Fueling Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs: A LaunchX Podcast

Rachel K Zhang
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join Rachel & Rishika, two Gen-Z serial entrepreneurs and LaunchX alum, as we explore how to make an impact in todays entrepreneurial world. We chat with people that we want to hear stories and practical advice from: founders, innovators, thought leaders, school counselors, athletes, and more. Discover how to turn big ideas into impactful ventures while balancing ambition with purpose. Whether you're starting out or deep in your journey, this podcast is your guide to fueling entrepreneurial success. Tune in and build the future with us!

  1. “From School Club to Global Classroom: Jacob Shaul’s Mode to Code Journey”

    11/28/2025

    “From School Club to Global Classroom: Jacob Shaul’s Mode to Code Journey”

    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/

    22 min
  2. From Shark Tank to Tenkara: Ben Stern on Reinventing Manufacturing with AI

    11/10/2025

    From Shark Tank to Tenkara: Ben Stern on Reinventing Manufacturing with AI

    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/

    27 min
  3. “Turn a pain point into an AI business”: NewMail AI founder Yohann Abittan on building AI products, finding your niche, creating real value, and data-driven decisions [PART 2]

    10/07/2025

    “Turn a pain point into an AI business”: NewMail AI founder Yohann Abittan on building AI products, finding your niche, creating real value, and data-driven decisions [PART 2]

    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/

    34 min
  4. “If we value authenticity, tech will amplify it”: NewMail AI founder Yohann Abittan on ChatGPT, human connection, and what comes after the internet [PART 1]

    10/07/2025

    “If we value authenticity, tech will amplify it”: NewMail AI founder Yohann Abittan on ChatGPT, human connection, and what comes after the internet [PART 1]

    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/

    24 min
  5. “If I can change people’s lives, I’m going to do it”: Healthy boba Amino Ave founder Jenna Wu on pivots, milk tea, and being delulu.

    08/23/2025

    “If I can change people’s lives, I’m going to do it”: Healthy boba Amino Ave founder Jenna Wu on pivots, milk tea, and being delulu.

    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

    46 min
  6. [P2] "You don’t need to reverse-engineer yourself into the perfect applicant": Founder/CEO of Collegewise Kevin McMullin on real passion, fake essays, and finding your own way

    07/09/2025

    [P2] "You don’t need to reverse-engineer yourself into the perfect applicant": Founder/CEO of Collegewise Kevin McMullin on real passion, fake essays, and finding your own way

    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):

    21 min
  7. [P1] “Top Colleges Don’t Want You to Hear This” with Founder/CEO of Collegewise Kevin McMullin on savvy applicants and redefining success.

    07/09/2025

    [P1] “Top Colleges Don’t Want You to Hear This” with Founder/CEO of Collegewise Kevin McMullin on savvy applicants and redefining success.

    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

    21 min
  8. SEASON 2: Still fueling tomorrow's entrepreneurs!

    TRAILER

    SEASON 2: Still fueling tomorrow's entrepreneurs!

    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!

    1 min
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5
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2 Ratings

About

Join Rachel & Rishika, two Gen-Z serial entrepreneurs and LaunchX alum, as we explore how to make an impact in todays entrepreneurial world. We chat with people that we want to hear stories and practical advice from: founders, innovators, thought leaders, school counselors, athletes, and more. Discover how to turn big ideas into impactful ventures while balancing ambition with purpose. Whether you're starting out or deep in your journey, this podcast is your guide to fueling entrepreneurial success. Tune in and build the future with us!

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