Raise Milestones: Momentum Mapping
Every great fundraise starts with a great roadmap. This session helps you design yours - by mapping the milestones that define your company’s journey and the raises that will get you there.
This interactive workshop format includes milestone mapping exercises where you'll work on your specific company roadmap.
We’ll unpack what counts as a true milestone (hint: it’s not just revenue) and how to use momentum as a storytelling tool investors can see and believe in. You’ll learn how to build backwards from your long-term vision - identifying the critical proof points, product goals, and traction moments that make your story investable at every stage.
We’ll explore how to:
Translate your company’s vision into tangible, fundable milestones
Map short- and long-term raises to the achievements that unlock each one
Communicate momentum in a way that makes investors lean in
Align your fundraising strategy with your growth narrative and timing
By the end, you’ll have a milestone-driven roadmap that connects the dots between your company’s vision, your next raise, and the story investors will want to buy into - not just for this round, but for the journey ahead.
About James Thomas
James is a full-time angel investor focused on university spin-outs and science-based start-ups, with over a decade of experience in the start-up sector across a variety of roles. A member of Cambridge Angels and former Investment Manager at Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, he has invested in and supported numerous university spinouts. Alongside investing, he advises and mentors for institutional investors and accelerator programmes.
Committed to diversity, James prioritises backing teams with founders from under-represented backgrounds - the vast majority of his portfolio includes at least one female founder. He also supports related initiatives and serves on the Board of the Cambridge Female Founders Network.