Harvey's CEO tells BI the 2 habits helping him scale his $5 billion legal AI startup

Winston Weinberg, the co-founder and CEO of Harvey, a booming legal AI startup valued at $5 billion, reveals the two critical habits driving the company's impressive growth. Speaking at TechLaw.Fest in Singapore, Weinberg emphasized the importance of routine calendar audits and active involvement in hiring to navigate the swiftly changing demands of a scaling business. As Harvey continues to double its revenue approximately every six months, Weinberg noted that the structural changes within the company bring significant pressure to his role. "To relieve that pressure, you must completely level up and alter your operational approach," he stated. His unique strategy involves conducting regular audits of how he allocates his time, allowing him to identify tasks to delegate, drop, or personally tackle. Weinberg aims to automate his involvement in daily operations, concentrating instead on what he considers the three essential responsibilities of a CEO: recruiting, product development, and customer engagement. He expressed a desire to focus his attention on critical issues as they arise while ensuring the rest of the company runs smoothly. Hiring remains a personal priority for Weinberg, particularly when opening new offices. He insists on being directly involved with initial hires, recognizing their crucial role in shaping the team. Recently, Harvey launched its APAC office in Sydney and plans to recruit around 15 employees this year, with intentions to expand further. Weinberg believes that these first hires are vital because they will be responsible for the growth of the team. In some instances, he has promoted internal employees with local connections to lead new offices, such as their head of Australia, who has deep roots in the region. While larger AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic may have more substantial financial resources, Weinberg asserts that Harvey's advantage lies in empowering emerging leaders. "We actively promote junior talent, giving them significant ownership within our organization," he explained, highlighting that at Harvey, even those with no prior management experience are now leading teams. Echoing this sentiment, tech leaders like Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham have noted that working at startups can foster invaluable connections that contribute to future success, suggesting that employees from startups, even if they face challenges, will eventually play leading roles in the industry.