From Chaos to IPO: Lessons from Talabat’s CTO Sven Herzing

What does it take to scale engineering teams from startup chaos to IPO in the Middle East? In this episode of the Sven Podcast, we sit down with Sven Herzing, CTO of Talabat and one of the key engineering minds behind the region’s fastest-growing tech companies.

Sven has spent a decade in Dubai’s tech scene:

• Scaling Dubizzle during a time of rapid change
• Driving hypergrowth at Careem leading to its $3.1B acquisition by Uber
• Steering Talabat’s engineering org through massive growth and IPO readiness

 In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to scale engineering orgs in MENA’s fast-moving tech market
• Leadership lessons from chaos, culture, and code
• Hiring and retaining top engineering talent in Dubai, Cairo, and Riyadh
• Balancing tech debt, product velocity, and IPO scrutiny
• Why local IP, talent development, and regional influence are shaping the future of tech in MENA

Whether you’re a founder, CTO, investor, or future tech leader, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons from someone who’s built at scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing ecosystems.

Subscribe for more conversations with top founders, investors, and tech leaders building the future in MENA and beyond.