The Journey to
Ignition Forward
How our foundational experiences shaped our unique approach
In 2010, Craig Gainsboro founded Ignition Consultants after spending 15 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Craig built Ignition with a fundamental belief: growing companies needed more than generic advice—they needed a trusted partner completely aligned with their best interests.
Craig brings over 25 years of financial leadership experience to Ignition Forward. At PricewaterhouseCoopers, he oversaw annual revenues of over $4.5 billion as U.S. CFO for two lines of service.
Meanwhile, Andrew Moss was building Wellesley Strategic Advisors with a complementary philosophy. Having successfully founded and built multiple profitable companies, Andrew developed a deep understanding of how misalignment could become a company’s greatest hidden risk.
Andrew is a forward-thinking entrepreneur who has successfully founded and built multiple profitable companies, including contributing to the growth of CustomInk/Booster to over $600M in annual sales.
Our Present
Ignition Forward delivers financial leadership, business acceleration, and AI enablement services that go beyond traditional consulting to deliver execution-focused results for businesses at critical inflection points—combining Craig Gainsboro's disciplined financial expertise with Andrew Moss's visionary approach to technological innovation.
FOR WHOM
We serve ambitious founders, CEOs, investors, and corporate decision-makers across high-growth companies, investor-backed startups, private investment firms, corporate development teams, and scaling professional services firms.
HOW
Through a unique blend of fractional CFO services, M&A and investment strategy, and AI-powered business transformation, we embed ourselves as strategic partners who execute rather than just advise.
WHY
We believe true business transformation occurs at the intersection of robust financial infrastructure, strategic vision, and technological innovation. Our mission is to help ambitious leaders not just adapt to the future but actively shape it through practical implementation of cutting-edge strategies and technologies.
WHERE
We deliver our services working alongside leadership teams to ensure seamless integration with existing operations while providing the external perspective needed for transformation.
WHEN
We engage with clients at pivotal moments of transformation—during fundraising, M&A transactions, scaling challenges, leadership transitions, or when they're ready to leverage AI to transform their operations and decision-making capabilities.
Who We Serve
Tailored solutions for specific needs
High-Growth Companies
We deliver the financial leadership and AI-powered operational efficiency that transforms your growth trajectory from unpredictable to systematic.
When you need to scale efficiently without compromising financial stability
Investor-Backed Startups
We provide the strategic financial modeling, capital-raising expertise, and operational automation that positions your company for successful fundraising.
When you need to scale efficiently without compromising financial stability
Private Investment & Family Offices
We offer transaction support, investment analysis, and portfolio company optimization that maximizes returns while aligning with your long-term philosophy.
When you need to scale efficiently without compromising financial stability
Our AI Integration: Practical, Not Theoretical
Our approach to AI isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about practical applications that deliver tangible value. As entrepreneurs ourselves, we invest in technology only when it creates clear ROI.
Pattern Recognition
Extract patterns from hundreds of client engagements while maintaining strict confidentiality.
Model Analysis
Analyze financial models and identify potential blind spots faster than traditional methods.
Option Analysis
Generate comprehensive option analyses that consider more variables than humanly possible.
Implementation Planning
Create realistic implementation timelines based on historical data from similar projects.
The Future of Professional Services
Legacy Firms
Traditional firms resisting technological change, relying solely on human expertise without leveraging pattern recognition at scale.
Ignition Forward
Human expertise amplified by technology—the judgment and relationship trust of elite advisors with the pattern recognition and efficiency of AI-enhanced systems.
AI-Native Startups
Technology-first companies lacking depth of experience, providing algorithmic insights without the contextual judgment of seasoned advisors.
When to Engage With Us
We partner with clients at pivotal moments of transformation
Our approach creates the most value for companies that:
Our approach creates the most value for companies that are passionate about working with founders and capital allocators at key moments of inflection or decision-making.