about
hi, i'm nathanael
or better known as riqle
philosophy
formation
my chatgpt wanted me to write this here:
i think a lot about formation. how people are shaped over time by the habits they keep, the language they use, the discipline they build, and the systems they inhabit. not as some abstract concept, but as a lived reality. the things you do every day are quietly forming you into someone, whether you're paying attention or not.
i learned early on to care about clarity. unclear language, unclear ownership, and unclear intent create more problems than technical difficulty ever does. this applies to people just as much as it applies to software. i've seen teams fall apart not because the code was broken, but because no one could agree on what done actually meant. clarity is kindness. ambiguity is violence.
but i'm genuinely just a simple guy
- • i like playing music, hmu if you forming a band
- • i like to draw
- • i like to yap about the political state of the world
- • i like acai
p.s. if anyone can beat me in geoguessr or gamepigeon word hunt i will give them $20
nathanael
sydney
dropped out of compsci. started a business. gambled on myself.
things i believe
systems > motivation
clarity is based
ai is good
ownership > titles
claude > chatgpt
the path here
co-founded markpoint with two of my mates. built the whole stack.
interned as ui/ux designer. i make screens look pretty
taught myself product, design, growth.
when i'm not working
i play whatever instruments
i can yap about theology
i used to run now im unfit asl
i swim now
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.