Introducing Traction Lab: A New Model for Post-Accelerator Founders
Forget the curriculum. Skip the vanity pitch deck. Let’s talk traction.
On this New Year’s episode of Zero to Traction, Josh David Miller and Cameron Law peel back the curtain on a new venture they’re building: Traction Lab — a venture accelerator designed not to look like your typical accelerator.
It’s not another 10-week curriculum. It’s not about polishing slides for demo day.
It’s about helping serious founders build the engine of a high-growth startup—and raise their next round with real evidence, not just storytelling.
The Problem: The “Seed Stage Support Gap”
JDM and Cameron have seen the same story play out repeatedly:
A founder finishes a high-energy accelerator.
They’ve polished a deck.
They’ve got some traction.
They’re ready to raise their seed (or pre-seed) round.
And then… nothing happens.
Why? Because most programs offer either general curriculum or pitch coaching. But what these founders need is hands-on, milestone-driven, venture-aligned support.
They don’t need more slides. They need evidence.
Who It’s For: Founders Between Curriculum and Capital
Traction Lab is built for a very specific type of founder:
First-time founder
Tech-enabled, scalable startup
Strong founder-market fit
Real traction, but not yet product-market fit
Looking to raise a priced round (pre-seed, seed, or A) in the next 6–18 months
These founders don’t need another “101” on the business model canvas. They need a roadmap that connects where they are now to where they need to be—and accountability, support, and resources to get there.
The Traction Lab Approach: Milestone-Based Progression
Traction Lab breaks from the traditional accelerator model with a flexible, staged roadmap.
Here’s how it works:
1. Box Zero — Alignment & Readiness
Founders enter a lightweight onboarding phase to:
Define a personalized roadmap toward their next round
Identify key evidence gaps
Ensure investment readiness (deal room, corporate structure, basic diligence)
Evaluate fit with the Traction Lab model
2. Boxes 1–3 — Milestone-Gated Support
Progress unlocks increasing levels of support based on demonstrated traction and milestone achievement:
Access to subject matter experts
Operational support (legal, HR, finance)
Non-dilutive capital for experiments
Office/coworking space
Strategic mentorship
All of this is in exchange for a small equity grant, aligning incentives around actual startup success—not vanity metrics.
Why This Matters: Evidence, Not Optics
JDM emphasizes a key distinction: most fundraising frameworks focus on “presentation” rather than “proof.” In contrast, Traction Lab focuses on:
Building evidence to reduce investor risk
Running experiments to test assumptions
Avoiding premature optimization (e.g., pitch deck polishing without traction)
Creating a culture of execution over theorizing
This is “innovation accounting” in practice—backward-mapping from the desired funding outcome to the experiments and proof points required to get there.
The Broader Lesson: Even If You’re Not in Traction Lab…
Whether you join Traction Lab or not, the core principle still applies:
Map your journey with Milestones.
Every founder should be asking:
What’s the next major milestone we need to hit to unlock capital or growth?
What assumptions are we making—and how can we test them?
What resources and activities are required to prove those assumptions true or false?
As JDM puts it: “This isn’t just about climbing the mountain. It’s about finding the river that tells you you’re heading the right way.”
Founder's Toolkit: The 7T Framework for Investor Readiness
As a final takeaway, the episode offers the 7Ts—a heuristic for evaluating your own readiness as an investment:
Team – Do you have the right founding and advisory team?
TAM – Is the market large and growing?
Timing – Why is now the right time?
Traction – What evidence do you have?
Technology – Is there a defensible edge?
Terms – Is your round structured appropriately?
Theory – Can you clearly articulate how your model works?
You don’t need to be perfect in all of these—but you do need a plan to get better at each.
Final Thoughts: From FOMO to Focus
Most founders jump from program to program, collecting curriculum badges and refining their pitch deck. But if you’re serious about raising a round, you need more than polish—you need proof.
Traction Lab isn’t about turning your startup into a better story.
It’s about turning it into a better business.
Want to learn more or get involved? Visit https://rightbox.co/traction-lab/venture-accelerator
About Josh David Miller
Over the past decade, Josh David Miller has empowered over 100 startup founders and innovators to launch and scale their ventures. As the driving force behind the Traction Lab Venture Accelerator,
Josh specializes in guiding early-stage startups through the intricate journey from ideation to product-market fit. His expertise lies in transforming innovative concepts into viable, market-ready solutions, ensuring entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of the startup ecosystem with confidence and strategic insight.
About Cameron R. Law
Cameron R. Law is a Sacramento native dedicated to building community, growing ecosystems, and empowering entrepreneurs.
As the Executive Director of the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University, Sacramento, he leverages his passion for the region to foster innovation and support emerging ventures. Through his leadership, Cameron plays a pivotal role in shaping Sacramento's entrepreneurial landscape, ensuring that innovators and builders have the resources and support they need to succeed.
