about

hi, i'm nathanael

or better known as riqle

how it started

it started with acai.

me and my mate finished a gym sesh and i was craving berry boy. so we went, got our bowls, then decided to study at hurstville library.

we ran into his teacher there — who now works at nesa.

she sat down with us and started talking about where hsc exams were heading. eng ext 1 and 2 going online in 2027. and then she said this...

“nesa is not building the software for schools to trial it.”

there is a gap.

the exam is changing. students need to practice on screen. nobody is building the tool.

we started building markpoint later on.

and after numerous pivots, here we are now — markpoint.com.au

outside of work

  • i play music. hmu if you're forming a band
  • i like to draw sometimes
  • i talk about the political state of the world
  • i like acai
  • i swim and lift most weeks

p.s. if anyone can beat me in geoguessr or gamepigeon word hunt i will give you $20.

for employers

what i've built and how i work

this section is factual by design

engineering

full-stack, end-to-end

markpoint – ai-powered edtech platform

founding engineer + brand lead · 2025–present

– led full-stack development: Next.js 14, React, TypeScript (strict), Supabase

– architected PostgreSQL schema with row-level security (RLS) policies and role-based access control

– built RESTful API routes with complete server-side validation and structured error handling

– established CI/CD pipelines and test architecture for a B2C production system used by real HSC students

– implemented responsive component library using Tailwind CSS and Radix UI primitives

– shipped AI feedback systems for student assessment (LLM-integrated)

– owned full product lifecycle: UX, engineering, iteration, and deployment

languages

TypeScript · JavaScript · Python

HTML · CSS · SQL

frameworks & tools

Next.js · React · Node.js · Svelte

Supabase · Prisma · Vercel

Tailwind CSS · Radix UI

infrastructure & practices

PostgreSQL · RLS policies

RESTful APIs · tRPC

CI/CD · automated test coverage

operating model

no separation of design, eng, product

bias toward shipping with real users

optimised for iteration, not demos

also shipped

• riqle.com.au — this site. Next.js 15 App Router, Prisma, tRPC, NextAuth.js v5, Stripe, Vercel Blob, Inngest, Resend, Upstash Redis

• GameMaker Studio games in Year 11-12 (1st in Software Design)

ux / design

calm interfaces under pressure

Breville Group Ltd

UI/UX Design Intern · 2023

– used Sketch to design screen interfaces for consumer appliances (coffee machines and others) from wireframe through final spec

– articulated design rationale and decision-making to stakeholders and product owners

– conducted UI testing cycles with peer review and direct client feedback sessions

– learned how design decisions translate to manufacturing constraints

markpoint product design

– built korean-inspired study aesthetics to reduce friction and increase daily engagement

– designed emotional UI for stressed students — clarity as a feature, not an afterthought

– developed visual identity system and messaging hierarchy from zero

– shaped onboarding flows to reduce cognitive load and early churn

design principles

clarity over novelty

trust over growth-at-all-costs

premium positioning in a crowded market

cybersecurity + systems

applied under real conditions

National Computer Science School (NCSS)

Grok Academy · 2024

– selective-entry 10-day intensive program: computer programming and cybersecurity

– industry workshops with security engineers from Commonwealth Bank of Australia, WiseTech Global, Atlassian, Macquarie Bank, Google, Optiver, and Westpac Bank

– NCSS Intermediate Perfect Score (2022–2024)

– NCSS Advanced Distinction (2022–2023)

brand & growth

zero to market

go-to-market execution — markpoint

– developed brand strategy: visual identity system, tone of voice, and messaging framework targeting senior secondary (HSC) students

– defined ICP, mapped conversion funnel, and ran willing-to-pay experiments

– managed beta user acquisition through organic channels, direct outreach, and school partnerships

– handled early inbound sales, pricing decisions, and packaging iteration based on usage and objections

– experimented with lead magnets, gated resources, and quizzes for top-of-funnel

frameworks actively applied

activation metrics · retention and cohort thinking

churn drivers · value-based pricing

feedback loops between product and acquisition

teaching

technical clarity under exam pressure

private english tutor

self-employed · 2024–present

– years 10–12, HSC English (Advanced, Extension 1 & 2)

– detailed written and verbal feedback on assessments

– translating complex ideas for mixed-ability cohorts

working style

• strong preference for small, accountable teams

• comfortable with ambiguity when ownership is clear

• bias toward shipping and iterating with real users

• values clarity, judgment, and work that compounds

• low tolerance for performative process

a conventional resume with full chronology and references is available on request.