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.
Crowdstake.com
The name on every invite. Crowdstake backs the whole season. Say thanks; they’re usually in the room.
crowdstake.com
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.