My first reaction is to laugh-Inferthermic is a half-baked theory and a bunch of notes, not a company. Then I realize: this is literally what I need. A forcing function. A way to prove if the idea holds up outside my own head. I snap a picture of the flyer and text it to Jian. Alex: You free to brainstorm tonight? Got something wild to run by you. He replies instantly:
Jian: Yes. Google Meet at 8pm? Alex: Yup. Invite Maddy too if she's around. Could use her bullshit detector. I send Maddy a DM. She still lights up any chat in three words or less. Alex: Hey, you in for a startup pitch thing? Could use your genius. Maddy: Only if you're buying the coffee, Vukovic. And only if you promise not to get us banned from the LaunchPad like last time. I laugh out loud. It's just like old times. That night, we hop on the call. Jian's in a glass-walled WeWork in Mountain View, already scribbling on a whiteboard. Maddy's in her apartment, hoodie up, eating Taco Bell off her calculus textbook. "Alright," I say, "here's the plan. We take Inferthermic out of the theoretical and actually build a prototype. Real code, real users, real results. We pitch it at LaunchPad and see if anyone besides us thinks it isn't total bullshit."
Maddy grins. "So, nothing but our reputations at stake. I'm in."
Jian nods.