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Key Themes & Lessons
What Jordi Has Learned He Loves
Three threads run through Jordi's career, sometimes explicitly, sometimes quietly:
Consolidating deep tech — bridging the gap between what universities prove in labs (TRL 1–3) and what industry can commercialise (TRL 3–7+). Not creating science from scratch, but connecting existing innovations and asking: what would it take to turn this into a product?
Sustainable materials — from bio-based polymers at MSP to energy materials during his PhD, PFAS alternatives at Biomer, and now AI-driven sustainable chemistry. The only fully consistent theme across ten years.
Digitising the physical world — self-teaching Python during his PhD turned out to be one of the most consequential decisions of his career. AI/ML has gone from niche to essential.
"AI is going to become the next universal soft skill — how to understand how these tools work and how to interact with them."
Breadth vs. Depth
Jordi's career doesn't fit the mould of deep specialisation. He has moved across polymers, energy materials, machine learning, and biochemistry — and is honest that in some contexts (large corporations hiring for niche roles), this is a disadvantage. In early-stage startups, it's an asset. The key is knowing which context you're in, and playing accordingly.
"I've managed to play this to my advantage rather than let it hinder my career."
Four Ways to Fund Independent Innovation
Venture Capital / Angel Investment — Fast money with relatively low proof requirements at pre-seed — but you are selling part of your company and, effectively, your time. Investors expect rapid growth and your life to revolve around the startup. Jordi's caution: it looks shinier than it is. Talk to people who have raised VC before going down that path.
Grants — Companies of all sizes rely heavily on public funding. Being good at writing grants is an underrated path to research independence — letting you decide what you work on and when.
Bootstrapping — Difficult for deep tech (expensive equipment, long timelines), but increasingly viable for software and some engineering startups — especially as AI tools reduce the team size needed to ship products.
Academic Path — Fellowships, research grants, PI roles. Jordi's personally least-preferred route, but genuinely full of opportunity for those who want it.
Why Entrepreneurship Is Not for Everyone
Jordi was candid: founding a company is not a universally good idea. He listed what makes it work for him — impatience, love of rapid iteration, comfort with chaos, indifference to citation counts — and was equally clear that these traits don't suit everyone. He acknowledged that he himself has become less risk-tolerant over time and may move toward corporate life for stability.
"There's no perfect career path for anyone. It just depends on you and your moment in life."
The Reality of Founding: Hassle Tolerance
One of the most candid sections of the talk. A major reason Jordi chose to become an employee rather than a founder again (for now) is that founding consumed his entire life. He has personal goals beyond work, and watched many founder friends disappear into their startups. He included 'hassle tolerance' as a key skill — but framed it as a warning, not a badge of honour.
The Decision Framework: Should You Start a Company?
Jordi shared a simple but useful flow diagram for anyone thinking about entrepreneurship:
Does entrepreneurship seem like a fit for you? If no — stop here. If yes, continue.
Have you identified a specific problem or opportunity where you have an edge over ~90% of others?
If yes: Build a proof of concept in your free time. Test it with users. Look for traction before quitting your job.
If no, and you lack experience: Join an early-stage startup to learn fast, then re-evaluate.
If you have skills but no clear idea: Join an incubator (like Entrepreneur First) to find co-founders and problem spaces.
If you lack both: Invest in yourself first — through a PhD, a programme, industry experience — then return to the chart.
"Don't quit your job to start from scratch. Test it in your free time first. Then, if you have clarity, go all in."
Key Skills for the Early-Stage World
What Jordi looks for when interviewing for early-stage roles:
Analytical thinking — a given for most MSP graduates
Multitasking — small teams mean wearing many hats simultaneously
Leadership and comfort with uncertainty — making decisions without full information, and not freezing
Resilience and communication
Hassle tolerance — the unglamorous ability to keep going
Networking — his single most important skill (see below)
