Scale Smart, Grow Fast with Kevin Henrikson


Hi Reader,

When we featured Earthly last week, we never imagined they’d unveil a major pivot just days later.

This week we’re diving into the startup world with my good friend Kevin Henrikson, talking about how to build and scale engineering teams. We cover everything from the early days of open‑source at Zimbra, to successful exits, to designing systems that last.

Why does this matter?

Kevin has founded and sold several companies, including Accompli, later rebranded as Outlook Mobile after Microsoft acquired it. He also grew Instacart’s engineering team from fifty people to fifteen hundred during the COVID surge. His track record shows how the right habits help small teams scale without losing speed.

Why now?

Remote work, quick pivots, and sudden demand spikes are the new normal. Kevin’s playbook - tested at Yahoo, Microsoft, and Instacart - gives founders a clear path for scaling teams and culture before growth turns into chaos.

Episode summary

“The day you sign the acquisition, you need to switch your hat from founder to advisor.”
– Kevin Henrikson
  • Early open‑source grit – Building Zimbra taught Kevin to mix best‑of‑breed open‑source parts and still ship a polished product.
  • Startup vs enterprise – At Yahoo he saw “organ rejection” when cultures clash. At Microsoft he blended in, advised, and watched Outlook Mobile soar to hundreds of millions of users.
  • Systems over heroics – His teams ship every Friday. The weekly cadence keeps code small, bugs shallow, and progress steady.
  • Culture is the glue – Rapid hiring only works when new engineers share one process and one goal, a lesson he drilled into the Instacart team during its hypergrowth year.

Kevin’s stories pack hard‑won lessons on scaling teams, systems, and culture. Hit play and learn how to grow fast without breaking what makes your company great.

You'll find the episode embedded below, or on the episode home page.

Watch on YouTube

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Watch on Spotify

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Startup Founder Lessons on S...
Apr 23 · Nerding Out With Viktor
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Many thanks,
Viktor

PS. If you're in London tomorrow, I'm speaking at DevOps Exchange London.

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Nerding Out with Viktor

This podcast and newsletter focus on clear conversations about technology, security, and modern software. Experts share insights on DevOps tips, open source projects, cybersecurity, and Europe's move toward its own cloud services. You will hear about continuous integration, airplane hacking, and new laws that affect the tech industry. Each show explores real problems and fresh solutions in the digital world. By subscribing, you will keep up with the latest trends in software, gain helpful advice from pros, and stay current in a fast-changing environment. We also talk about supply chain security, IoT, and the details of building strong systems. This blend of technical ideas with real-world viewpoints is a great resource if you want to grow your skills, learn about new technology, and connect with others who love all things tech.

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