Henry Kim.
CEO & Co-Founder · Swiftly
Henry Kim is Co-Founder and CEO of Swiftly, a technology platform for supermarkets that brings the advantages of e-commerce to brick and mortar stores. Henry is a serial entrepreneur and a veteran of e-commerce, grocery, and brick and mortar retail. Previously, he was the Co-Founder and President of Symphony Commerce, an end-to-end e-commerce technology platform, where he oversaw sales, marketing, finance, and managed the company’s relationships with Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods and apparel brands. Before Symphony Commerce, Henry spent three years as a Principal at The Yucaipa Global Opportunities Fund (YGOF), an investment firm focused on investing in Asia, primarily China, Japan, and Korea, where he led major acquisition opportunities in retail. Earlier in his career, Henry served as an investment professional for five years with The Yucaipa Companies, a mega-fund focused on retail investments. Prior to The Yucaipa Companies, Henry served as a financial analyst in the M&A and financial sponsors group at Morgan Stanley. He also has extensive experience as a retail operator, having owned Orange Julius and Dairy Queen franchises in addition to founding Manga Manga Japanese Bistro, a comic book and sushi concept, which he sold in 1997.
Guest
Henry Kim
CEO & Co-Founder
Company:
Swiftly
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Welcome to another episode of Unicorn Builders — Centaur edition. In this episode, I chat with Henry Kim, Co-founder and CEO of Swiftly, a retail technology platform that has raised over $200 million in funding.

Key Topics Discussed:

Five takeaways from this conversation.

Actionable for Unicorn Builders founders

  1. Strategically Target Larger Customers for Efficient Scaling
    Henry made the counterintuitive decision to pursue larger retailers despite having interest from smaller chains. This approach allowed Swiftly to achieve scale more efficiently, as onboarding numerous small clients would have quickly depleted resources. Consider how focusing on larger, more complex customers might actually accelerate your growth trajectory.
  2. Use Early Adopters as Product Development Partners
    Swiftly moved into their first grocer's office, allowing for rapid iterations based on real-world usage. This close collaboration enabled them to refine their product quickly and effectively. Consider how you can embed your team within your early customers' operations to accelerate product-market fit.
  3. Leverage Distribution Partnerships to Overcome Industry Inertia
    In conservative industries like retail, Henry found that having strong distribution partners was key to accelerating adoption. Explore potential partnerships that can lend credibility and provide access to a broader customer base, especially in slow-moving sectors.
  4. Evolve Your GTM Strategy as You Scale
    Swiftly's marketing evolved from guerrilla tactics at trade shows to a more sophisticated approach involving digital marketing and high-profile partnerships. Be prepared to adapt your GTM strategy as you grow, balancing direct outreach with broader market positioning.
  5. Use Product Usage Data to Drive Expansion
    Swiftly leveraged user data from their platform to inform both product development and their sales strategy for larger deals. Design your product to capture meaningful usage data that can guide your expansion into new features, verticals, or geographical markets.