How did Instagram's founders react to its rapid growth?

Instagram's founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, were both surprised and excited by the app's rapid growth. They focused on scaling the platform, hiring talent, and maintaining the app's simplicity and user experience. Here are some ways the founders reacted to Instagram's rapid growth:

1. Scaling the platform: As the user base grew, Systrom and Krieger focused on scaling the platform to handle the increased demand. They worked to improve the app's infrastructure, optimize performance, and ensure a seamless user experience for new and existing users.
2. Hiring talent: To manage the growing demands of the business, Systrom and Krieger hired talent across various functions, including engineering, product, design, and marketing. They built a team that could help them scale the platform, introduce new features, and maintain the app's unique culture and values.
3. Maintaining simplicity: Despite the app's rapid growth, Systrom and Krieger remained committed to maintaining the app's simplicity and user experience. They resisted the temptation to add too many features or clutter the interface, focusing instead on enhancing the core features that made Instagram popular.
4. Engaging with the community: Systrom and Krieger were active members of the Instagram community, regularly engaging with users, responding to feedback, and incorporating user suggestions into the app's development roadmap. They understood the importance of building a strong community and fostering loyalty among their power users.
5. Staying true to the vision: As the platform grew, Systrom and Krieger remained committed to their original vision of creating a platform for visual storytelling and community-building. They continued to focus on the app's core features and values, resisting the urge to deviate from their initial mission.

By staying true to their vision, hiring talented teams, and focusing on scaling the platform while maintaining its simplicity and user experience, Instagram's founders were able to navigate the app's rapid growth and establish it as a leading social media platform.