How to Scale Data Infrastructure from Startup to Enterprise

How to Scale Data Infrastructure from Startup to Enterprise

From Big Ideas in App Architecture by Cockroach Labs

July 1, 2025 · 38 min · Episode 58

About this episode

David interviews data infrastructure expert Nishant Raman about scaling data systems from startup to enterprise.

In this episode, David sits down with Nishant Raman , a seasoned data infrastructure expert, to explore the evolving world of data engineering, AI integration, and building scalable systems from the ground up. With experience across logistics, healthcare, and fintech, Nishant shares hard-won insights from years of building resilient, cost-conscious infrastructure that scales with company growth and technical complexity. From choosing the right database to navigating the post-LLM explosion in tooling, this conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive as the first data hire and beyond. Join us as we discuss: Nishant’s accidental path into data engineering and lessons from startup life The tradeoffs that can come with building scalable, cost-efficient data systems The growing role of AI in data infrastructure and what’s coming next for data teams

People in this episode

Host: David

Guest: Nishant Raman

Topics covered

  • data engineering
  • AI integration
  • scalable systems
  • cost-efficient infrastructure
  • data infrastructure

Keywords

  • data infrastructure
  • scalability
  • AI in data
  • cost-efficient systems
  • data engineering

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cockroach Labs, AI, logistics, healthcare, fintech

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