Houston Early Startup Circle

Houston Early Startup Circle: Founder Pitch + Feedback Night
Presented by Cyber Alliance Collective
Early Startup Circle is a small, focused meetup for early-stage founders and people interested in startups who want to share what they are building and get practical feedback from peers.

This first session brings together a handful of founders across different industries to present their ideas, hear what is working, what is unclear, and what could be improved, and leave with written feedback they can actually use.

What to Expect
Each founder will have time to walk through what they are building, followed by structured feedback from the group. This is not a pitch competition. It is a working session designed to help founders sharpen their thinking and move forward.

After all presentations, we will wrap up with an open brain exchange where attendees can break into small conversations, compare notes, and continue discussions around ideas that stood out.

Confirmed Speakers
Kojo Bernard, Made Africa
Made Africa connects locally produced African goods to international buyers, supporting cross-border trade and showcasing authentic products from across the continent.

Fragne Delgado, Cirl International
Cirl International is a social networking platform for entrepreneurs to connect with co-founders, mentors, and investors while accessing tools and resources to start and scale businesses.

Joseph Bankole, NextShiftIQ
NextShiftIQ is a data-driven career platform that helps professionals and students understand market demand, emerging roles, and how their skills align with real opportunities.

Ephraim Jackson, Cyber Alliance Collective
Cyber Alliance Collective brings cybersecurity and IT professionals together to share experiences and discuss the ideas shaping the industry, with a strong focus on the human side of security.
Additional speakers will be confirmed.

Format

• 10 minutes per founder to present
• 5 minutes of group verbal feedback
• 3 minutes of written feedback submitted via QR code
• 20-minute open brain exchange at the end

Who Should Attend

• Early-stage founders
• Builders exploring startup ideas
• People interested in learning how startups are shaped through feedback

Style
Casual, collaborative, and focused on helping each other make progress.