Founders & Fireworks: A Braintrust with Point Nine

Thinking about turning your research into a company or already taking the first steps?

On 5 November, Founders at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and Point Nine are teaming up for the first Founder Braintrust of the academic year.

Apply to join up to 50 aspiring and early-stage founders for a short fireside chat, followed by our Founder Braintrust discussions. Inspired by Pixar’s Braintrust, the idea is simple: bring your work in progress, help others move forward and decide for yourself which advice to take. There’ll also be food, time to set goals and a trip outside together to watch the fireworks.

Earlier in the day, a small number of applicants will be invited to 1:1 office hours with Louis Coppey, Investor at Point Nine with a focus on helping researchers build companies. This is a chance to share your work and get an investor’s perspective on your next steps.

The fireside chatFerenc Huszár, co-founder of Reasonable and Cambridge alumnus, will join Louis for a fireside chat covering his move from academia to building a company. Expect to hear what that transition looked like in practice, what surprised him and what he wishes he’d known at the start.

Who is this for?People actively building early-stage startups or testing startup ideas, particularly researchers, scientists and engineers considering the move from academia to founding. All experience levels welcome. Come ready to both give and receive feedback from your peers.

Backstory: why the Founder Braintrust?Pixar’s Braintrust brought directors together to share unfinished films and get candid feedback. The assumption was that all films suck at first, and it was their job to fix them together.

Founder Braintrust brings that culture to scientists and engineers who think they might’ve landed on the next big thing. We believe solutions will come sooner if ambitious people share unfinished work, challenge each other and build faster. Read our first Founder Braintrust notes here.

What should you expect?Meet aspiring and early-stage founders across concept, prototype, and early customer discovery stages.

17:00-17:40 - Informal networking

17:40-18:20 - Welcome and fireside chat

Ferenc Huszár (Founder, Reasonable)

Louis Coppey (Investor, Point Nine)

18:20-19:00 - Sector breakout tables covering:

What you're working on

Your biggest blockers

Where you'd like feedback

19:00-19:30 - Firework display

19:30-20:50 - Food, goal setting & open mic

20:50-21:00 - Closing remarks

Delivered in partnership: Founders at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and Point Nine

Hosted by: Jesus College, Cambridge

Places are limited. We review applications on a rolling basis. Entry is by acceptance only; you’ll need an approved Luma registration to attend.