CodeLaunch 2021 – Jason Taylor and Raheel Malik

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the beautiful legacy theater in Alpharetta, Georgia, for code launch Atlanta, 2021. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Now here’s your host.

Stone Payton: [00:00:23] And we are broadcasting live from coatless Atlanta twenty twenty one leader, what a great way to kick this thing off. Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast Jason Taylor and Raheel Malik. How are you?

Jason Taylor: [00:00:38] Excellent. We’re excited to get this thing going in about an hour.

Raheel Malik: [00:00:42] Code launch date code launch day.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:44] So tell us a little bit about the history of Covid launch. What was kind of the catalyst for the idea?

Jason Taylor: [00:00:50] Well, the catalyst for the idea was I was running a software development consultancy in North Texas and. We discovered that in our startup ecosystem, there were a whole bunch of really great startup founders whose progress had kind of come to a halt because of the technology development part is expensive and difficult to do. Right. And we discovered that talented software developers can jump in a startups product and fix problems that add features, add polish and elevate that product timeline and accelerate the startup toward MVP and toward funding.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:31] So then you had that concept. You were like, hey, there’s definitely a need for an ecosystem that’s more symbiotic and everybody’s helping each other that if one person sounds, they have a place to jump off to. And then how did the actual event of code launch? You know, once you know that, how did you say, OK, code launches the solution to this?

Jason Taylor: [00:01:51] Well, we start with like six week curation process, and it’s kind of a part of us deciding who we like and then also part us educating some of the more inexperienced applicants that are in our group. And so we’re trying to sort those out and who is really a startup that we believe in and a team that we believe in. And is their product something that we can rapidly improve because our professionals engaged with them for two full days, 12 hours a day, back to back. So but it’s only so much you can accomplish in 24 hours. And so once we find that those groups, we realized these groups need attention now that we have accelerated their product, we need to bring the VC and Angel community and the whole startup community in to see how much further they are and how much more investable they are. So the event is a showcase and it also brings all the community players together, and it just adds to the connectivity of it.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:51] Now, when you first did it, did you find that after the event there were kind of these luvs connections and this ability to partner and collaborate and maybe kind of grow in ways that you didn’t anticipate when you kind of had it at the idea stage?

Jason Taylor: [00:03:07] Well, this is the ninth event, and it ran annually for eight years consecutive in North Texas before we decided to expand it all around the country and come to Atlanta first. And in the first two or three years, it was an idea that we were trying to get people to believe in and people that come to. And I could honestly answer that question, say I don’t know how much incredible benefit the startups got or the networking was at the first two or three. But we stuck with it. And more and more people kept coming in that were actually important investors saying, this is really cool what you’re doing. How can I help you make this bigger? How can I help you keep doing it? And around you, four or five, six, seven, eight. Many of the startups went on to raise serious funding after this acceleration process. And yeah, so now I would say it’s a very powerful networking event, especially in the startup community. And also a lot of our startups go on to achieve really great things.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:09] So now you’re getting a lot of attention from investors that say, hey, this is kind of a must attend event. This is a place where I have to be because they’re really cultivating, you know, kind of the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Jason Taylor: [00:04:23] Well, the smart ones. So I really do think that it’s going to take time for the the real sophisticated. Business side of venture capital funding and firms and funds to actually realize how powerful Covid launch is, but it’s going to happen eventually and we’re going to take this thing all around the country. My motto that I have is that, you know, venture capitalists and angels are always looking for something called deal flow. And what that means is just opportunities to talk to startups and consider them. And my motto is, tomorrow’s deal flow starts at today’s Covid launch.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:03] There you go. So now we’re here to talk about your kind of journey with Covid launch.

Raheel Malik: [00:05:09] Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. So, Jason, I’ve been friends for quite some time, and I was actually interviewing for a job. And I had the idea to kind of go unconventional with my interview process. And I built a pitch deck on myself as my resume. And I go, I like it, and I go, Jason, it’s something I want to run by it. Like obviously I know Jason Taylor is, but in this role, he’s my friend. I drink cold beers with. Right. He’s not, you know, business associate or anything. I know, Taylor, I need it. I’m going to want to show you something. I’m thinking about doing this job. You. All right. So I show him and he’s captivated, he’s like, you made this. Yeah. You know, Semion, I’m going to copy an awesome high praise. So you think I should do it? And he goes, yeah. Do this in the interview. Now, I didn’t get the job, but Jason then approached me and said, you should host code launch. I said, well, sure, I’ve never done anything like that before, but let’s go. Right. And as part of that process and the responsibility of being the emcee is being on that curation committee. Right. So you hear pitches and people from all different walks of life that are putting that on the line for the shot to be on the stage.

Raheel Malik: [00:06:29] Yeah. And it transformed me. Right. And I and I sat back and I looked and I go. These people are doing it. What’s my excuse? Right. They’re putting all their time, effort, energy, blood, sweat and tears into this thing. And they’re sitting here telling me about it, looking for looking for feedback, looking for, you know, comments, concerns, trying to dig holes. I go, what’s my excuse? And I’m happy to say and very proud to say that my business first and agency was launched out of code launch. Because and being in part of that selection committee, I gave some relatively brutally honest feedback, I guess I should say. And and as I was going up to approach this, this this this venture in this group to apologize, I want to apologize. They said, could we hire you guys? And and that was the beginning. And that’s how it started. And I am proud to say that I am a 100 percent a product of this environment. But but bigger than that, it’s it’s a community. Right. And it’s a community and it’s a group of people that are all in it for the same reason. Yes, of course. We all want to make millions.

Jason Taylor: [00:07:39] We want to be rich. But what really drives it home for me is

Jason Taylor: [00:07:44] We’re not alone. Right. You sit there as an entrepreneur starting out, you think,

Jason Taylor: [00:07:48] Oh, I’m crazy. Nobody believes in what I’m doing. Right. Like, you know, everybody in their mother is telling you why you shouldn’t do this. Right? How bad an idea this is. But you’re not alone,

Jason Taylor: [00:08:01] Because everybody on that stage, everybody that applied to Colman’s, hopefully all

Jason Taylor: [00:08:04] Of your listeners have that idea that they’ve been sitting on. But I mean, if this thing happens, then I’ll do it right or I’m just waiting for this perfect time. But they’ve been sitting on it for seven, eight, nine, 10 years some time and co launch launches here to connect those people with other like minded people so that we can all launch together like we’re all in this together and you are not alone. So that was the longest winded answer possible. But nobody truly believe that. And that’s and that’s why I flew halfway across the country to be part of this. And and thank you to Alpharetta, Atlanta, Georgia. Business RadioX here. Truly, it’s been an amazing experience.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:41] Now, any advice for the entrepreneur that is kind of had this on the back burner? What are some kind of direct pitch?

Jason Taylor: [00:08:49] Do it then.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:50] Let’s get some Petru advice. What are some things that are kind of do’s and don’ts in your mind that’s like, OK, they said this, that’s a red flag or I want to see more of that. This is something that’s a green light for me.

Jason Taylor: [00:09:01] No, that’s a that’s honestly the greatest question. And that is what first an agency does is, is that kind of consulting on the go to market strategy. But what we encounter a lot of times is that the pitch

Jason Taylor: [00:09:16] Is about them and their idea,

Jason Taylor: [00:09:20] As opposed to the problem that they’re solving. And people get really close to it and they just want to show up and tell you all this whiz bang, all these things. What I would say is, what’s the problem you solve and take anybody that’s ever listening on your pitch, anybody that’s ever going to see your slide deck, take them on a journey. Right. Show them what it looks like today. Whatever you’re trying to solve, this is this is transferable across all industries. What does it look like today? And then how is how does your idea dramatically impact that and taking that viewer who could be a potential customer or a client on that same journey with that? Right. You have to make it about the audience as opposed to you.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:04] So now how important in today’s world when it comes to getting investors interested, is having kind of that first customer or a sale of some size, some size? It doesn’t matter, I guess, the size, but just the fact that you sold somebody something. Is that a must have nowadays or can you still get something on a napkin idea?

Raheel Malik: [00:10:23] So I would like to jump in there. I think that for people that have been a part of a successful startup or they have some fancy pedigree from Stanford Computer Science or Harvard MBA, that of the and you know, they’ve been through an entrepreneurship program and those types people might be about. First of all, at the napkin stage, but almost nobody else’s, and there are almost nobody is in that group and a lot of people at Code Lodge certainly are not. And so we teach in lean execution model to try to help people to go get either promises to buy or actual sales. With surprisingly little effort or software development. So they can raise money later after that. Yes, definitely. Once you do have some customers, that increases your chances of being funded so many multiples, that’s not even worth trying to figure out. It’s a lot.

Lee Kantor: [00:11:22] So now let’s talk about code lines, specifically the year that Dana over the that what goes on at a code launch event?

Raheel Malik: [00:11:28] Well, code launch is the finale of a six week curation process. And so what’s here is startups that we’ve invited to just have free tables. So we try to just give free elevation to local startups that want to be a part of this. So there’s eight or ten in the startup expo that are that are not competing. They’re just startups and they’re not even she has to meet people, watch the finalists, see really good pitches, see products that have been developed and see what goes on. She’s about networking and, you know, practice their own pitch. And then you’re also going to see the four finalists who are going to compete on stage, and you’re going to see the crowd vote at the end using one of our sponsors platforms. And then we’re going to reveal who the winner is. And the winner is going to get more services from other companies to support the startup ecosystem.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:20] And that’s and that’s what the prize is, the grand prize at the end.

Raheel Malik: [00:12:24] Well, the funny thing is, all these startups that are finalists, which is for today, they have already received a two day intense try to tack us on from a professional agency like improving or like build technology group or like code authority. And so our motto is, by the time you’re on stage, you’ve already won. Everybody’s already won. Who’s a finalist at Covid launch? They’ve we’ve already accelerated their product far beyond what they ever could have with zero money. Right. So one group will win more free services than the others have already gotten. And a trophy. And the trophy is really cool. You’ll see.

Lee Kantor: [00:13:01] Now, this is just kind of turning the country right now, starting in Atlanta. What are the other markets that you’re going to do, launch code launches?

Raheel Malik: [00:13:12] Well, we’re definitely going to Houston. It’s not announced on the date yet, but it’ll be our next city after our traditional stop in Dallas, Fort Worth in November,

Jason Taylor: [00:13:20] Which is number 10, by the way.

Raheel Malik: [00:13:22] Yeah. So the 10th ever code launch will be November 17th in Dallas, Fort Worth.

Stone Payton: [00:13:26] Oh, right.

Raheel Malik: [00:13:27] Applications are actually open for that right now. So you can a startup can apply for free because we don’t charge startups any money to apply. And we don’t and we don’t take any equity. And that’s what’s really different. Coach the Coach doesn’t take money from the startups or take equity and we build their software for free.

Stone Payton: [00:13:42] Well, and since we’ve been sitting here, I’ve seen you hand out at least a dozen drink tickets. So, I mean, I think everybody wins if they ask. Well, you know, again, to Jason’s point, like on the margins that. You know, I’m a volunteer. You’re right. And I and I’m here because I believe in it. But and the same thing we shared with the finals that are on stage that, you know, come here and realize that it’s a real stage production. Right. We are doing this right. And you’re going to be on stage is that they’ve already won. Right. They’ve already won because we’ve helped them accelerate their product and they’ve already won by being here. Now, it’s about having fun and raising the awareness of the community that that that Jason has started building, that I’m piggybacked and I’m a wholehearted believer in. And it goes back to the simple fact that you’re not alone. Right. And, you know, the days of, in my opinion, humbly, but the days of Gordon Gekko and crushing my enemies and and and stomping on the competition so that I rise to the top. I’ll be honest with you, that’s not the way I want to do business. I’d rather have friends and enemies and people I can lean on because we’re all stakeholders and we all got a skin in the game here.

Jason Taylor: [00:14:49] If I help you get more listeners or entice some of your audience, you’re going to talk better about Covid launch. And everybody will say, man, OK, you got to tell me what is what is an emcee do? What what are your responsibilities? What do you got? Like a handful of jokes are going to be like Billy Crystal, if you ask me. I mean, I guess you’ll have to come to find out. Right. I mean, outside of outside of keeping this thing rolling and keeping the energy and excitement up, you know, it’s it’s it’s just in my mind as an ambassador, right. As as a as a as a true believer, as it were. Right. The what this is and what it entails and how it can help. And, you know, if I can get a platform to do that and talk about the amazing things that I see is like till he fires me or find somebody better, I’m going to run with it. You seemed like the right guy to do it, though. Jason, I think you got the right guy for the job.

Raheel Malik: [00:15:39] Well, the truth is, I always wanted there to be an emcee at the event because I need more people to get on. Bob with it, come to it and see, so I could have done the embassy the first five or six years, but I got semillon every year because I wanted someone new to come. And I’m like, oh, this person is impressive to me. Would you like to be the emcee? Well, I kept finding people that weren’t very good at being the emcee. And then I bumped into Raheel. And the more I hung out with them and the more I kind of saw his passion. I realized he had the right personality and the right affinity with the startup ecosystem and would be a really good one, so, you know, I was like, hey, you want to do it? And no one’s ever no one’s ever charged me money, but also no one’s ever been paid to be the emcee. So it’s a it’s a love of labor passion. And he did such a good job with the last one. We were like, boom, you’re the emcee all year. And next year, let’s go. Nice.

Jason Taylor: [00:16:37] Yeah, it’s wild, guys. But it’s we encourage you come to coastline’s coming to a city near you. Right. And and and if you can make it to Dallas and then applications are open worldwide. Right. So, you know, if you wanted to apply to Dallas, I encourage everyone to listening to apply with their idea. All you need is a pitch deck and maybe some mockups of wire frames if you don’t have a prototype. That’s OK. You don’t have customers. That’s OK. Let’s see it. Put yourself out there. Put yourself in the universe, because you never know what’s going to happen. You never know who you’re going to meet. You never know who’s going to see that deck. Hey, maybe there wasn’t for us, but we know somebody, right? We know somebody you should talk to. And that’s what it’s about. I mean, I’ve seen this man turn down Calonge launch applicants for a million different reasons. And then five minutes later, send a follow up email through a contact or somebody who’s a hitter and be like, hey, they weren’t for me. But you need to meet these people.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:33] So if somebody wants to apply, you said you can apply right now.

Jason Taylor: [00:17:38] Absolutely. Code launch, Scott Roboshark launched dot com.

Lee Kantor: [00:17:43] And then what do you need more right now? Do you need more entrepreneurs? Do you need more investors? We need more sponsors. What is it that you need to keep Covid launch growing and thriving and helping more folks?

Raheel Malik: [00:17:55] Sponsors, investors and startups.

Jason Taylor: [00:17:58] So, yes. Yes. Yes, exactly. That’s right.

Raheel Malik: [00:18:03] And like you asked a minute ago, what markets are we taking? This TISO co launch is an improving event improving? Is our parent company improving? Has a consultant practice in 10 or 11 North American cities. Atlanta is one of the biggest and Dallas Fort Worth is another big one and Houston is another baby. So what we’re doing is taking it to our markets first. We have a Chicago market.

Jason Taylor: [00:18:30] Yeah, wait for that one. That’s why I’m from Cleveland.

Raheel Malik: [00:18:33] Columbus. Calgary, Canada. Mexico. Austin. Omaha, Twin Cities. And with we’re acquiring new, we’re venture back, resay back, and we have a private equity back and we have an expansion plans based on him. So as we acquire in a new market, we will roll code launch in there to like establish what we’re about. And also try to help that startup ecosystem in that community.

Lee Kantor: [00:19:03] While we’re excited to participate, we have studios and a lot of those places that you’re going to be in. So we have to follow the story and keep telling your story.

Raheel Malik: [00:19:14] Well, thanks. We hope that it’s a very successful rollout. And if you’re listening right now, if you’re listening right now, you can still get out here to the legacy theater at Fay’s event center in Alpharetta.

Jason Taylor: [00:19:25] That’s right.

Raheel Malik: [00:19:27] As you walk in, someone will say, hey, do you have a ticket? And you just scan in with promo code JWT, dash VIP. My name is Jason W. Taylor. You’re my VIP guest. It will cost you nothing. And you’ll get to see what code launch is all about. So don’t start till five forty five

Jason Taylor: [00:19:44] That time in the car. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you both for for what you’re doing. Thank you for making the time to visit with us. We’re going to continue to follow this story, of course, this evening. But as this thing unfolds across the country, you guys are doing. As my father would say, the Lord’s work. We should be so lucky. Thank you, John. All right. We will be back in a few from launch Atlanta 2021.

Raheel Malik: [00:20:08] Thank you.