Drinks on James.First round’s on him.
- Every other Thursday, around 70 of Austin’s founders, builders and operators.
- Come straight from work — James buys your first drink.
- The room does the rest: startups, AI agents, SMBs, the occasional hot take.
Next rounds.
Drinks on James! — October
Around 70 people, no agenda, no pitching. Come straight from work — James is already there, and so is your first drink.
Drinks on James! — November
Venue and date land on Luma first. Follow the calendar and the invite finds you.
Get the inviteDrinks on James! — December
The holiday round. Bring the person you keep meaning to introduce to everyone.
Get the invite| No. | Property | Value | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Doors | 5:30 PM | Thursdays. James is already there. |
| 02 | Last call | 8:30 PM | Nobody has ever left at 8:30. |
| 03 | First drink | On James | One per guest. The second one is your problem. |
| 04 | Dress code | None | Straight from the office or the trail. |
| 05 | Likely topics | Startups · AI agents · SMBs | Hot takes welcome. Pitch decks are not. |
Values hold for the current season. Venues rotate — the event card says where.
Who’s really buying.
Put your name on the tab.
One night is yours as title sponsor. Then you stay on the board for twelve months as a supporting sponsor. Drinks on James runs every other Thursday — 26 nights a year to choose from.
Your night
Title sponsor · one event- Your logo on the Luma invite, the 1,500+ blast and the 2,000+ newsletter for that night.
- Bring several people from your company — they work the room and talk about what you’re building.
- At 7:30 PM, once everyone’s arrived, James raises a glass and toasts your company.
- Mort Subite takes 20% off the bar for your night.
- Title billing on the event card, here and on Luma.
- A table for swag or a live demo, and seats held for your team.
- Photos from the night and the recap post, with you tagged.
The 12 months after
Supporting sponsor · 12 months- Listed as a supporting sponsor on this site for the next 12 months — linked logo in the sponsors section.
- Named on every event card here for the year — about 26 nights.
- Your night’s photos and recap stay up, tagged and linked.
- First refusal on the same night next year.
The math
- Average drink at Mort Subite
- $13
- Average turnout
- 70 people
- The room’s first round, menu price
- 70 × $13 = $910
- Mort Subite’s sponsor-night discount
- −20% = $728
- Tip for the bartenders, 25% of the full $910
- $227.50
- Total the bar takes home
- $955.50
It’s a bar tab, all of it. Your $1,000 buys the whole room its first round at 20% off and tips the bartenders 25% on the full menu price — the bar takes the money, not us. Under 30¢ per person reached before anyone walks in.
Claim a night
The house rules, such as they are.
Is it really free?
Your first drink is. James pays. After that you’re an adult.
Who shows up?
Founders, engineers, operators, a few investors, and whoever they dragged along. The room changes every month.
Do I need a ticket?
RSVP on Luma so we know how many glasses to count. Walk-ins welcome until the bar says otherwise.
Do I have to pitch?
Please don’t. If someone asks what you’re building, tell them. That’s the whole format.
Where is it?
Austin bars that can take a crowd on a Thursday. Right now that’s Mort Subite. The event card says where.
Can I bring someone?
Yes, and their first drink is on James too. Have them RSVP under their own name though — one RSVP per person is how the bar knows how many glasses to pour.