CREWcasts

Join us as we take you on a thrilling tour of our insane tech room, packed with the latest gadgets, innovative devices, and cutting-edge technology for our Podcast

Season 2 of CREWcasts is coming.

We built a studio in Sydney for the people building things in the Australian gaming and creator scene.

Streamers, cosplayers, editors, the ones doing it at 2am with no crew and no budget.

Hosted by Divyansh Shekhar. No script, no five minute promo, just the conversation.

Follow the show so the first one lands in your feed.

Instagram & TikTok: @crewcasts

Want to come on the show, or hire the studio?

[email protected]

Follow CREWcasts on Instagram and TikTok @crewcasts. Get in touch: [email protected]

CREWcasts is a streaming, creator and artist podcast from Sydney, produced by SKDIV Industries, a Sydney based software and studio company.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 2 of CREWcasts. Gaming and creator communities,
one couch, in our Sydney studio.

The wait is finally over! Season 2 has arrived and we're diving headfirst into all the new content, challenges, and epic moments. Join us as we explore everything this new season has to offer. What are you most excited about in Season 2? Let us know in the comments below!

New episodes dropping soon. Subscribe so you don't miss the first one.

LISTEN
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033VW8uMzevcsKbUVL1cB8
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id6794767948

FOLLOW
Instagram: @crewcasts
TikTok: @crewcasts

Want to come on the show, or hire the studio?
[email protected]

Filmed at our studio in Zetland, Sydney.
Powered by SKDIV.STUDIOS.

#podcast #sydneypodcast #sydneycreators #podcaststudio
#gamingpodcast #australianpodcast #contentcreators #gaming #streaming #contentcreator #artist

Matty Wendo has hyped the crowd at Australia's biggest gaming events, from Blizzard's Warcraft 30th Anniversary world tour to PlayStation and EA game launches, ESL esports tournaments and the Fortress esports arena in Sydney. In episode one of CREWcasts, the professional MC and event host tells Div how he went from ten years in IT to hosting for 10,000 viewers at the ESL AUNZ Championship, and what it takes to win over a live crowd.

We get into how volunteering as a tech at a Counter-Strike tournament opened the door to esports hosting, the night a video game launch nearly fell apart and how he saved it, why humility is the secret to winning back a hostile crowd, how much of live hosting is scripted versus improvised, and why the Australian indie game dev scene is the lifeblood of gaming in this country.

Plus: the Aussie gaming scene versus America, hosting Blizzard's Warcraft 30th Anniversary in front of 500 people at Fortress Sydney, the Diablo IV launch, BlizzCon memories, building the ANZ Creators community, Battlefield 6, GTA 6, The Witcher 3, Dark Souls, The Last of Us, and why the Nintendo 64 is still the greatest console ever made.

Whether you're a streamer, content creator, esports fan or event host looking to break into the gaming industry, this conversation is full of stories and advice you won't hear anywhere else.

Follow Matty: @mattywendo64 on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube

CREWcasts is a streaming, creator and artist podcast from Sydney, Australia, hosted by Divyansh Shekhar and made by SKDIV. New episodes with streamers, creators, cosplayers, DJs and artists every week on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Welcome & Cold Open

00:01:00 From IT to the Stage

00:05:38 Winning Back a Cold Crowd

00:07:57 Scripted vs Improvised

00:11:57 The Launch That Nearly Failed

00:13:56 The Aussie Gaming Scene & Fortress

00:19:40 Why He Keeps Hosting

00:24:14 Nerd Corner: N64 & Ocarina

00:28:04 GTA 6 & The Last of Us

00:36:38 BlizzCon & What's Next

00:42:30 Wrap Up

#gaming #esports #podcast #australia #contentcreator

Follow CREWcasts on Instagram and TikTok @crewcasts. Get in touch: [email protected]

CREWcasts is a streaming, creator and artist podcast from Sydney, produced by SKDIV Industries, a Sydney based software and studio company.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do so many startups with great ideas still fail? In this episode of Crewcasts, host Ruchi sits down with John Curzon — a commercial development and investor relations leader who's worked with sports data giants Stats Perform and Genius Sports — to unpack the real reasons startups struggle with sales, funding, and partnerships.
John shares hard-won lessons on getting visible in a brutally competitive market (one angel firm he spoke to had 70 applicants in a single quarter), how to actually pitch VCs, why "sales cures all," and what makes a startup genuinely scalable. He and Ruchi also debate the age-old question: sales or marketing? Plus, John's path from Grand Slam tennis coaching — including taking Jelena Dokic and Lleyton Hewitt overseas — to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and why staying physically sharp keeps founders mentally sharp.
Whether you're a founder, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just into the startup world, this one's packed with practical insight.

▶️ Chapters

• 00:00:00 Cold open: sales, marketing & where founders go wrong
• 00:01:00 Meet John Curzon: from sports data to startups
• 00:02:35 Why most startups struggle with sales & funding
• 00:05:20 How Skdiv is building a global gaming community
• 00:06:45 What makes a startup genuinely scalable
• 00:08:00 The #1 mistake founders make pitching VCs
• 00:09:16 How a young company earns trust in the market
• 00:10:15 Elevating your marketing: social, events & influencers
• 00:13:30 Sales vs marketing: the great debate
• 00:23:10 Tennis, coaching legends & life beyond startups
• 00:25:00 BJJ, MMA & staying sharp as a founder

🎯🔗 https://www.skdiv.com

🔔 Subscribe for more founder stories, startup strategy, and honest conversations.
👍 Like, comment, and share if this helped.

#Startups #SalesStrategy #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #StartupAdvice #Founders #GamingIndustry #Crewcasts #BusinessPodcast #ScalingStartups

India’s gaming wave is real — but building a gaming community platform that people actually love?
That’s design, culture, and relentless iteration.

In this FULL CREWcasts episode (Part 1 + Part 2 combined), host Ruchi Kotecha sits with Divyansh Shekhar (Founder, SKDIV®) and Ritik (Head of Design) to unpack how SKDIV® and CREW™ evolved through 2025 — from building a design team and defining a strong UI/UX language, to tackling Indian market realities, community safety, creators, and the long-term vision of CREW™ as a one-stop gaming ecosystem.

If you care about gaming in India, startups, product design, UI/UX, creator-led communities, and what it really takes to build in public — this episode is for you.

Explore CREW™: https://www.crewtm.com
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/crew/id6739217561
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skdiv.crew&pcampaignid=web_share

Full Episode Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Trailer
• 00:00:38 Episode begins & CREW’s growth
• 00:01:20 Introducing the design leads
• 00:02:01 From engineering to design
• 00:03:21 Building the design team
• 00:05:58 What a design lead actually does
• 00:07:25 Design challenges in the Indian gaming market
• 00:08:27 Creating a strong design language
• 00:09:52 Team culture & creative freedom
• 00:12:25 Passion, gaming & career choices
• 00:15:25 Degree vs passion: tough decisions
• 00:21:17 What good design really means
• 00:23:47 Leading teams through communication
• 00:31:10 UI, product & platform evolution
• 00:36:38 Upcoming features & product vision
• 00:39:10 Consistency, content & long-term growth
• 00:41:46 Founder mindset & self-reflection
• 00:47:40 Episode wrap-up
• 00:48:07 Credits

#GamingInIndia #IndianGaming #StartupIndia #IndianStartup #UIUX #ProductDesign #GamingCommunity #FounderMindset #CREWcasts #SKDIV

Part 2 is here 🎙️⚡️

In this episode of CREWcasts, host Ruchi Kotecha sits down with Divyansh Shekhar (Founder, SKDIV®) and Ritik (Head of Design) to talk about what it really takes to scale a product in public — evolving UI/UX, building a consistent design language across multiple projects, raising quality standards, and shaping CREW™ into a one-stop gaming ecosystem.

We also dive into the realities behind startup growth: delays, leadership, safety + moderation, community authenticity, content consistency, and SKDIV®’s 2026 roadmap — plus how we want to help young founders build with feedback, clarity, and continuous improvement.

Explore CREW™: https://www.crewtm.com

Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Trailer
• 00:00:18 Future of SKDIV® and 2025 growth
• 00:00:31 Guests introduction
• 00:00:46 How the product and app evolved in 2025
• 00:01:16 Improving UI, UX, and design language
• 00:01:42 Scaling design across multiple projects
• 00:03:01 Vision: building a one-stop gaming ecosystem
• 00:03:59 What CREW™ aims to become
• 00:04:27 Challenges, delays, and quality standards
• 00:04:50 Building and leading the design team
• 00:05:13 Creating a unique gaming design language
• 00:05:33 Design credits and foundations
• 00:06:04 New features, updates, and CREW Creators
• 00:06:38 Content moderation and platform safety
• 00:07:12 Community building and authenticity
• 00:07:37 Reflections on 2025 as a team
• 00:07:59 CREWcasts, consistency, and content growth
• 00:08:26 Standing out on a global level
• 00:09:21 Looking ahead to 2026
• 00:09:44 CREWcasts as an internal reflection platform
• 00:10:10 Reality of startup hustle
• 00:11:07 Helping young founders and entrepreneurs
• 00:11:31 Feedback, community, and open growth
• 00:12:23 Continuous improvement mindset
• 00:13:04 Global expansion plans
• 00:14:09 Why gaming needs a community-led platform
• 00:14:29 CREW™ as a one-stop gaming solution
• 00:15:18 Founder community connection
• 00:15:44 Strengthening community with CREW™ Creators
• 00:16:07 Join CREW™ and find your own CREW™
• 00:16:28 Episode wrap-up and final thoughts
• 00:17:23 Credits

#CREWcasts #SKDIV #CREW #StartupJourney #ProductDesign #UXDesign #GamingCommunity #FounderLife #BuildingInPublic

Design can make or break a startup — and in this episode, we get real about design leadership, startup culture, and building in public.

Hosted by Ruchi Kotecha, featuring Divyansh Shekhar (Founder, SKDIV®) and Ritik (Head of Design) — this is Part 1 of our 2025 journey conversation: how SKDIV evolved in one year, how trust + team structure are built, what a design lead actually does day-to-day, and why gaming culture in India is changing fast.

If you’re into startups, product design, leadership, content creation, or gaming communities, this one’s for you.

✅ Explore CREW™: https://www.crewtm.com
📲 Mobile App
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/crew/id6739217561
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skdiv.crew&pcampaignid=web_share

Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Trailer
• 00:00:26 Welcome and Introduction
• 00:01:02 Why design matters for podcasts and startup growth
• 00:01:27 Meet the guests: Divyansh and Ritik
• 00:02:46 Engineering and fine arts to design journey
• 00:04:30 Trust, leadership, and building the right team structure
• 00:05:39 What a design lead actually does day-to-day
• 00:06:47 Mentoring designers and scaling the design team
• 00:08:20 Gaming as a taboo in India and what’s changing
• 00:09:31 Why you should download CREW™
• 00:09:51 What motivates people to work at startups
• 00:10:45 Flexibility, freedom, and rapid learning in startup culture
• 00:11:43 Wearing multiple hats and personal growth
• 00:12:07 Founder’s gaming frustration and the idea behind CREW™
• 00:13:24 Appreciating the team and creative culture at SKDIV
• 00:13:51 Engineering vs design: choosing the middle path
• 00:15:31 Parental pressure and career dilemmas in India
• 00:16:42 Discovering design as a real career
• 00:18:13 Regret, exploration, and long-term choices
• 00:20:34 What good design really means
• 00:20:58 Good design is invisible and intuitive
• 00:22:15 Founder’s perspective on design decisions
• 00:23:25 Mentorship and communication culture
• 00:24:40 Collaboration, trust, and team bonding
• 00:25:36 Avoiding toxicity: attitude over ego
• 00:27:01 Feedback culture and alignment
• 00:28:29 Thumbnails, experimentation, and audience response
• 00:29:58 Trial and error: the startup way
• 00:31:19 Credits

In this CREWcasts episode, Isaac James gets brutally honest about what startup life is really like — the pressure nobody posts, the sacrifices nobody sees, and the behind-the-scenes reality of trying to build something from zero.

Hosted by Ruchi Kotecha, this conversation dives into what most founders avoid talking about: decision fatigue, self-doubt, inconsistent momentum, fear, mental load, customer discovery, and how to stay disciplined when there’s no certainty, no applause, and no guaranteed outcome.

Whether you’re a founder, student builder, creator, freelancer, marketer, product person, or entrepreneur, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and the kind of truth that actually helps.

✅ Subscribe for more real conversations with founders and creators.
💬 Comment: What’s the hardest part of building for you right now — consistency, confidence, customers, money, or burnout?

#CREWcasts #IsaacJames #RuchiKotecha #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #FounderMindset #Product #Marketing #Business #SydneyStartups #SKDIV

⸻

Combined Timestamps / Chapters (Full Video)

• 00:00:00 Trailer
• 00:00:17 CREWcasts Intro
• 00:00:20 Guest Introduction
• 00:00:36 What is Gatsby?
• 00:00:44 Explained Simply
• 00:00:58 How It Helps Users
• 00:01:13 How It Helps Venues
• 00:01:26 Rewards System
• 00:01:37 Target Users
• 00:02:25 How Gatsby Learns Taste
• 00:03:26 The Turning Point
• 00:04:06 Founder Chemistry
• 00:06:00 Handling Conflict
• 00:07:30 Real Event Scenario
• 00:09:00 Sales vs Marketing
• 00:11:00 Talking to Customers
• 00:13:00 Building the Right Thing
• 00:15:00 Getting Attention
• 00:18:00 Mindset & Resilience
• 00:20:00 What New Founders Should Know
• 00:23:26 Credits / Part 1 Wrap
• 00:23:27 Part 2 Trailer / Transition
• 00:23:44 Separating Yourself From Your Startup
• 00:24:07 Don’t Build for Validation
• 00:24:27 When Fear Is a Signal to Act
• 00:24:55 Just Start (No Overthinking)
• 00:25:27 Talking to Customers Before Building
• 00:26:01 Gatsby as Its Own Entity
• 00:26:29 Think Like a Scientist, Not a Founder
• 00:27:13 Taking Feedback Without Ego
• 00:27:46 Tall Poppy Syndrome & Honest Feedback
• 00:28:22 The Mom Test Explained
• 00:28:56 This Is Your Sign to Start
• 00:29:07 Perfection Doesn’t Exist
• 00:29:48 Focusing on Users
• 00:30:35 “Just Start” (Again)
• 00:30:48 The Cold Plunge Analogy
• 00:31:52 The Days Are Long, the Years Are Fast
• 00:32:28 If You Know What You Want, Go Do It
• 00:32:58 “Everything Already Exists” Myth
• 00:33:10 Marketing vs Product Reality
• 00:33:37 Why Word of Mouth Matters
• 00:33:58 Marketing Gets You to the Product
• 00:34:35 Regrets, Risk & Balance
• 00:35:16 Consistency vs Burnout
• 00:35:49 Surges, Sprints & Sustainability
• 00:36:22 Describing Gatsby in Seven Words
• 00:36:44 Startup Memes & Brand Image
• 00:37:55 Where the Name “Gatsby” Came From
• 00:38:41 “Roundabout Landing” on What You Do
• 00:39:12 Closing Thoughts
• 00:39:53 End

In this CREWcasts episode, Isaac James gets brutally honest about what startup life is really like — the pressure nobody posts, the sacrifices nobody sees, and the behind-the-scenes reality that comes with trying to build something from zero.

Hosted by Ruchi Kotecha, this conversation dives into the parts most founders avoid talking about: decision fatigue, self-doubt, inconsistent momentum, mental load, and how to stay disciplined when there’s no certainty, no applause, and no guaranteed outcome.

If you’re a founder, student builder, creator, or anyone thinking of starting a business — this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and the kind of truth that actually helps.

Subscribe for more real conversations with founders and creators, and drop a comment: what’s the hardest part of building for you right now?

#CREWcasts #IsaacJames #RuchiKotecha #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #FounderMindset #SydneyStartups #skdiv

TimeStamps

• 00:00:00 Trailer
• 00:00:17 CREWcasts Intro
• 00:00:20 Guest Introduction
• 00:00:36 What is Gatsby?
• 00:00:44 Explained Simply
• 00:00:58 How It Helps Users
• 00:01:13 How It Helps Venues
• 00:01:26 Rewards System
• 00:01:37 Target Users
• 00:02:25 How Gatsby Learns Taste
• 00:03:26 The Turning Point
• 00:04:06 Founder Chemistry
• 00:06:00 Handling Conflict
• 00:07:30 Real Event Scenario
• 00:09:00 Sales vs Marketing
• 00:11:00 Talking to Customers
• 00:13:00 Building the Right Thing
• 00:15:00 Getting Attention
• 00:18:00 Mindset & Resilience
• 00:20:00 What New Founders Should Know
• 00:23:26 Credits