Kevin Simons

Meet your new inspiration Kevin Simons. This guy’s the real deal in the tech startup world. He’s a YC W21 alum, and he’s been crushing it in the engineering and product space for mad years. Basically, Kevin’s the kind of dude who’s been around the block, seen it all, and still keeps pushing forward.

So, his story kicks off at Colby College, where he studied Computer Science and Music, yeah, both at the same time. Dude’s always been into blending creativity with tech. After that, he hit up Tufts for his master’s in CS. It’s clear he’s got a serious brain for tech and a passion for making stuff that actually works.

He jumped into the industry with Nokia in 2004, right after school, and stayed there for like 8 years. He climbed the ranks, from senior roles to Principal Design for Qt, and even led the Qt JSON DB team. That’s some deep engineering stuff, building core tech that powers a lot of apps. Basically, Kevin’s the guy who’s been making the backbone of software for years.

Then, he jumped into Telenor Digital as VP of Planned Engineering and Tech Lead for Firefox OS. This was some advanced shit, working on a mobile OS designed to shake up the market. It’s about more than just coding; he’s leading teams, shaping product visions, and making big moves.

And then, Schibsted. He spent a few years there, managing engineering for Identity and Insights, and even stepping in as Interim Head of Data & Insights. Basically, he was in charge of the data-informed side of things, making sure the products and user identities are on point. This shows he’s got a knack for managing complex systems and teams.

But here’s where it gets really interesting, in September 2019, Kevin co-founded Kitemaker. It’s a startup that’s all about making software development faster and more collaborative. Think Slack for dev teams, but even better. They went through YC’s W21 batch, which is a big deal, that’s where some of the hottest startups get their start. Kevin’s been pushing the idea that software development doesn’t have to be a pain, small, talented teams, practical results, no bullshit.

What does all this tell us about him? Kevin’s clearly driven by a passion for building, simplifying, and pushing tech forward. His process is all about taking big, complex problems and breaking them down into small, manageable pieces. He believes in the power of talented teams and practical results, not just fancy ideas.

He’s also super active on LinkedIn, sharing insights, updates on Kitemaker, and thoughts on software dev. The guy’s all about community and spreading the word that making good software isn’t magic, it’s about smart work, not bullshit.

Bottom line, Kevin Simons is that rare mix of hardcore engineer, visionary leader, and startup guy who’s been through the trenches and keeps coming out swinging. He’s the kind of person who’s not just trying to build a company but really changing how we make software. No Cap, he’s a dude to watch, one of those founders who’s actually shaping the future, not just talking about it.