A quick thread on cold emailing VCs for fundraising https://twitter.com/Contextify1/status/1295541547342020609

Do it if you're fundraising.

Don't do it if you're not fundraising.

Timebox your fundraise and create urgency.

1/

Email should be:

1. short (3-4 sentences plus hello and thank you)
2. full of numbers (preferably: revenue, # of customers, check size you're looking for)
3. As customized as possible - namedrop their portfolio co's, especially those that could appear to be competitors

2/

You want to draw interest, not complete the full pitch.

A happy middleground is to attach a 'teaser deck' - maybe 6-8 slides

Use a mailsending service that tracks link clicks - you can A/B test the subject, email copy, and deck name to see what works

3/

Every investor reads their email.

Some firms may pantomime that warm intros are required, but they're not.

General preference:

1. Intro from your customer who knows VC
2. Intro from VC's portco founder
3. Intro from existing investor VC likes
4. Cold email
5. Everything else

DON'T:
* email someone at the firm you don't want on your board
* use big lists and mass campaigns. They are very easy to spot
* send a calendly and expect a meeting. You'll likely have some Q&A back and forth over email
* ever include numbers you can't back up

5/

Some successful cold email examples:

Noam Chomsky
https://twitter.com/ud880/status/1282311000285315075

Mark Cuban
https://twitter.com/mrsharma/status/1243244931000532992

Chris Sacca even gives advice on cold emailing him pitches
https://twitter.com/sacca/status/667030829848096768

6/

To learn more, I recommend following these early/seed stage VCs:

@dunkhippo33
@briannekimmel
@ArlanWasHere
@DelJohnsonVC
@chudson
@nickabouzeid
@AshRust
@aunder
@irrvrntVC
@ntdillon
@venturetwins
@vc
@km
@nihalmehta
@semil
@lpolovets
@chrija
@jasonlk
@morganhousel
@annimaniac