ACQ2 by Acquired Building tech and product for marketplaces (with Rover cofounder Phil Kimmey)
Jun 13, 2019
Phil Kimmey, co-founder of Rover and a notable figure in the startup scene, shares insights into the evolution of the successful pet-sitting marketplace. He discusses the crucial balance between core features and the temptation to overcomplicate with additional functionalities. Phil emphasizes the significance of data-driven decisions in marketplace technology, architectural transitions, and adapting to mobile platforms. Additionally, he reflects on the challenges of scaling teams and maintaining trust between users and the platform.
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Rover's Founding and Growth
- Phil Kimmey co-founded Rover in June 2011 after his junior year of college and did not return to school.
- Rover's engineering and product team has since grown to around 200 people.
Rover's Startup Weekend Origin
- Phil Kimmey joined Rover after a Startup Weekend, where he built a prototype for "Airbnb for dogs."
- Greg Gottesman, a Startup Weekend regular and later Phil's co-founder, pitched the initial idea.
Prioritize CI/CD
- Prioritize setting up continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) from the start.
- This allows for rapid iteration and is crucial for fast-moving startups.