When we asked Ray Walia for this interview, he said, “Sure—let my AI clone take the first crack.” Twenty minutes later ChatGPT-Ray sent back polished answers (with footnotes!). Real-Ray kept most of them, rewrote a couple, and scrapped one that “didn’t sound like me.” That tiny story captures Launch Academy perfectly: part human grit, part tech experimentation, and 100 percent community-first.

Below, you’ll see each question followed by back-to-back answers from Sam Chan (VP & Maple Program Director) and Ray Walia (CEO & Co-founder). Same prompts, two different lenses—both rooted in immigrant hustle.

1. What inspired you to start (or join) this venture?

Sam: “I didn’t found Launch, but I joined because immigrant founders needed a softer landing in Canada. Building the Maple program—helping entrepreneurs live here and keep their startups alive—felt like the most meaningful way to honor my parents’ sacrifices.”

Ray: “In 2012 Vancouver lacked a real hub for entrepreneurs. Launch Academy was my answer—a place where early-stage founders could connect, collaborate, and punch above our city’s weight.”

2. How has your heritage shaped you as a leader?

Sam: “My Chinese name means wisdom and honesty. My parents picked it as a compass: whatever you build, do it with acumen and integrity. Those two words shadow every decision I make.”

Ray: “I grew up in a South-Asian immigrant household that valued hard work and seva—selfless service. Success isn’t personal unless it lifts others. That principle guides every program we run.”

3. Have you faced—or broken through—any barriers?

Sam: “I started kindergarten speaking more Cantonese than English, so my teacher labeled me ‘slow.’ Turns out I just needed time to adjust. Today I write long-form strategy posts for founders and grin whenever I hit publish. Your biggest weakness can morph into your super-power.”

Ray: “Honestly, I’m one of the lucky ones. Vancouver tech is wonderfully multicultural, and I’ve always had supportive teams and friends. I’ve seen bias derail others; my job is to make sure our community keeps building each other up.”

4. What advice would you give to Asian-identifying founders?

Sam: “Humility is a virtue, but don’t confuse it with downplaying your wins. Real humility means giving everyone proper credit—including yourself.”

Ray: “Own your story—heritage is a feature, not a bug. Surround yourself with mentors who believe in that version of you, then take scary risks. You’re building a legacy, not just a cap table.”

5. Is there a cultural value woven into Launch Academy?

Sam: “Immigrant sacrifice is baked into everything we do. Maple has already welcomed founders from 40 + countries who’ve built 100 + Canadian startups.”

Ray: “Two core values: first, seva—give back without expecting anything in return. Second, the not-so-secret mantra ‘Get Sh!t Done.’ Ideas are cheap; execution is culture.”

Why Their Story Matters

• Two immigrant-rooted leaders turned a tiny Gastown loft into a launchpad that’s graduated 6,500 + founders and helped raise $2.5 B in funding.
  
  
• Their Maple program is quietly rewiring Canada’s talent pipeline, one newcomer founder at a time.
  
  
• They prove that humility can coexist with bold ambition—and that an AI clone can draft your first interview pass, provided the human cleans it up.
  
  

Fast Fact: About that AI Clone…

Yes, Ray really does keep a digital version of himself for first-draft interviews. “It frees up brain cycles,” he laughs, “but you still need the human pass for nuance—and for deleting anything that sounds humble-braggy.”

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