Shows
Proof of ConceptEp. 40 How to Actually Reach your GoalsOn Episode 40 of Proof of Concept, we sat down and recorded our thoughts about why we have a podcast. We spent most of our time talking about where our motivation for the podcast comes from and why do it. We also reflected a little bit on ourselves and why we continue with Proof of Concept. We also spent some time talking a little bit about things that keep us moving forward.Tune in and enjoy :)2024-09-1526 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 40 Our 3 Biggest Takeaways from Summer 2024On Episode 40 of Proof of Concept, we sat down and recorded a recap of our summers and shared a couple quick personal highlights about what we were doing. We spent most of our time talking about each of our 3 main takeaways from the summer and how we learned those takeaways from our experiences. From life lessons to personal growth we reflected on what worked for us, what didn’t, and the impact these experiences had. Wrapping up, we dove into our goals and aspirations for next summer, discussing what we want to achieve and why we think it's important fo...2024-09-0437 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 39 From Reselling Birds in Ghana to Making Millions by 23 (w/ Sharif Caesar)On Episode 39 of Proof of Concept, we had Sharif Caesar. A current 23-year-old Sharif was raised in Ghana and came over to the States with his dad when he was a child. After being bullied for not wearing name brand (when he came over he didn't even know what a name brand was), he decided to make money a priority. After years of scaling his brand, @realmelaninking, to over 5.4 million followers, he's been able to generate 6 figures a month. This has allowed him to retire his girl and build a 13-bedroom house for his family in Ghana. I know...2024-08-231h 32
Proof of ConceptEp. 38 How Noticing a Netflix Lip-Sync Problem Led to Thousands in Revenue (w/ Shrikar Lekkala)On episode 38 of Proof of Concept, we had Shrikar Lekkala, an incoming junior at UIUC and Co-Founder of Metafrazo, which provides an AI Dubbing and Translation solution for educators.Since their founding, they’ve secured 5,000 MRR and have worked with content creators like Mr. Beast and Mr. NightmareIf you want to hear How Metafrazo has allowed him to take a gap semester, how it all started when he was watching an episode of Netflix’s Moneyheist, Why freestyling is important and Shrik’s past rap career, the impact being around other founders has had on him...2024-07-2352 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 37 Behind the Scenes of Growing Chicago's Largest Highschool-Sports Page (w/ Derrick "Sloche" Echols)On this week of Proof of Concept we had Derrick Echols, founder of Sloche. Beginning with just his camera and him at a highschool basketball game, Sloche has since scaled to a 136K follower community. "Community" is used intentionally; Derrick has not only scaled followers, but true relationships as well, making him beloved and an icon in the highschool basketball community. If you want to hear how he did it all, how "YouTube University" played a pivotal role, how hard it was to leave his NBA dreams behind and turn to media, how at times he almost thought about...2024-05-071h 17
Proof of ConceptEp. 36 How a Former UIUC Student Signed 34,000 Artists and Raised 390K in Funding (w/ Avi Patel)This week on Proof Of Concept, we welcomed back Avi Patel, founder of Nitrility. The solution artists and creators have been waiting for. We talked about his recent experiences with VCs, how he’s been able to raise hundreds of thousands in funding, signed over 34,000 artists, and even how he met one the staples of his childhood, Vikkstar, on a recent trip to Europe. Since dropping out, Avi has stacked experiences on experiences, and in doing so has powerful insight about the venture capital space, entrepreneurship, and how important building a brand can be. I know you all will en...2024-04-281h 05
Proof of ConceptEp. 35 Creating AI Generated Podcasts as a UMICH CS Student (w/ Miles Low)Hello everybody on this episode 35 of Proof of Concept we had Miles Low.Miles, a junior at the University of Michigan, explained to us what exactly is an LLM, how to build an AI that sounds just like Thomas Jefferson, why computer science can be an inside-the-box career but also an outside-the-box career, how finding the University of Michigan entrepreneurship community opened his eyes to what is possible, and much more This episode is our final release from our recent trip to Michigan and we wanted to say it was an amazing experience. Big Thank...2024-04-2125 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 34 How to Actually Get The Job You Want (w/ Roshen Karavattuveetil)To Subscribe To Roshen's Newsletter: https://thepartner-newsletter.beehiiv.com/p/partner-newsletter?utm_source=thepartner-newsletter.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-partner-newsletterTo Reach Out Directly To Roshen: rkaravat2@gmail.comThis week on Proof of Concept, we welcomed Roshen, a UIUC alumni and now venture capitalist. We began by exploring his diverse college experiences; Internships in Venture Capital, Private Equity and the NBA , and how they all lead him to his current positon, working for the Chicago Cubs VC fund, Marquee Ventures. We also discussed why Roshen looks for “empathy, resilience, and execution” when talk...2024-04-1253 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 33 Why You Aren't Growing on Social Media (LIVE TALK) w/ Casper CapitalHello everyone, this audio is from a recent presentation given by Casper Capital. He has scaled this brand to over 3 Milliion Followers and has been in the content creation game since he was 12. Here, he lays out the tactics and strategies you can use to accomplish that same feat.2024-04-081h 06
Proof of ConceptEp. 32 Why College Is the Best Time to Start a Business (w/ Jake Sadow)This week we had Jake Sadow. Jake is a Senior at the University of Michigan and Founder of Current2. Current2 is an innovative platform aimed at making it easy for anyone to stay informed on current events. They provide a free text message service to users enabling easy access to concise audio recaps of general, business, politics, sports, and pop culture news. If you want to hear about how it began as an idea he brought up to his buddies, how Jake has scaled his team to 20+ students from Michigan to Vanderbilt to UNC, in Jake's opinion, you need...2024-04-0614 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 31 Entrepreneurship Isn't What You Think It Is (w/ Suyash Agrawal)This week on Proof of Concept we had startup co-founder, Disruption lab executive director, and entrepreneur Suyash Agrawal on the show. We started by exploring his journey of how he began his marketing startup as a high school student and where the motive for that came from. We also dove into why he ended up dropping his startup and chose to put most of his time into Disruption lab, a club at UIUC that develops next gen technologies for companies.Suyash highlighted how he strives to see those under him succeed and grow and how through Disruption...2024-02-271h 02
Proof of ConceptEp. 30 How to Reach 3 Million Followers Recording on an iPhone (w/ Casper Capital)This week on Proof of Concept we had social media content creator, lifelong entrepreneur, and previous guest Casper Opala make a return to the show. You might know him better as Casper Capital, but in this episode we talked about his journey to becoming a content creator with over 3M followers.Casper talked with us about how he started off as a day trader when he was 13 and how later he found gold when he discovered his niche of finance tips. We also talked about some quotes that Casper lives by and what they mean to him...2024-02-161h 02
Proof of ConceptEp. 29 College is a Game; Here's How to Win (w/ Luke Clancy) PART 2This week on Proof of Concept we have a continuation of the episode from last week. We continued our conversation to talk about how to channel your competitiveness, the importance of keeping open time on your schedule to think, and how everyone is interesting, you just have to be interested.Luke talked about how he was an externally competitive person in high school and how he soon became internally competitive. He also mentioned how important it is to have time to brainstorm and read new things to become interested in.2024-02-0749 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 28 College is a Game; Here's How to Win (w/ Luke Clancy) PART 1This week on Proof of Concept we had college builder, professional people connector, and certified game player of college Luke Clancy. We talked to Luke about how to make the most out of your time in college and some of the strategies that you can use to actually win at college. Luke mentioned the importance of being a super-connector for people, building an engine for learning, and taking up spontaneous opportunities whenever possible. This is going to be the first of a two-part episode.2024-01-3036 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 27 5 Years of Investing Experience in 1 Hour (w/ Jacob Swiney)This week on Proof of Concept we had seasoned real estate investor, fellow podcast host, UIUC alum, and previous guest Jacob Swiney make a return to the show. Last time Jacob was on, we explored unique ways to break out of the mold.While in college Jacob lived for free and made $60K so in this episode, we're switching gears to discuss earning money outside the usual 9-5 job, the importance of making enough money for yourself, and Jacob's insights on different financial securities.2024-01-231h 16
Proof of ConceptEp. 26 Our 6 Rules to Live By in 2024Hello, everyone! This week on Overdue Austin and I sat down to record an episode with just the two of us. We talked about 3-4 themes or quotes that we live by and how they have influenced us in the past year and shaped our visions for the upcoming year.2024-01-1231 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 25 How to Find True Success as a Young Realtor (w/ Fernando Arreguin)Hello, everyone! This week on 'Overdue,' we were joined by Fernando Arreguin , an up-and-coming realtor from Chicago. We dive into Fernando's journey into real estate, discussing the challenges and successes he's encountered. Fernando also shares how mentorship has been crucial in his professional growth.2024-01-0543 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 24 How Sneaker Reselling Lead to 800K in Revenue (w/ Grayson Adelstein)Hello everyone, on this episode of Proof of Concept we had Grayson Adelstein. Grayson is a freshman at UIUC currently in the Gies college of business. We got to sit down with him and talk about where his entrepreneurial journey really began and some of the things he is currently working on. We talked about how he started small with things like a lemonade stand and soon upscaled to a shoe-selling business that made over $800k in revenue. We also got to hear about his current project called Ripple and how he started a scholarship for students interested in...2023-12-3044 min
Proof of ConceptHow Sneaker Reselling Led to 800K In Revenue (w/ Grayson Adelstein)Hello everyone, on this episode of Overdue we had Grayson Adelstein. Grayson is a freshman at UIUC currently in the Gies college of business. We got to sit down with him and talk about where his entrepreneurial journey really began and some of the things he is currently working on. We talked about how he started small with things like a lemonade stand and soon upscaled to a shoe-selling business that made over $800k in revenue. We also got to hear about his current project called Ripple and how he started a scholarship for students interested in business at...2023-12-2946 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 23 What a Chicago DJ Learned from 17 Years in Venezuela (w/ DJ Mantra) (Español)¡Hola todos! En este segmento de Proof of Concept, entrevistamos a Jose, un DJ profesional de 21 años que ha trabajado en la mayoría de los night clubs populares de Chicago. El nació en Venezuela y se vino a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 17 años para tener la oportunidad de cumplir sus sueños. Disfruta!2023-12-2349 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 22 Solving the Problem of Stolen Crypto (w/ Will Lawson)Hello everyone! On this episode of Proof of Concept, we had Will Lawson. Will is the co-founder of Resolv, a startup helping crypto businesses recover their stolen assets. Hear about how Will himself got thousands stolen in crypto and how Resolv was initially just an idea in his TE250 class, and has since gained support from investors. Outside of Resolv, Will's top priority is being the “best at balance.” With a 4.0 gpa, 315 bench, and a passion-igniting startup, he is definitely living true to this claim. This one was a great time to record, so I hope you all enjoy.2023-12-021h 10
Proof of ConceptSolving the Problem of Stolen Crypto (w/ Will Lawson)Hello everyone! On this episode of Overdue, we had Will Lawson. Will is the co-founder of Resolv, a startup helping crypto businesses recover their stolen assets. Hear about how Will himself got thousands stolen in crypto and how Resolv was initially just an idea in his TE250 class, and has since gained support from investors. Outside of Resolv, Will's top priority is being the “best at balance.” With a 4.0 gpa, 315 bench, and a passion-igniting startup, he is definitely living true to this claim. This one was a great time to record, so I hope you all enjoy.2023-12-021h 10
Proof of ConceptEp. 21 Scaling a Landscaping Business to 250k/Year (w/ Aidan Murphy)Hello everyone, on this episode of Proof of Concept we sat down for a conversation with Aidan Murphy. Aidan got his entrepreneurial kick in his sophomore year of highschool, where he did the classic door-to-door lawn mowing business. After making 30,000 his senior year of highschool, he partnered in founding Moe Mow’s Landscaping, essentially an uber for lawn care. This year they are estimated to do right around a quarter million in revenue, but it was a slow grind to get to this point. We also explored how Aidan became the man he is today, how through this grind he...2023-11-221h 17
Proof of ConceptEp. 20 What 6 Months of Post-College Life Teaches You (w/ Rohan Hirani)On this week of Proof of Concept, Rohan Hirani returned to the podcast. We discussed his recent ventures, Skybolt and Beam, as well as his travels throughout Europe. All of this excess time has allowed for much reflection on his college experience.2023-10-271h 31
Proof of ConceptEp. 19 Pitching Whole Foods as a 19 Year Old Founder (w/ Austin Majors)Austin explains how he founded BrothersNuts in 2017 with his brother, struggles they've encountered along the way and experiences throughout; Whether that be talks with Shark Tank's producer, pitching whole foods, or flying to LA for the artist he is currently managing, Austin is an all-around founder and more importantly, person.2023-10-191h 16
Proof of ConceptEp. 18 Why You Should Step Outside Your Cultural Comfort ZoneOn this episode of Proof of Concept, Isar and myself sat down for a conversation reflecting on my past weekend. Last Saturday I attended a Latin-hip hop concert by Eladio Carrión with my close friend Jose. We talked about I stumbled into Spanish and Latin culture, how I met Jose, and our thoughts on getting out of our comfort zones. We closed identifying that Jose is for his future kids what our grandfathers were to us. Thank you and I hope you all enjoy.2023-10-1232 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 17 Why You Should Give Back in Your 20s (w/ M'laah Singh)On this week of Proof of Concept we had M'laah Singh. M'laah is a junior prelaw student at UIUC who grew up with some crazy experiences. From growing up in Hollywood as an actress in the Avengers to starting a nonprofit to help those in need across 7 states. During our talk with Mlaah we also spent some time expressing the importance of the people that surround us and how that has impacted us.2023-10-0458 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 16 How to Bring Energy Into Every Room (w/ Chik Egbuna)Hello everyone, during this week of Proof of Concept we had Chik Egbuna. A sophomore at UIUC, he has grown his fitness account “kvngchikfitness” to 26 thousand followers. He is a personal trainer at the ARC and a truly radiant personality. We talked about what it means to bring energy to a room, as well as breaking through our shells of shyness. It’s always a great time sitting down for a conversation with Chik. Enjoy2023-09-2345 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 15 Talk to People for Who They Are, Not the Roles They PlayOn this episode of Proof of Concept, we recorded an episode with just the two of us. Our motivation for this episode came from an event the two of us had come from right before and we had some thoughts on our mind we wanted to share. We talked about the importance of talking to people for who they are and not for the roles they play, while also touching on some of the ways we interact with people. We hope you enjoy it!2023-09-2137 min
Proof of ConceptTalk to People for Who They Are, Not the Roles They PlayOn this episode of Overdue, we recorded an episode with just the two of us. Our motivation for this episode came from an event the two of us had come from right before and we had some thoughts on our mind we wanted to share. We talked about the importance of talking to people for who they are and not for the roles they play, while also touching on some of the ways we interact with people. We hope you enjoy it!2023-09-2037 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 14 Why Every Entrepreneur Needs an Ego (w/ Avi Patel)On this episode of Proof of Concept, we had Avi Patel. He is the founder of Nitrility, “the world’s first intellectual property marketplace.” Nitrility has just reached a 10 million dollar valuation, and just a year ago, he was a sophomore studying Computer Science at the University of Illinois. We talked how the vision for Nitrility was crystallized, but more importantly Avi’s unique perspectives on business and outlook on life. In order to be different, you must think differently, and this has most definitely propelled not only Nitrility’s success, but his as well. Enjoy the conversation.2023-09-1553 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 13 How to Actually Find Balance in College (w/ Nikunj Tyagi)On this episode of Proof of Concept, we sat down for a conversation with Nikunj Tyagi. Nikunj has recently launched an app, called "What's the Move?" On top of this, he also balances a job at an AI Startup, a business frat, as well as the CS Major Curriculum. On top of all this, he is also incredibly relatable and personable. All of this is on full display in this episode of Overdue.2023-09-101h 12
Proof of ConceptHow to actually find balance in college (w/ Nikunj Tyagi)On this episode of Overdue, we sat down for a conversation with Nikunj Tyagi. Nikunj has recently launched an app, called "What's the Move?" On top of this, he also balances a job at an AI Startup, a business frat, as well as the CS Major Curriculum. On top of all this, he is also incredibly relatable and personable. All of this is on full display in this episode of Overdue2023-09-101h 12
Proof of ConceptEp. 12 Isar's Internship Bootcamp and Podcast Plans for Year 2Welcome to Season 2 of Proof of Concept! In the first episode of Overdue for Season 2, we discussed our summers and how they have impacted us and set us up for the future. Tune in to hear about how Isar went to a competitive internship bootcamp and got an internship from it. Also, listen to us as we talk about our personal and podcast goals for this semester. We hope you enjoy it!2023-08-2438 min
Proof of ConceptThe Importance of StoriesOn this episode, it's just us (Austin and Isar). We talked about the importance of having stories about everything you do, and as we dove deeper into this topic, we talked about the importance of doing and not telling. We also talked a bit about how we are all numbers in society and how you take that realization. We had a great time continuing to reflect on our freshman years. This is a continuation of the last episode.2023-07-1237 min
Proof of ConceptReflecting on Our Freshman YearTune into this week's episode to hear something a little bit different. In this episode, Austin and Isar take the mics on their own and connect the dots of their freshman year they just finished. They talk about how they have changed, grown, and learned valuable life lessons in their first year of college. Give it a listen at work, in the car, or anywhere else.2023-06-2143 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 11 Making the Most of Every College Opportunity (w/ Eileen Drew)On this episode of Proof of Concept, we had UIUC graduate Eileen Drew. We talked about how Eileen's experience in college and some of the lessons she learned. She spoke about how she is a massive advocate for studying abroad, some of her experiences in student groups, and why taking advantage of every opportunity in college is important. Tune in for a great episode.2023-06-1334 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 10 Becoming a Relatable Leader (w/ Rudra Patel)On this episode of Proof of Concept, we had recent UIUC graduate Rudra Patel. Rudra is now working as a consultant at Bain and Company. We talked with Rudra about finding role models in high school, what his business fraternity gave to him, and how to become someone people genuinely look up to. Tune in to this episode to listen to Rudra's stories.2023-06-0541 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 9 Finding Ways to Break Your Frame (w/ Jacob Swiney)Tune into this episode of Proof of Concept to hear UIUC senior Jacob Swiney connect his dots. At UIUC, Jacob studied finance, and while finance majors tend to be associated with drab stereotypes, Jacob has endless stories. He constantly reiterates, “Whatever you do, don’t be a bot,” and discusses the importance of taking on opportunities. We also talked about how meeting a man named Delor in Africa, spending entire days renovating houses, and enlisting in the National Guard all formed who he is today and gave him a great college experience. We hope you enjoy it!2023-05-2053 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 8 From Startups to Nonprofits, A Busy 4 Years (w/ Rohan Hirani)Tune in to this episode to hear UIUC senior Rohan Hirani connect the dots of his college career. Rohan is a Finance major who will be working as a consultant at Bain next year and has had a busy college career. Listen to how Rohan started a non-profit after staying in India for a couple of weeks, created an art business with his sister, and even co-founded an app.2023-05-1052 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 7 Take Advantage of Every Opportunity (w/ Evan Waller)In the first episode of our Connecting the Dots series, we had Evan Waller. Evan is a senior at UIUC who is a Finance major and will be working at KPMG. Our Connecting the Dots series is a set of episodes dedicated to seniors at UIUC who can look back on their college careers, talk about all they have done, and inspire younger listeners. Some key things Evan talked about included saying "hi" to everyone, taking on every opportunity, and his startup app, Galleon. Tune in to listen to Evan.2023-05-0341 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 6 Capturing Scenes from NAV to the NFL (w/ Deep Doshi)This week we had Deep Doshi, a senior at UIUC studying Marketing and Supply Chain Management. Deep shares his journey as a freelancer, starting from his early days creating videos to working for NAV and major brands such as the NFL. He also mentions some goals he wants to accomplish in the next few years, such as shooting a music festival and shooting for the NBA. Listen to Deep's story and how he got to shoot for all these people.2023-04-2925 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 5 From 0 to 1.5 Million Followers Sharing Quick Finance Tips (w/ Casper Capital)This week we had Casper Capital. Casper is a freshman at UIUC in the Gies College of Business. He runs a social media page called Casper Capital, where he posts finance TikToks. We talked with Casper about what content creation means and how he grew his profile from 0 to 1.3 million followers. Casper also told us about some of the ups and downs he faced when it came to investing his money and growing it in general. Finally, we also got to talk to Casper about his priorities in college.2023-04-2636 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 4 An 18, 19, and 24 year-old's Persepctive on Finding Meaning in College (w/ Jake Weisz)On this week's episode of Proof of Concept, we had Jake Weisz. Jake is a senior at UIUC studying Psychology and Sociology with a Behavioral Neuroscience concentration. We talked about how we view life and the lessons that college has taught us. Isar and Austin, who are 18 and 19, give their perspectives as freshmen who have just recently joined the Champaign-Urbana community. Jake, who is 24, shares his insight as a senior and talks about how taking a year off from school to work full-time impacted him.2023-04-0934 min
Proof of ConceptGetting Started with Content Creation and the Gym (w/ Chikelu Egbuna) On this week's episode of Overdue, we had Chik Egbuna, a sophomore at UIUC studying Kinesiology. We talked about how we each started in the gym; Isar to lose weight, Austin to gain weight and build muscle, and Chik to get rid of his "lean gut." We also discussed getting started with content creation. We discussed the importance of laying a foundation for yourself and how Chik's strong foundation helped him grow his gym fitness page from 100 to over 16,000 followers despite a slow start.2023-04-0419 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 3 Neel Khare: College Experience and Quality of LifeOn this episode of Overdue, we had Neel Khare. Neel is a Computer Science + Economics major involved on the UIUC campus. We talked about his experience at UIUC and how he got more involved outside of class. Additionally, we talk about the quality of life and the sciences behind a proper lifestyle.2023-03-2649 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 2 Rishi "Reesh" Atreya: Genesis, Production, and GrowthOn the second episode of Overdue, we had UIUC rapper Reesh with us. Reesh discussed where his interest in music stemmed from and what it takes to produce songs and music videos. Reesh also talked about the personal benefits of making music and the growth he wants to see as a rapper and a Bioengineer.2023-03-1232 min
Proof of ConceptEp. 1 Atharv Vasisht: Backgrounds, Start-Ups, and Why?In this introductory episode, we have Defined Trajectory co-founders Atharv Vasisht and Austin Kennedy. We talk about our backgrounds, our motives, and future goals.2023-03-0327 min