The Journey to
Ignition Forward
How our foundational experiences shaped our unique approach to AI navigation
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. He's spent the last 2 years learning AI implementation by doing—building systems we actually use ourselves.
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. Now he applies the same analytical rigor to AI evaluation that he brings to financial decision-making.
Our Present
We guide ambitious leaders from ambition to execution through AI navigation—from inception through inflections and transformations. We've scaled companies to $600M+ and learned AI implementation by doing. Now we help growth-stage leaders navigate AI transformation using proven methods that create competitive advantages, not operational distractions.
Core Philosophy: AI serves business goals, not the other way around.
FOR WHOM
We serve ambitious leaders who need AI competitive advantages, not AI distractions—across growth-stage SaaS companies, VC/PE portfolio companies, private investment firms, and scaling professional services firms.
HOW
Through systematic AI navigation that combines Andrew's $600M+ company scaling experience with Craig's $4.5B+ CFO expertise. We embed our team as strategic partners who understand both business scaling AND AI implementation by doing.
WHY
We believe the cost of AI implementation mistakes far exceeds the investment in systematic AI navigation. You shouldn't have to choose between growing your business and implementing AI transformation.
WHERE
We deliver AI navigation working alongside leadership teams to ensure AI enhances operations without breaking what works—providing the external perspective needed for transformation.
WHEN
We engage at pivotal moments when AI decisions could either accelerate growth or derail proven business models—during scaling challenges, investor pressure for AI strategy, or competitive threats requiring AI advantages.
Who We Serve
Tailored AI navigation for specific growth challenges
Growth-Stage SaaS Companies
We deliver systematic AI navigation that enhances growth without disrupting your Series B timeline—turning investor AI pressure into competitive advantages.
When you need AI competitive advantages without derailing proven business models
VC/PE Portfolio Companies
We provide CFO-informed AI evaluation that drives enterprise value creation—systematic navigation that creates defensible competitive moats and justifiable valuation premiums.
When you need board-ready AI transformation that enhances, not risks, investment returns
Private Investment & Family Offices
We offer AI-enhanced investment analysis and portfolio company optimization that maximizes returns while maintaining your long-term investment philosophy and risk management approach.
When you need AI competitive intelligence without compromising investment discipline
Our AI Navigation: Business-First, Not Technology-First
Our approach to AI isn't about chasing trends—it's about systematic navigation that creates competitive advantages. As entrepreneurs ourselves, we implement AI only when it delivers measurable business value and sustainable competitive positioning.
Business Context Assessment
Identify where AI actually creates value vs. where it's distraction—using proven business frameworks from our company scaling experience.
Strategic Implementation
Build AI capabilities that enhance operations without breaking what works—systematic integration that strengthens core business through each growth inflection.
Competitive Advantage Development
Develop AI-enabled competitive moats based on your business model—proprietary capabilities that competitors can't easily replicate.
Systematic Navigation
Navigate AI transformation using proven methods that create competitive advantages, not operational experiments—because AI serves business goals, not the other way around.
The Future of Business Transformation
Legacy Approaches
Traditional firms resisting AI transformation, relying solely on human expertise without leveraging systematic pattern recognition and business intelligence amplification.
Ignition Forward
Business expertise amplified by AI technology—the systematic combination of proven business judgment with AI-enhanced capabilities for competitive advantage navigation.
AI-First Mistakes
Technology-first companies lacking depth of business experience, providing algorithmic insights without the contextual judgment of seasoned business leaders.