What does youth marketing, esports, and a $2,000 vacuum have in common?

In this episode of We Code, You Launch: The Startup Community Podcast from CodeLaunch & Improving, host Jason W. Taylor sits down with entrepreneur, former CodeLaunch judge, and DLC founder John Davidson to talk about how his career went from skateparks to esports boardrooms—and what startup leaders can learn from it all.

From launching product demos on stage at the CodeLaunch World Championship to consulting for GameSquare and cities like Frisco, John breaks down how the gaming culture is shaping workforce development, civic engagement, and brand partnerships in 2025.

And yes—we also get the full story on how John once sold Kirby vacuums door to door (with a shockingly good pitch).

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The Link Between Skateboarding and Esports Leadership

John shares how growing up in a subculture of skeptics gave him the insight needed to bridge the gap between gamers and global brands.

• Why Cities Should Care About Gamers

Learn how Frisco, San Antonio, and other forward-thinking cities are tapping into gaming to develop tech talent pipelines and reimagine youth engagement.

• Behind the Scenes of CodeLaunch World Championship

John reflects on his first experience as a judge, how it challenged his assumptions about startup accelerators, and why he believes CodeLaunch creates “Instagrammable” moments that actually drive value.

• The Secret to Authentic Esports Strategy

From FaZe Clan and Optic Gaming to Six Flags and Coca-Cola, John explains why esports partnerships fail—and how brands can get it right.

• From Startup Judging to City-Wide Innovation

Hear how John’s work with the Frisco EDC is building a new esports ecosystem and why community-first thinking is the next frontier of economic development.

Connect with our guest John Davidson on LinkedIn
Learn more about his work at Davidson Learning Company (DLC)

What makes a founder fundable? In this episode of We Code, You Launch: The Startup Community Podcast From CodeLaunch & Improving , our host Jason W. Taylor, President and Founder of CodeLaunch and Patrick McGuire , CRO of ThinkFISH , a capital-raising platform helping early-stage founders land investor meetings without giving up equity too soon.

They break down what actually matters when raising capital, how to avoid the legal traps that tank startups early, and what it takes to earn credibility with real investors.

This is a tactical conversation designed for founders building now.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Fundable Founder Formula: Patrick shares the exact criteria ThinkFish uses to determine if a founder is worth funding, and how to become one.

Raising Capital Without Compromising Your Cap Table: Learn how early founders can avoid common legal and ownership pitfalls that haunt many startups.

Outreach That Works: The three layers of investor outreach: executive network, community, and cold—that book meetings weekly for ThinkFish clients.

Investor Psychology 101: Why understanding investor fit and timing can make or break your raise—and how ThinkFish reverse-engineers their strategy.

The Reef Advantage: Explore ThinkFish’s private platform where founders and investors connect directly, plus a massive tech stack savings directory.

Connect with Our Guest:
Patrick McGuire serves as the Chief Revenue Officer at ThinkFISH

Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcguirep

Funding Is Hard. ThinkFISH makes it easier. Learn more on their Website: https://thinkfish.co

Access the REEF Community: https://reef.thinkfish.co

Startup Deal Desk Newsletter: https://startupdealdesk.substack.com


CodeLaunch is the only startup accelerator in the world that provides founders with FREE professional software development to fast-track their digital product—without taking equity.
Learn more about CodeLaunch Accelerator at https://CodeLaunch.com

This year, CodeLaunch is hosting three events across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, leading up to the CodeLaunch World Championship in Dallas TX, where the top startups will compete for $50K in funding.

📅2025 Startup Application Deadlines:
USA: July 6th
Mexico & LATAM : August 17th

Follow CodeLaunch updates across our social media platforms:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/codelaunch-accelerator
https://Instagram.com/CodeLaunch
https://Facebook.com/CodeLaunch
https://Twitter.com/CodeLaunch

How do meaningful startup events really come together—and what can founders learn from the process?

In this episode of We Code, You Launch: The Startup Community Podcast From CodeLaunch & Improving , host Jason W. Taylor sits down with two key collaborators behind Startup Mania, a high-energy pitch event that debuted during Miami Tech Week 2025.

Guests Rajiv Nathan, aka Startup Hype Man, and Guillermo Vizcaino aka "G", Global Community Director at Startup Grind, share how the idea for Startup Mania emerged from a casual email and evolved into a unique collaboration across communities, creatives, and tech ecosystems.

They break down how intentional storytelling, community building, and trusting your gut can turn a bold idea into something founders can rally around. Whether you’re launching a product, growing a community, or planning your next community event, this episode is packed with real lessons on what it takes to build something impactful.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Turning Founder Emotions Into Creative Expression: Rajiv shares how years of working with startups, led to the creation of Go to Market, the first-ever hip hop album inspired by startup life. He opens up about founder burnout, emotional cycles, and why music became his outlet to tell the stories many in tech are afraid to say out loud.

The Story Behind Startup Mania: From Idea to Execution: You’ll hear the real backstory of how Startup Mania started as a wild pitch in an email thread between Rajiv, G, and a contact at HubSpot for Startups—and how it evolved into a high-energy, bracket-style pitch tournament held during Miami Tech Week, backed by CodeLaunch and Startup Grind.

The Power of Collaboration in Startup Culture: JWT, G, and Rajiv reflect on how Startup Mania came together through fast trust and shared purpose—not red tape. This conversation is a reminder that when creators, founders, and ecosystem leaders align on values, bold ideas can come to life quickly—and make a lasting impact.

Building Startup Communities Where They Don’t Exist: G shares how he launched the Startup Grind Guayaquil chapter remotely from the U.S. to serve founders in Ecuador, where no ecosystem existed at the time. His grassroots approach helped grow a 23K-member community—proof that founders can build ecosystem infrastructure by leading with service.

How to Pitch When Your Revenue Is “Too Early”: Rajiv introduces the Revenue Engine Technique, a strategy he developed to help early-stage founders talk about traction when their MRR is still low. Learn how repositioning your progress can change investor perception—without inflating your numbers.

From Solo Hustle to Scalable Teams: G reflects on his journey as a startup founder, explaining how bringing in the right co-founders was the key to sustainable growth—and eventually, a successful exit. His take on founder partnerships and long-haul thinking offers practical advice for any startup leader navigating scale.

Connect with Our Guests:

• RajNation on LinkedIn – @startuphypeman
  🎧Check his Startup-Inspired Hip Hop Album — GOAT to Market
• Connect with Guillermo Vizcaino on LinkedIn – @StartupGrind

Watch this video episode on YouTube