Launch Codes
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago -Textbook Ventures is a student-run organisation dedicated to inspiring students to embrace entrepreneurship and be catalysts of change. We have started Launch Codes to shine a light on the stories of leaders in the tech, startup and VC industry. Our goal is to inspire young people to learn from these conversations as they build and develop their own personal success stories.
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Episodes
Episode #20: Evan Wong- founding a no-code workflow and automation platform, de-risking entrepreneurship and building great team culture
August 17, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBEvan Wong is the co-founder of Checkbox.ai, a no-code solution that digitises complex regulations into automated cloud software. Through its no-code platform, Checkbox’s AI technology allows legal, human resources, and risk and compliance teams to better focus on higher value and strategic work. It’s used by the likes of Allianz, PwC, Air NZ, Telstra as well as government agencies in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and US. Prior to founding Checkbox, Evan started Hero Education, a tutoring busi...
Episode #19: Dan Brockwell- building the home for young people creating the careers of tomorrow, campus culture in Australia vs US and on creating more and consuming less
July 17, 2022 13:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBDan Brockwell is the Co-founder & Chief Meme Officer of Earlywork, the home for 4000+ young people in Australia & New Zealand creating the careers of tomorrow in tech, startups & social impact. Dan launched Earlyhome earlier this year and shares early-career roles, career resources & industry analysis weekly at earlywork.substack.com. As a Computer Science/Marketing graduate from UNSW, Dan is a hyper-generalist with experience across product, operations, project management, sales, marketing...
Episode #18: Caleb Maru- building cohort-based programs at EntryLevel, founding a social enterprise and increasing your surface area of luck
April 26, 2022 15:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBCaleb Maru is the Head of Programs at EntryLevel- an edtech startup up-skilling students and young professionals through cohort-based courses. Caleb also invests in early-stage startups as the General Partner at Proximity Ventures. Caleb studied a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide. During his time at university, Caleb co-founded a social enterprise Humanitee that works with marginalised communities to co-design T-shirts. Hear Caleb's experience building Entry...
Episode #17: James Alexander- backing emerging founders at Galileo Ventures, founding a startup incubator fresh out of uni and how to make Australia a tech leader
November 01, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBJames Alexander is the co-founder and Partner at Galileo Ventures– an Aussie VC firm backing emerging founders looking to change the world. James studied Computer Science at Usyd, before starting the Incubate Startup Program in 2012, where he helped over 100 startups launch and grow. In 2020, he closed a $10 million tranche of Galileo’s first fund with co-founder Hugh. I chatted with James about starting Incubate, why and how he’s backing emerging founders at Galileo and why Australia can ...
Episode #17: James Alexander- backing emerging founders at Galileo Ventures, founding a startup incubator fresh out of uni and how to make Australia a tech leader
November 01, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBJames Alexander is the co-founder and Partner at Galileo Ventures– an Aussie VC firm backing emerging founders looking to change the world. James studied Computer Science at Usyd, before starting the Incubate Startup Program in 2012, where he helped over 100 startups launch and grow. In 2020, he closed a $10 million tranche of Galileo’s first fund with co-founder Hugh. I chatted with James about starting Incubate, why and how he’s backing emerging founders at Galileo and why Australia can ...
Special Episode: The Best In Angel Investing
October 19, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBThis is a special episode of Launch Codes from one of Textbook Ventures' events earlier this year. In this episode, Max Marchione interviews Kylie Frazer from Flying Fox Ventures, Rayn Ong from Ong Heng Investments and Marvin Liao from GAMEGROOVE capital on their experiences as angel investors.
Episode #16: Deepesh Banerji - building great products, launching Beem It and the importance of talking to your customers
October 10, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBDeepesh Banerji is Senior Vice President of Technology at Deputy – a workforce management software for shift-based businesses. Deepesh has worked across many firms and industries, starting as a product manager at Everyday Health Group in New York and rising to VP Product as the business scaled from startup to IPO. He also worked in senior product roles at ViacomCBS and Beem It before joining Deputy in 2019. I chatted with Deepesh about launching Beem It, dealing with the pandemic at Deputy...
Episode #15: Abhishek Maran- breaking into VC at Folklore, starting a Substack, and what separates good companies from great companies
September 21, 2021 02:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBAbhi Maran is an Investment Analyst at Folklore- an Aussie venture capital fund focused on investments in the seed stage. Abhi studied applied finance at Macquarie University. After uni, he worked at Cambridge Associates, working with foundations and endowments to build their investment portfolios. He then jumped into startup land in an ops role at share rewards company Upstreet, before recently starting his role as a VC. I chatted with Abhi about what separates good companies from great...
Episode #14: Jenny Chu- leading product at Eucalyptus, what it takes to be a product manager, and joining a startup over a corporate
September 13, 2021 04:00 - 40 minutes - 27.5 MBJenny Chu is Head of Product at Eucalytpus. Eucalyptus is a healthcare tech company and one of Australia’s hottest startups. They have four brands: pilot for men’s telehealth, kin for women’s fertility, software for skincare and normal for sexual wellness Jenny studied a Bachelor of Information Systems at UNSW and was also a previous GM at Textbook Ventures. After uni she started as a product manager grad at Atlassian where she worked for over 2 years before joining Eucalyptus. I chatted ...
Episode #13: Nick Couvret- how to start a side hustle, crowdfunding at Equitise, and choosing an unconventional path
September 05, 2021 23:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBNick Couvret is an investment associate at Equitise. Equitise is an equity crowdfunding platform that allows Aussies to invest in exciting early-stage companies. Nick is also the co-founder of Lazy Wombat- a sand-free towel company. Nick studied commerce at the University of Sydney and landed an internship at Equitise through the Industry Placement Program. I chatted with Nick about how crowdfunding works and what makes it different from other early-stage capital, how he vets businesses fo...
Episode #12: Vicky Lee- shaping the future of women's health at Ovira, managing growth at a startup, and building a vibrant community
August 30, 2021 09:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MBVicky Lee is the Growth Manager at women’s health brand Ovira. Their flagship product is the Noha- a device that uses electrical nerve stimulation to provide period pain relief. At the same time, Vicky is completing an Economics degree at Usyd. And before joining Ovira she worked at live music ticketing startup GiggedIn. I chatted with Vicky about what’s involved in her growth role, how recruiting works at a startup and the importance of seeing the tangible impact of her work on the women w...
Episode #11: Hannah Parton-Cyr - early stage investing at Black Sheep Capital, closing the fundraising gender gap and and how to think about risk
August 28, 2021 06:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBHannah Parton-Cyr is a venture analyst at Black Sheep Capital. Black Sheep is a leading early-stage VC in Australia, with a portfolio including Airtasker, sendle, go1 and amber. Hannah studied chemical engineering at the University of Southern California, before making the jump to Australia and working at rail company Aurizon. After completing a masters in international economics and finance at UQ, she joined Black Sheep in August 2020. I chatted with Hannah about how she thinks about risk,...
Episode #10: Pasha Rayan- co-founding Forage, going through Y Combinator, and what a CTO role involves
August 24, 2021 06:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBPasha Ryan is the co-founder and CTO of Forage. Forage is a digital platform offering free virtual work experience programs from top companies like Citibank, BCG and General Electric. Pasha studied commerce, philosophy, and computer science at UNSW. After uni, he worked as a management consultant at KPMG as well as a product manager at Freelancer.com before starting Forage in April 2017. I chatted with Pasha about the process of starting Forage, his experience in YCombinator and what the ...
Episode #10: Pasha Ryan- co-founding Forage, going through Y Combinator, and what a CTO role involves
August 24, 2021 06:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBPasha Ryan is the co-founder and CTO of Forage. Forage is a digital platform offering free virtual work experience programs from top companies like Citibank, BCG and General Electric. Pasha studied commerce, philosophy, and computer science at UNSW. After uni, he worked as a management consultant at KPMG as well as a product manager at Freelancer.com before starting Forage in April 2017. I chatted with Pasha about the process of starting Forage, his experience in YCombinator and what the ...
Episode #9: Max Kausman- working in early-stage VC at Tidal Ventures, trends in the Australian startup ecosystem and building great relationships during your career
August 19, 2021 06:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBMax Kausman is an investor at Tidal Ventures- an Australian venture capital firm that focuses on investments in the seed phase. Max studied commerce and law at Monash University, and also worked at corporate advisory firm Vesparum Capital during his studies. He then jumped into the world of consulting at Bain and Company before joining Tidal in November 2020. I chatted with Max about how venture capital works, trends in the Australian startup ecosystem and the importance of building strong...
Episode #9: Max Kausman- working in early-stage VC at Tidal Ventures, trends in the Australian startup ecosystem and building great relationships during your career
August 19, 2021 06:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBMax Kausman is an investor at Tidal Ventures- an Australian venture capital firm that focuses on investments in the seed phase. Max studied commerce and law at Monash University, and also worked at corporate advisory firm Vesparum Capital during his studies. He then jumped into the world of consulting at Bain and Company before joining Tidal in November 2020. I chatted with Max about how venture capital works, trends in the Australian startup ecosystem and the importance of building strong...
Episode #8: Anna Podolsky- founding Lyka Pet Food while at Bain & Company, how fundraising works for a startup, and why brand names aren't everything
August 12, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBAnna Podolsky is the cofounder and CEO of Lyka Pet Food. Lyka, named after Anna’s border collie, is a dog food subscription company that delivers fresh, healthy meals for your pup to your door. Anna studied finance and maths at UQ before starting her career as a management consultant at Bain and Company. Here, she had the opportunity to work across Australia, the US and Chile. I chatted with Anna about how she started Lyka while still at Bain, the fundraising process for a startup and why y...
Episode #8: Anna Podolsky- founding Lyka Pet Food while at Bain & Company, how fundraising works for a startup, and why brand names aren't everything
August 12, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBAnna Podolsky is the cofounder and CEO of Lyka Pet Food. Lyka, named after Anna’s border collie, is a dog food subscription company that delivers fresh, healthy meals for your pup to your door. Anna studied finance and maths at UQ before starting her career as a management consultant at Bain and Company. Here, she had the opportunity to work across Australia, the US and Chile. I chatted with Anna about how she started Lyka while still at Bain, the fundraising process for a startup and why y...
Episode #7: Nandini Meka- leading operations at Simply Wall Street, exploring angel investing, and why you should take risks in your career
July 25, 2021 03:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBToday’s guest is Nandini Meka, Head of Operations at Simply Wall Street, which is an online platform that empowers investors to make great decisions, with analysis on over 100 thousand stocks. Nandini studied Finance and Economics at UTS before starting her career in corporate development roles at News Corp and Aristocrat. She then jumped into the world of startups, heading up biz ops at AbhiBus in India for four years before moving back to Australia and joining Simply Wall Street. I chatte...
Episode #6: Jessy Wu- building a new generation of VC at AfterWork Ventures, community as a moat for businesses, and why you should lean into your strengths
July 13, 2021 14:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBJessy Wu is an Investment Manager and Head of Community at AfterWork Ventures. Afterwork is a community-powered VC, supported by a group of seasoned operators that help source startups and support portfolio companies. Jessy studied Philosophy and English literature at ANU before joining Strategy& as a management consultant. She then jumped into the world of corporate VC at NAB Ventures before joining Afterwork full time in May 2021. I chatted with Jessy about how studying the humanities pre...
Episode #5: David Lu: founding a cryptocurrency startup, running a student venture capital fund and dealing with imposter syndrome
July 07, 2021 09:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MBDavid Lu is the co-founder of Textboook Ventures. He studied a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws at UNSW and has since gone on to work in venture capital and start his own cryptocurrency hedge fund 256 Capital. We had a wide-ranging with David, covering his experience starting Textbook Ventures, the exciting new cryptocurrency startup he’s founded as well as the challenges dealing with imposter syndrome. Timestamps: [1:10] David’s introduction and professional background [2:21] How his intere...
Episode #4: Brent Liang - founding no-code startups, working on mental health and building The Quest podcast with Justin Kan
June 22, 2021 01:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBBrent Liang is the co-founder and executive producer of The Quest Podcast, together with Justin Kan, co-founder of Twitch. He has also founded 3 startups and been a recording artist as well. We chatted to him about his journey founding no-code startups, working on his mental health as a teenager and his view on setting big and ambitious goals. In this episode, we cover: [1:20] How would Brent describe his current profession [1:55] Brent’s cultural upbringing and background story growing u...
Episode #3: Ed Barker- Empowering exceptional founders at Square Peg, the industries of the future, and how to think about your career
June 17, 2021 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBEd Barker is a senior associate at Square Peg Capital. Square Peg is Australia’s largest VC fund, with over $1.4b of funds under management. We chatted with Ed about his investment process, the industries that excite him the most and his advice for students at the start of their career. Timestamps: · 1:04: Who Ed wanted to be when he grew up · 2:05: What Ed studied at university · 3:45: Landing a role at Square Peg Capital · 5:40: The importance of reach...
Episode #3: Ed Barker- Square Peg Capital
June 17, 2021 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBEd Barker is a senior associate at Square Peg Capital. Square Peg is Australia’s largest VC fund, with over $1.4b of funds under management. We chatted with Ed about his investment process, the industries that excite him the most and his advice for students at the start of their career. Timestamps: · 1:04: Who Ed wanted to be when he grew up · 2:05: What Ed studied at university · 3:45: Landing a role at Square Peg Capital · 5:40: The importance of reach...
Episode #2: Sam Koslowski- building the future of media, when to take the leap on a startup, and how to bounce back during tough times
May 24, 2021 09:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBSam Koslowski is co-founder of The Daily Aus- a social-first news platform, offering up bite-sized news on Instagram as well as a daily newsletter and podcast. We chatted to Sam about his journey leaving a corporate law job to go full-time at The Daily Aus.
Episode #2: Sam Koslowski- building the future of media at the Daily Aus, when to take the leap on a startup, and how to bounce back during tough times
May 24, 2021 09:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBSam Koslowski is co-founder of The Daily Aus- a social-first news platform, offering up bite-sized news on Instagram as well as a daily newsletter and podcast. We chatted to Sam about his journey leaving a corporate law job to go full-time at The Daily Aus.
Episode #2: Sam Koslowski- The Daily Aus
May 24, 2021 09:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBSam Koslowski is co-founder of The Daily Aus- a social-first news platform, offering up bite-sized news on Instagram as well as a daily newsletter and podcast. We chatted to Sam about his journey leaving a corporate law job to go full-time at The Daily Aus.
Episode #1: Alister Coleman- investing in the great success stories of our time at Folklore, building an e-commerce business, and the power of taking risks
April 26, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBAlister is the founder and managing partner of early-stage VC firm Folklore Ventures (formerly Tempus Partners). We chatted to him about his childhood heros, experience founding and running his own startup ShippingEasy and advice he has for young people entering the "real world".
Episode #1: Alister Coleman- Folklore Ventures
April 26, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBAlister is the founder and managing partner of early-stage VC firm Folklore Ventures (formerly Tempus Partners). We chatted to him about his childhood heros, experience founding and running his own startup ShippingEasy and advice he has for young people entering the "real world".
Episode #1: Alister Coleman- investing in the great success stories of our time, building an e-commerce business, and the power of taking risks
April 26, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBAlister is the founder and managing partner of early-stage VC firm Folklore Ventures (formerly Tempus Partners). We chatted to him about his childhood heros, experience founding and running his own startup ShippingEasy and advice he has for young people entering the "real world".