Fueling Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rishika, a fellow gen-z startup enthusiast and today I am chatting with Jacob Shaul, the high-school founder behind Mode to Code. We talk about turning a small after-school club into a global program, teaching coding as a creative art form, and pushing through rejection when nobody’s responding to your emails. If you’re curious what it looks like to start small and grow into something that spans continents, this is the episode for you.

Connect with Jacob: https://modetocode.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mode_to_code/

Find me! (Rishika):

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishika-goteti/

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rishika, a fellow gen-z startup enthusiast and today I am chatting with Ben Stern, founder who went from pitching Mark Cuban on Shark Tank at 16 to building two companies from the ground up. We talk about the decade-long grind behind his first startup Nobo, what it’s really like to bootstrap sustainability, and how he’s now reinventing manufacturing through his new venture Tenkara, an AI-powered procurement platform. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the big TV moment - when the cameras stop rolling and the real work begins - this episode’s for you.

Connect with Ben:

X | Linkedin | Personal Site | Tenkara

Find me! (Rishika):

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishika-goteti/

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

Hi, I’m your cohost Rachel, and welcome back! In part two, Rishika and I dive deeper with Yohann Abittan, founder of NewMail AI, to unpack how he actually builds an AI startup from the ground up. We’ll hear about how he found a niche in the massive email market, why high-quality data is the real secret to AI success, and how he turns everyday pain points into products that create real value. If you’re dreaming of launching your own AI or tech startup, this part is packed with actionable advice, lessons from his journey, and insights on finding your focus, validating your ideas, and building something people can’t live without. Let’s get into it!

Connect with Yohann:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yohann-abittan/

www.newmail.ai

Find me! (Rachel):

www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkzhang/

www.instagram.com/rachelkzhang

Connect with Rishika:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishika-goteti/

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rachel, a fellow gen-z serial entrepreneur and today my cohost Rishika and I are chatting with Yohann Abittan, founder of NewMail AI, a personal AI changing the game of digital communication in your emails. He’s also the founder of a VC firm and founder community and one of the most thoughtful thinkers of AI and technology that I know. As a self proclaimed AI idiot myself I had a lot of fun picking Yohann’s brain about being lazy with AI in the best way, the best way to automate the menial, embracing risk, and freeing creativity with AI. In part two, we’ll get into the nitty gritty on his advice for anyone looking to build in the tech and AI space. Enjoy!

Connect with Yohann:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yohann-abittan/

www.newmail.ai

Find me! (Rachel):

www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkzhang/

www.instagram.com/rachelkzhang

Connect with Rishika:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishika-goteti/

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rachel, a fellow gen-z serial entrepreneur and today I am chatting with Jenna Wu, the dynamic founder and LaunchX alumni behind healthy boba brand Amino Avenue. We chat about being delusional, facing people who don’t believe in your mission, and pivoting your way into success. If you’re in LA, make sure to check out Amino Avenue in person! 

Connect with Jenna:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-jiaying-wu-24880b14a/

https://www.instagram.com/nutswithjenna/

https://www.instagram.com/aminoave/

Find me! (Rachel):

www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkzhang/

www.instagram.com/rachelkzhang

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rachel, a fellow gen-z serial entrepreneur and today I’m back with Kevin McMullin, founder of Collegewise and one of the most grounding voices in the college admissions space.

In Part 2 of our conversation, we go even deeper into the emotional and practical realities of applying to college: what colleges really want, what makes an essay feel fake, how to deal with pressure from parents, and why your high school years should feel like your life - not just a checklist.

We also talk about ChatGPT, red flags in college counselors, immigrant family expectations, and how to stop giving power to the schools most likely to say no.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, behind, or just unsure of what matters most - this episode is your deep breath and your blueprint. Let’s get into it.

Connect with Kevin and Collegewise here:

Kevin McMullin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mcmullin-30633a20a/

Blog: wiselikeus.com

Collegewise

Website: https://collegewise.com

Blog: https://go.collegewise.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegewise/

Find me! (Rachel):

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose - because true success isn’t just about the money or the views - it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rachel, a fellow gen-z serial entrepreneur and today I am chatting with someone who completely redefined how I think about success: Kevin McMullin, founder and Chief Education Officer of Collegewise.

Kevin started Collegewise back in 1999 by literally driving to students’ houses and helping them with college applications. Since then, he’s helped thousands of students apply to college and rethink what “success” actually means.

In this episode, we talk about toxic application culture, why prestige shouldn’t define your future, what colleges really care about, and how students can take ownership of their stories. I also admit that I applied to Harvard - twice - and got rejected both times. This episode turned into part therapy, part pep talk. I hope you love it as much as I did.

–-

Connect with Kevin and Collegewise here:

Kevin McMullin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mcmullin-30633a20a/

Blog: wiselikeus.com

Collegewise

Website: https://collegewise.com

Blog: https://go.collegewise.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegewise/

Find me! (Rachel):

www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkzhang/

www.instagram.com/rachelkzhang

We are back. Join us (Rachel and Rishika) as we chat with cool founders, builders, innovators, athletes, and more as we navigate today's world of entrepreneurship.

Powered by the LaunchX program.

Find Rachel (LinkedIn / Instagram) and Rishika (LinkedIn) online!

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose – because true success isn’t just about the money or the views—it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rachel, a fellow gen-z serial entrepreneur and today I am chatting with Diane Darling, an entrepreneur, speaker, and author of The Networking Survival Guide. Diane coaches the skill every person in the world needs; networking. Today we talk about the real meaning of networking (spoilers: it’s not just meeting new people), relationship management, meeting people at events, introducing yourself, red and green flags of networking, and what to do if you don’t like networking.

Connect with Diane:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianedarling/

https://www.dianedarling.com/

Find me! (Rachel):

www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkzhang/

www.instagram.com/rachelkzhang

Welcome to "Fueling Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast" where we explore what it means to balance ambition with purpose – because true success isn’t just about the money or the views—it’s about the impact we make and the lives we touch along the way. 

I’m your host Rachel, a fellow gen-z serial entrepreneur and today I am chatting with Isabelle Dijkhorst, the 17-year-old founder of Foundity, a digital platform that connects and empowers entrepreneurs. She thought she’d be an artist but quickly found a love for business and attended the LaunchX Berkeley program, where she met founders her own age and launched Foundity. 

Now, she has more pressure than ever in her final year of high school, applying for universities, and running a startup full time. At the same time, she’s never been happier. We chat about the unpredictability of entrepreneurship, meeting new people, and pitching her startup at WebSummit Portugal 2024.

Connect with Isabelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-dijkhorst/

www.foundity.com

Find me! (Rachel):

www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkzhang/

www.instagram.com/rachelkzhang