Sponsor availability

Approval-gated inventory for the first 30 launch issues.

This page maps Cambridge sponsor slots before any live Stripe, Buttondown or outreach work. It gives the operator a week-by-week inventory path without reserving anything.

Window: First 30 approved launch issues. Inventory planning only. Do not reserve slots, collect payment, contact prospects, publish sponsor claims or schedule Buttondown placements before the editor approves the named sponsor, copy and dates.

Booking intakeReadiness gatesCheckout planClose room

Issue slots

Use this order to avoid over-selling early issues or mixing high-risk sponsor categories without review.

open_for_approval_only

Launch week 1

Days: Monday-Friday

Preferred package: Launch week sponsor

Priority lanes: Independent schools, nurseries, tutoring and camps; Estate agents, premium lettings and relocation services; Science-park, station-area and professional services

Proof needed: Current local landing page; Clear covered place or service area; One plain-English reader CTA; Approved sponsor copy and fallback text

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Launch week 2

Days: Monday-Friday

Preferred package: Founding issue sponsor

Priority lanes: Clinics, dentists, opticians, physios and gyms; Restaurants, cafes, theatres, museums and weekend venues; Trades, garden services and home improvement

Proof needed: Specific offer, date, booking or membership route; Compliance review for health, property or prize claims; Issue date matched to reader usefulness

blocked_until_referral_wiring

Launch week 3

Days: Monday-Friday

Preferred package: Referral reward sponsor

Priority lanes: Cafes, bookshops, theatres, attractions and family venues; Museums, tours, bookshops and cultural attractions; Restaurants, cafes, theatres and weekend venues

Proof needed: Prize or voucher terms; Eligibility, expiry and fulfilment owner; Buttondown referral attribution test before public leaderboard claims

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Launch week 4

Days: Monday-Friday

Preferred package: Founding issue sponsor

Priority lanes: Professional services near Cambridge station and science parks; Cycle shops, commuter services and local transport offers; Trades, garden services and home improvement

Proof needed: Service-area proof; One landing page and one CTA; Post-send reporting promise limited to verified Buttondown/UTM data

Hold policy

Soft holds stay manual and reversible until the sponsor, copy and dates are explicitly approved.

OpenHold ruleSoft holds last 48 hours and are not confirmations.OpenHold ruleOne sponsor block per issue until reader trust and reporting are proven.OpenHold ruleEducation, health, property, finance, recruitment and prize-led campaigns need manual compliance review before any hold.OpenHold ruleStripe checkout wiring can only follow approved copy, proof ledger completion and a matching issue slot.

Operator checks

Run these before creating a Linear child issue, asking for approval or wiring checkout metadata.

OpenOperator checkMatch sponsor category to the issue slot before asking for approval.OpenOperator checkRecord the soft hold expiry in Linear if the editor approves contact.OpenOperator checkKeep one clean fallback slot each week for a reader-first sponsor or manual house ad.OpenOperator checkReject campaigns that require unsupported audience, conversion or exclusivity claims.

Linear proof

What counts as proof for MY-2577 and future sponsor child issues.

OpenLinear proofLink the availability page and pushed commit on MY-2577.OpenLinear proofFor any approved sponsor child issue, include chosen week, package, hold expiry, proof URLs and editorial approval state.OpenLinear proofDo not close live-wiring work until website build/check and issue gates pass after the slot is wired.