The Startup Storybook Podcast

The Startup Storybook
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

Sharing stories of college-aged entrepreneurs and encouraging others to take their first step. Hosted by Turner Rey, and Wes Orr.

  1. Apr 23

    He Asked His Friend "What Sucks?" and Sold the Answer

    Jordan Lisnow asked a friend one question — "what sucks about your job?" — and turned the answer into a startup he sold before graduating college. He did it twice. This one's the playbook for finding real problems and building fast with no technical background. 🔗 Connect with Jordan 🔗 Check out Partunity

    33 min

  2. Mar 23

    Ep.34 School Is My Side Hustle Now | Parth Mehta, Makistry

    Parth Mehta taught himself to code over one summer and built Makistry — an AI-powered CAD platform with 300+ users and 7,000+ designs. He’s a sophomore at UT Austin, plays squash for the university team, performs original music at Austin open mics, and calls school “my side hustle now.” In this episode: the battle robot class that sparked the idea, leading a team of peers when nothing he tried worked, imposter syndrome on calls with executives three times his age, and why there are “no miracle people.”Try Makistry: makistry.aiParth on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/parth-mehta100/

    53 min

  3. Mar 16

    Ep. 32 AI Can't Replace Your Tutor. But It Can Make Them Way Better. | Arnav Gupta

    Arnav Gupta is a freshman at Stanford running a full-time startup. Athira connects students with tutors in under 30 seconds for 15-25 minute micro-tutoring sessions — and the AI behind it is learning how great tutors sense confusion, adapt their tone, and personalize in real time. In this episode, Arnav talks about meeting his co-founder through Y Combinator's matching platform before even starting college, launching to 500 users in two weeks, why he thinks LinkedIn is making high schoolers worse, and the ethical line between supplementing human teachers and replacing them. 🔗 Learn more about Athira: https://athira.tech 🔗 Connect with Arnav: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnav-gupta-bb7a06232/

    1h 1m

  4. Mar 2

    Ep. 31 This Young Founder is Making a Huge Impact | Coding w/ Impact, Kashika Khurana

    Most high schoolers can't even imagine leading initiatives that shape their community and inspire the next generation, unless they see the power in their own voice. Kashika Khurana shows how young leaders can rewrite the STEM story and foster confidence that defies age and stereotypes.In this episode, Kashika shares her story in founding three distinct non-profits, each with the goal of empowering young people. She discusses how AI literacy workshops are helping elementary and middle schoolers to not just consume technology but to understand and build it — turning them into the creators of tomorrow’s AI. Kashika’s unique perspective on creativity, problem-solving, and activism in STEM proves that age is just a number when you have conviction and a clear vision.Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTL0DCjge6Tztd_JqaK1egBpmZOcM5ZgMukDmr-l0qhWS8HQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103306181892351881850

    53 min
  5. Ep.31 Ideas Are Cheap. Execution Is Everything | Sudhanva Athreya, SportsSense

    Feb 24

    Ep.31 Ideas Are Cheap. Execution Is Everything | Sudhanva Athreya, SportsSense

    Sudhanva Athreya ran a financial services company before 21. Now he's building SportSense — an AI-powered platform that wants to change how fans follow sports by making it personal. In this episode, Sudhanva talks about what he learned leading a team with no technical background, losing a co-founder to a $150K job offer, and why he believes ideas are worthless without the people willing to execute them.Learn more about SportSense: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportssenseco/Connect with Sudhanva: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudhanvaaathreya/Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTL0DCjge6Tztd_JqaK1egBpmZOcM5ZgMukDmr-l0qhWS8HQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103306181892351881850

    46 min
  6. Fixing the Most Annoying Part of Flying | Akku Kumar, Arrow Analytics

    Feb 9

    Fixing the Most Annoying Part of Flying | Akku Kumar, Arrow Analytics

    Akku Kumar was sitting at DFW, four hours into an eight-hour delay, when something clicked. Two years later, he's got contracts with multiple airports and a team building technology to fix one of air travel's most annoying problems. We talk about the 80 customer interviews it took to find the right problem, why five co-founders didn't work out, and what he's sacrificed to build Arrow Analytics while finishing his master's at Texas A&M.Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠at startupstorybookpod@gmail.com.

    52 min

  7. 12/12/2025

    Ending the Echo Chamber w/ Vir Sanghavi & Wyatt Wolfman

    In this episode, we interview Vir Sanghavi and Wyatt Wolfman, the young founders of Tilt, a platform that aims to improve online communication by turning dialogue into data. They discuss the technology behind Tilt, including its unique logic scoring system, and how it seeks to combat the echo chambers prevalent in online discussions. The conversation also covers their experiences as young entrepreneurs, the challenges of balancing education with startup life, and their plans for scaling.

    44 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    Ep. 28 Balancing Cookies, Community, and College w/ Logan Russel

    Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an engaging conversation with Logan Russell, founder of Runner's High Cookies. What started as a passion for baking and a knack for balancing school and business has grown into a thriving cookie enterprise. In this episode, Logan shares his journey from a college student to a successful entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of managing a business while pursuing a degree in urban planning. Discover how Logan's commitment to community and innovation has shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, and learn about the unique flavors and creative strategies that set Runner's High Cookies apart. Tune in to hear Logan's story of resilience, community, and the sweet rewards of following your passion.

    1h 2m
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About

Sharing stories of college-aged entrepreneurs and encouraging others to take their first step. Hosted by Turner Rey, and Wes Orr.

Information

  • Creator
    The Startup Storybook
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Startup Storybook
  • Show Website
    The Startup Storybook Podcast