Bits & Bytes

Joining us on the latest Bits & Bytes episode is David Cruz, the winner of the recently concluded Launch.vc Pitch Competition 2021, founder of Pineapple Build, a no code mobile app builder; and Vhista, an app designed to help the visually impaired.

David has worked for multinational companies including Google and Meta and is also one of our current Maple program members. In this episode, David talks about his journey from Bogotá to San Francisco, his future plans and the superpower that can change the world!

Find David on Twitter: @davidcruzcs

Connect with us on social media: @launchacademyhq

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Our guest for this episode of Bits & Bytes is Swickie, owner of Kiki, a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT character who is the first-ever female Ape to be cast in Punks Comic. Swickie talks about her NFT journey, NBA Top Shot, the rise of Kiki as an international NFT icon, and the moment where her life changed overnight, quite literally!

Find her on Twitter: @topshotswickie

Connect with us on soical media: @launchacademyhq

Find out more at https://bnb.pinecast.co

Our guest for the latest Bits & Bytes podcast is Amy Tom, senior editor and podcast manager at Hacker Noon. Having worked previously in the corporate world before freelancing as a content marketing strategist for tech startups, Amy brings in her unique perspective to the tech industry. In this episode Amy talks about her journey, what it takes to be a woman in tech and how to tackle the prevalent imposter syndrome in the industry.

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This month’s Bits & Bytes podcast features San Francisco-based venture capitalist, startup mentor, and entrepreneur Adam O’Donnell. Adam currently works at Zendesk nurturing strategic relationships with VCs, accelerators, and entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem and beyond. Adam talks about his entrepreneurial failures and successes while offering practical advice for startups about when to push for a breakthrough and when to bow out.

Find Adam O'Donnell on LinkedIn and listen to his podcast TheTop.VC.

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Website

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This month’s Bits & Bytes podcast features Vancouver-based CPA Alfred Zagloul, specializing in performance management and accounting services to clients through his firm Zagloul Consulting. When he’s not consulting, Alfred can be found serving deadpan coffee reviews on @alfreddrinkingcoffee. Alfred shares his entrepreneurial journey and spills the beans on how he became an influential figure on social media through an Instagram account that started as a fun side project.

You can reach Alfred on Linkedin or through his website, and follow him on Instagram, for coffee reviews & more!

Connect with us online!

Learn more about Launch: https://launchacademy.ca/

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Chris Hobbs believes that Vancouver’s talent has the potential to lead the way in Canada and build some of the greatest and the most impactful products that the world can see. Launch’s Jean Yoon & Sam Chan sit down with Chris in the latest episode of Bits & Bytes to get his perspective on creating meaningful connections through technology, building cool new products and more!

Chris Hobbs is the President & Co-Founder of TTT Studios, a Vancouver-based award-winning Digital Innovation Studio focused on building custom software for more than 200 clients around the world. Chris is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and a renowned name in the Vancouver tech community. Chris also hosts ‘Afternoon T’, a weekly podcast to chat with Canada’s successful founders to share their lessons and to prepare the next generation of startups.

You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn.

Connect with us online!

Learn more about Launch: https://launchacademy.ca/

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In this episode of Bits & Bytes, we bring in Andy Hu who has 3 years of recruiting experience under his belt to talk more in depth about the world of tech recruiting. In this podcast, Andy walks us through the various processes, the types of recruitment available, whether a company would benefit from an in house recruiting or through an external agency, the criteria that both recruiters and companies look for in potential candidates and for those that are interested, how you can join the exciting world of recruitment.

Andy Hu graduated from SFU with a Psychology Major and a business minor and has worked for several companies including Keywords Studios, Unity Technologies, Robert Half Finance & Accounting and TEKsystems. His admiration for the magic that software developers can create from 'nothing' is what initially peaked his interest in the tech industry and by chance he found the opportunity to take the dive into working within the tech realm by becoming a technical recruiter.

You can connect with Andy through his Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyalhu/

Connect with us online! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/launchacademyhq Twitter: https://twitter.com/launchacademyhq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/launchacademyhq LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/launchacademyhq

Learn more about Launch: https://launchacademy.ca/

Find out more at https://bnb.pinecast.co

Emma, aka @vancouverfoodie shares with Jean and Sam her unique journey on becoming an entrepreneur, and takes us behind the scenes of what life is really like as an food influencer. She also shares her thoughts on how businesses can better leverage 'influencers' for their own business needs, and leaves some sound advice for others aspiring to follow her path.

Follow Emma on Instagram: @vancouverfoodie

Connect with us online!

Learn more about Launch: https://launchacademy.ca/

Tom, better known as the Vancouver Coffee Snob hops on and shares his journey as a startup founder in the food and beverage space, particularly during the Covid era, the pros and cons running your own show and his top 3 coffee suggestions for late night owls. He lives no bean unturned during this honest discussion.

Learn more about Siply: https://getsiply.com/

Connect with Tom on Instagram: https://instagram.com/getsiply

Connect with us online! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/launchacademyhq

Learn more about Launch: https://launchacademy.ca/

In this special episode of Bits & Bytes, Sam asks the questions, and Jean sits on the interviewee panel with colleagues Lauren and Kat. We chat about everything from how we got from the hospitality, architecture and health industries to tech and startups to our perceptions of working in a startup before starting at Launch, to, of course, our dream teams.

Jean, who is normally the host of Bits & Bytes, is the Program Manager at Launch. Coming most recently from the hospitality industry, she's got a passion for video games and tech and is a Twitch.tv streamer with an accumulated view count of 5 million views.

Connect with Jean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kireiautumn/

Katreena has a background in architecture and is currently Project Coordinator at Launch. In her spare time likes to hike, swim, play the piano and eat good food.

Connect with Katreena on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katreenatecson/

Lauren came to Launch with a background in Kinesiology and Digital Marketing and a passion for photography. She is now the Marketing & Community Coordinator at Launch and edits this podcast.

Connect with Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmkan/

Find out more at https://bnb.pinecast.co