clients, or being present with your family. This isn't theoretical. I run my own business on a system I built from scratch: 6 operational departments, automated institutional-grade research, accounting, investment management, operations, and administration. Every workflow I recommend to a client, I've already pressure-tested on myself. Before building AI systems, I spent a decade in institutional real estate. I grew Darwin Homes from 2,500 to 14,000+ managed properties as VP of Strategic Client Operations and led strategy and analytics at Sylvan Road Capital, supporting $4.87 billion in acquisitions. That background means I understand how businesses actually operate at scale, not just how technology demos look on a screen. What I do for clients: - Design and build custom AI automation workflows tailored to how you actually work - Develop full-stack applications (I built an investment platform, financial command center, and GIS data pipeline from the ground up) - Implement systems that run locally on your hardware, so your data never leaves your control I also hold a portfolio of patent-pending blockchain financial infrastructure technology, which is a separate conversation for the right audience. Currently working with small businesses, professional services firms, and blue-collar operators like contractors, plumbers, and trades companies. Based in Atlanta, available virtually or in person anywhere. If you're not sure where AI fits in your business, start here: a free 30-minute conversation where you tell me the problem and I'll tell you honestly whether I, or more importantly AI, can help. If there's a fit, I'll design a proposal with cost to implement and maintain. If you just need someone to train you or your team on what's possible, I do that too.

Experience

  • Founder & CEO at The Upland Group
    Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

  • Darwin Homes (2 yrs 10 mos)
    • VP, Strategic Client Operations
      Jul 2023 - May 2024 · 11 mos

    • Director of Strategic Operations
      Nov 2022 - Jul 2023 · 9 mos

    • Head Of Portfolio Management
      Dec 2021 - Nov 2022 · 1 yr

  • Sylvan Road Capital LLC (Atlanta, Georgia)
    • Director of Strategy and Analytics
      May 2019 - Aug 2021 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    • Asset Management Associate
      Oct 2017 - May 2019 · 1 yr 8 mos

  • Financial Analyst at PGA TOUR Superstore
    Aug 2016 - Aug 2017 · 1 yr 1 mo

  • Financial Analyst at Sylvan Road Capital LLC
    Jun 2014 - Aug 2016 · 2 yrs 3 mos