Our Climb Tour lands in Birmingham on 18 March, bringing together a room built for relevance and real insight. On that stage we welcome Jim Shirley, the CFO‑turned‑founder behind FundingHero, an individual who has guided founders through every stage of the journey and knows exactly where fundraising momentum is won or lost. Jim joins us with a clear mission to reshape how early‑stage teams approach raising capital, giving founders the clarity, structure and confidence they need to grow with intent.
Most founders don’t fail because their idea is weak. They fail because the fundraising playbook is opaque, confusing and full of traps. They chase the wrong capital at the wrong time. They spend months telling a product story when investors want an investment story. They lose momentum, waste time and dilute more than they ever intended. Fundraising becomes draining instead of strategic. FundingHero aims to fix that.
Jim has built the Midlands leading CPD-accredited fundraising accelerator, designed to help founders move with speed, intent and clarity. It combines structured e-learning with a dedicated in-person accelerator, giving founders the tools and literacy needed not just for the next round but for the journey to exit. It teaches how capital really fits into valuation, growth and long-term outcomes. The result is founders who fundraise with credibility, direction and leverage.
This matters for Climb26 attendees because most teams are scaling product, hiring talent and racing for traction. Very few are preparing properly for the funding journey that will ultimately determine how fast they grow and how much of their company they keep. To mark Jim’s appearance on the Birmingham Tour stop, we are giving those who purchase a ticket for our main event on 1st & 2nd July, a curated promotion designed to level up their investment readiness. Everyone attending receives one month of free access to FundingHero’s flagship curriculum, The 6 Pillars of Fundraising, usually valued at £120.
This is not surface-level advice. It is a focused, practical system that helps founders audit their current readiness, refine their pitch narrative, strengthen their financial story, understand valuation mechanics and prepare properly before speaking to investors. Instead of guessing their way through a raise, Climb26 attendees can use their free month to build confidence, clarity and a sharper capital strategy.
Using the promotion is simple. Purchase a Climb26 ticket for July, look out for the dedicated FundingHero access link in the follow-up email, register at app.fundinghero.co.uk/registration and enter the promo code once received, when prompted. From there, you will get 30 days of full access to The 6 Pillars of Fundraising, including tools, examples and an AI assistant that supports you to get investor ready.
If you missed out on our previous Climb Tour dates, there is still time to register for Birmingham and our other locations. Spaces are limited. Get your tickets here.