Founders Weekend — Pre-Meeting Agenda
Friday 27 March · Discussion points for Pete & Andy — shaped from both sets of notes
Before getting into the open questions, here's what's confirmed from both sides. This is the foundation we're building on.
The concept: A structured business experience that takes people from idea to clarity to action, with continued support to help them follow through. People come for the business outcome; what makes it land is how they feel while they're there.
- Format: Hotel-based, all-inclusive, residential weekend in the Cotswolds
- Deposit model: Cash positive before confirming venue — deposits collected upfront to cover venue + marketing
- Pricing direction: Early bird £897 / Standard £997
- Post-weekend support: Group follow-up sessions included in the ticket price (not an add-on)
- Revenue model: 50/50 profit split after all costs
- Legal structure: Simple one-page collaboration agreement covering roles, costs, split, and responsibilities
- Scaling vision: Document everything from retreat one onwards so the model can be delivered by other facilitators internationally
Roles
| Who | Focus | What That Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Pete | Business & Execution | Validation, market thinking, offer shaping, go-to-market strategy, logistics, marketing, sales page |
| Andy | Systemic Business Constellations & Clarity | Working directly with each idea/business to surface what isn't visible and bring clarity quickly — a practical tool for decision-making |
Andy's framing (from his pre-read): "Most business environments give information but don't change behaviour. Most retreat environments feel good but don't lead to action. This sits in the middle — clarity plus the capacity to execute." Both sides agree on this positioning.
There are two models on the table. This is the single biggest cost driver — it changes per-person venue costs by roughly £200–£250.
2 Nights (Andy's Model)
- Friday arrival → Sunday ~4pm finish
- Lower venue cost (~£280/person)
- Simpler logistics — easier for attendees to commit
- Tighter programme — less margin for overrun
- Less time for relationship-building between attendees
3 Nights (Previous Model)
- Thursday arrival → Sunday lunchtime finish
- Higher venue cost (~£400–£500/person)
- More content time — room for deeper work
- Thursday evening sets the tone before the work starts
- Stronger group bonds — more informal time together
Profit Impact — Side by Side
Using blended average ticket price of £960. Mid-range venue costs for each format.
| Scenario | Revenue | Costs | Profit | Per Person (50/50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights × 20 people | £19,200 | ~£8,500 | £10,700 | £5,350 each |
| 2 nights × 25 people | £24,000 | ~£10,500 | £13,500 | £6,750 each |
| 3 nights × 20 people | £19,200 | ~£14,800 | £4,400 | £2,200 each |
| 3 nights × 25 people | £24,000 | ~£17,500 | £6,500 | £3,250 each |
Key consideration: The 2-night model roughly doubles the profit per person after the 50/50 split. The question is whether 2 nights gives enough time to deliver the outcomes we're promising — or whether the extra night meaningfully improves the experience and justifies the cost.
For Friday: Can we deliver the Compass Weekend outcomes (clarity, direction, 30-day plan) in 2 nights? Or does the Thursday arrival meaningfully change the quality of the experience?
The working plan has two distinct retreats running in an alternating cycle through the year:
Compass Weekend — First (May / June)
- Entry point — lower barrier
- For people who want to do something but don't know what yet
- Self-discovery, values mapping, idea generation, alignment
- Ends with a 30-day clarity plan
- Launches before school summer holidays
- Builds early testimonials for the Startup Weekend
Startup Weekend — Second (September)
- Progression — higher value, higher ticket price
- For people who have an idea and are ready to build
- Validation, business model, offer shaping, go-to-market
- Ends with a 90-day action plan
- Post-summer holidays — avoids peak hotel pricing
- Mix of fresh recruits + Compass graduates
Andy's pre-read describes one "Founders Weekend" format — the content maps well to the Compass Weekend (clarity, direction, 30-day plan). The question is whether we're formally aligned on running two distinct retreat formats in this cycle, or whether we start with one and evolve.
Andy's Penningham insight: The progression model works — Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 — if attendees can see the "educational pathway, emotional pathway" clearly, they stay on the journey. Compass → Startup → Online Community fits this structure naturally.
For Friday: Are we both aligned on two distinct retreats? The first Compass Weekend is the immediate focus — but it's useful to confirm the Startup Weekend is still the planned September follow-on so we can reference the pipeline in marketing.
Andy's cost model targets 15–30 participants. Both models break even somewhere around 9–12 people, so financial risk is manageable. The question is about quality and logistics.
15–20 Participants
- Easier to give personalised attention
- 2 facilitators is plenty (1:10 ratio)
- More venue options in Cotswolds
- Lower financial exposure if we don't fill all spots
- Can feel small if some don't engage — less room energy
20–25 Participants
- Better margins — fixed costs spread further
- Better room energy, more diverse perspectives
- 2 facilitators still workable (1:12 ratio)
- Needs structured breakout sessions for individual attention
- Fewer venue options — need 25 rooms + conference space
For Friday: What's our cap for the first Compass Weekend? Suggestion: aim for 20, cap at 25. Sell out quickly? Great signal for Startup Weekend in September.
Andy's pre-read introduces two additional people:
| Person | Role | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazmin | Somatic & Nervous System Work | £500–£800 | Positioned as optional — short resets supporting focus, clarity and stress management across the weekend |
| Guest Speaker | Former Senior SVP, Shell | TBC | External perspective on building, scaling and decision-making at senior level. "Added depth, not headline." |
Consideration: Adding people to V1 adds cost and complexity. Jazmin is ~£600 and the guest speaker hasn't been costed. Both could add value — but for the first retreat, do we want to keep it tight (just Pete + Andy) and learn what works, or bring the full team from day one?
For Friday: Include Jazmin and/or the guest speaker for V1? Or hold them for the Startup Weekend in September once we've tested the core format?
Both sides agree follow-up sessions are a key part of the offer — not an add-on. The question is the scope and format. This directly affects margins because facilitator time is the real cost (not the Zoom platform).
Three Options
Costing note: Andy's cost model doesn't include facilitator time for follow-up sessions — only platform fees. At £960 per ticket with 20 people, 6–8 weeks of weekly calls is roughly 6–8 hours of both facilitators' time included free. That's workable, but should be a conscious decision, not an oversight.
For Friday: Which option feels right for V1? And do we split facilitation of the follow-up calls (Pete does some, Andy does some) or both attend every call?
Pete's first child is due around 6 April. End of May means the baby will be ~7–8 weeks old. End of June means ~11–12 weeks.
End of May
- Gets the first retreat done quickly — momentum
- Shoulder season pricing (not peak summer)
- Baby will be 7–8 weeks old — tight but possible
- Less prep time — venue, marketing, bookings all need to happen fast
End of June
- More breathing room after the baby arrives
- Still before school summer holidays (late July)
- Slightly more expensive venues (approaching summer) but still pre-peak
- More time to build marketing pipeline and fill spots
Either date keeps the Compass Weekend before school summer holidays. Startup Weekend in September remains fixed — post-summer, lower hotel demand, enough gap between retreats for follow-up sessions to complete.
For Friday: Which date gives us the best balance of readiness and momentum? The prep work (venue research, sales page, early-bird launch) needs to start immediately either way.
Andy flagged this in his pre-read — important to get clarity from day one. Here's the proposed framework:
Company Structure
- Pete: Operates under existing limited company.
- Andy: To confirm his preferred structure — sole trader, limited company, or subsidiary of existing MHA UK entity.
- This is a collaboration agreement. No equity, no company formation needed. Simple contractual profit-share.
Financial Model
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Revenue | All ticket sales (early bird + standard) |
| Shared costs | Venue, catering, marketing/ads, materials, payment processing fees, insurance, any additional facilitators (e.g. Jazmin), facilitator travel |
| Cost transparency | All costs documented and agreed before committing — no surprises |
| Profit calculation | Revenue minus all shared costs = gross profit |
| Split | 50/50 after costs |
| Payment timing | Split paid out after retreat completes and all costs are settled |
Deposit & Cash Flow
- Attendee deposit: £300 per person at booking — secures their spot
- At 20 deposits: £6,000 upfront — covers venue deposit + initial marketing spend
- Balance: Remaining ticket balance due 2–4 weeks before the retreat
- Principle: We don't confirm venue until we have enough deposits to cover the commitment. No out-of-pocket risk.
One-Page Agreement — What It Should Cover
- Roles and responsibilities (who delivers what)
- Cost responsibilities (what's shared, what's individual)
- Profit split mechanics (50/50 after costs, payment timeline)
- What happens if one person can't attend the retreat (illness, emergency)
- Simple dispute resolution (e.g. mediation before legal)
- Term — per-retreat basis with option to continue
For Friday: Does this framework cover what Andy had in mind? Any items to add or adjust? Andy — have you had a chance to think about your preferred company structure?
Andy's cost model (2-night format) vs the 3-night model from previous planning. Both assume Cotswolds hotel, all-inclusive, mid-range venue.
Per-Person Cost Breakdown
| Cost Item | 2 Nights — Andy's Model (per 20 attendees) | 3 Nights — Previous Model (per 20 attendees) |
|---|---|---|
| Venue & accommodation | £280 | £330–£465 |
| Marketing (split across group) | £50–£75 | £25–£50 |
| Payment processing (~2.5–3%) | £24 | £29 |
| Materials / printing | included in misc | £10–£25 |
| Facilitator travel (split across group) | included in misc | £5–£15 |
| Insurance | included in misc | £5–£10 |
| Misc / contingency | £25–£40 | £0 (itemised above) |
| Jazmin (if included) | £25–£40 | n/a |
| Facilitator rooms (spread across attendees) | not included | £40–£70 |
| Total per person (20 attendees) | ~£425 | ~£530–£740 |
Profit Scenarios — Compass Weekend
Blended ticket price of £960 (mix of £897 early bird and £997 standard).
| Scenario | Attendees | Revenue | Total Costs | Profit | Each (50/50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights — conservative | 15 | £14,400 | £6,800 | £7,600 | £3,800 |
| 2 nights — target | 20 | £19,200 | £8,500 | £10,700 | £5,350 |
| 2 nights — strong | 25 | £24,000 | ~£10,500 | £13,500 | £6,750 |
| 3 nights — target | 20 | £19,200 | £14,800 | £4,400 | £2,200 |
| 3 nights — strong | 25 | £24,000 | ~£17,500 | £6,500 | £3,250 |
Break-even: Both models break even at roughly 9–12 participants. Financial risk is low either way. The difference is in the margin — 2 nights delivers meaningfully better profit per person at the same ticket price.
Decisions to make
- 2 nights or 3? — This drives everything else (cost, content, logistics)
- Two-track confirmation — Compass in May/June, Startup in September. Are we aligned?
- Group size cap — 20? 25? What's the floor for "go" vs "postpone"?
- Jazmin + guest speaker — In for V1 or later?
- Post-weekend support format — 4 group calls, 6, or a mix with optional 1:1 upsell?
- Timing — End of May or end of June for the first Compass Weekend?
- Early-bird pricing — £897 early bird, £997 standard? What's the early-bird deadline?
- Deposit amount — £300 per person? Refundable or non-refundable?
Things to think about before the call
- Content split: What's the balance between constellation / clarity work and business / execution work for the Compass Weekend specifically? 50/50? 40/60?
- Andy's company structure: Sole trader, limited, or MHA entity — what works best for Andy's side?
- Marketing channels: Paid ads only? Or also leverage Andy's MHA email list? What other channels can we activate early?
- Brand naming: "Compass Weekend" and "Startup Weekend" are working titles. Are they the final names, or do we want something that resonates more with the target audience?
- Venue shortlist: Has either side done initial research? What venues are we comparing?
Immediate next steps (assign on the call)
| Action | Owner | By When |
|---|---|---|
| Research & shortlist 3–5 Cotswolds venues with group rates | Pete | TBC |
| Call shortlisted hotels — negotiate group rates, check availability for chosen date | Pete | TBC |
| Finalise cost stack once venue is identified | Both | TBC |
| Draft one-page collaboration agreement | Both | TBC |
| Confirm company structure for Andy's side | Andy | TBC |
| Build sales page / landing page | Pete | TBC |
| Prepare ad budget estimate (<£1,000 for first retreat) | Both | TBC |
| Design the Compass Weekend programme outline (session-by-session) | Both | TBC |
Peter Putros × Andy Dean — Founders Weekend · Pre-Meeting Agenda · 27 March 2026