Kevin Systrom
Stanford University · Instagram
From Stanford Intern to Building Instagram in 8 Weeks
2 April 2026
Kevin Systrom studied management science and engineering at Stanford, where he interned at Odeo (which became Twitter). He wasn't a trained programmer — he taught himself to code at night while working at a travel startup.
Burbn to Instagram
His first app, Burbn, was a location-sharing tool. But users mostly used the photo-sharing feature. Systrom stripped everything else away, added filters, and relaunched as Instagram in October 2010.
25,000 Users on Day One
Instagram hit 25,000 users on its first day and reached 1 million within two months. The app's beautiful filters made everyone's photos look professional — a concept that seems obvious now but was revolutionary then.
The $1 Billion Acquisition
Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, when it had just 13 employees. The platform now has over 2 billion monthly active users. Systrom's story shows that sometimes the best product is a simpler version of what you already built.
Get weekly tips straight to your inbox
Join 2,000+ students getting our best content on tools, side hustles, and student life.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.