Why I Wrote the Book?

I wrote Dream Design Surf to share what I've learnt — the successes, the scars, and the systems — from building science and tech ventures across the globe. Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a chaotic leap into the unknown. But I believe there's a way to design it — to move from idea to impact with purpose, pace, and lower risk.

This book offers a practical methodology for founders who want to do just that. It introduces a structured, design-led approach to venture creation — drawn from real-world experience, not theory.

• DREAM is about ambition and clarity of vision — the fuel that gets you moving.

• DESIGN covers five core principles to shape your venture into something scalable, fundable, and meaningful.

• SURF is where execution happens — riding the wave with agility, resilience, and discipline.

Each chapter includes practical exercises to help you pressure-test your idea and shape it into a compelling proposition — whether you're seeking investment or building a self-funded path to market.

The deeper purpose behind this work? To accelerate the emergence of world-class, science-based companies — especially from places like the UK, where the research base is extraordinary, but translation often lags. Originally from Chile, I've lived and worked across six countries and believe that science and entrepreneurship are global endeavours. The UK has the talent and the infrastructure — what we need is more confidence, capability, and bold ambition.

That's what I hope this book helps to spark.

Marcelo Bravo