How to find new investors to pitch to when you exhausted your network?

+ weekly list of handpicked startup events for founders and investors in London

Author

Vasily Alekseenko
August 31, 2024

How to Find New People to Pitch When You’ve Reached the Limits of Your Network

The UK startup ecosystem might seem vast, but it’s not as big as it feels. For those who have been fundraising for a while, it can often feel like you’ve exhausted your network. However, this feeling of limitation is usually more of an illusion than a reality.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you expand your network of investors and find fresh faces to pitch:

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is an excellent tool for this. Yes, it’s on the pricier side, but there are ways to access it for free. You might find trial options or discover if you’re part of an accelerator that offers it as a benefit. A quick Google search for “how to use LinkedIn Sales Navigator for free” will likely yield some useful options. Even if you decide to go for the paid version, it’s often worth the investment for the valuable connections it can help you make.

Step 1: Identify your most significant connections. This means taking a close look at your network and picking out those key individuals who are well-connected and influential, and you obviously need to know them beyond just a connection on LinkedIn.

Step 2: One by one, use these significant connections as a gateway to others. Within their connections search for anyone who works in venture capital or mentions being an investor or angel investor.

Step 3: Filter the results to find individuals who are decision-makers, such as those at the director or principal level. These are the people who have the power to make investment decisions or introduce you to others who do.

Step 4: Next, filter these individuals by the number of their followers. Generally, the more followers they have, the more active and influential they are in the industry. This can be a good indicator of their reach and impact.

Step 5: From this filtered list, identify the top 10-15 people who stand out as the most promising connections for your startup.

Step 6: Share this list with a friend or connection who might be willing to help. Ask if they would be comfortable introducing you to a few of these individuals. Providing a forwardable email can make this request easier for them.

If your connection is strong and your request is reasonable, this approach should open up some new opportunities for pitching your startup.

Networking can sometimes feel like a never-ending task, but it’s an essential part of fundraising. Expanding your network may be just what you need to find new opportunities and investors who are interested in your vision.

Good luck with your fundraising efforts! Keep pushing, and remember, every new connection could be the one that takes your startup to the next level.

EVENT OF THE YEAR🔥

Rare Founders

Time’s Running Out on Sunday: Save 20%!

​Don’t miss your chance to attend London’s Largest Demo Day on October 14th at a 20% discount. Last time, we had 200 people on the waitlist—book now or risk missing out!

In-person event

1 Wimpole Street, Westminster, London, W1G 0AE, UK

Mon 14 Oct, 9:00 - 23:00 BST

RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS🔥

Rare Founders

Startup Run

Bi-weekly 5k running events for anyone in the startup ecosystem, followed by networking drinks in the nearby pub. Same time same, place.

In-person event

Green Park, London, W1J 9DZ, UK

Thu 22 Aug, 18:00 - 22:00 BST

OTHER LONDON EVENTS🌟

Hatch Enterprise

Start-up Essentials: Visioning & Goal Setting

Join this webinar to learn how to create long-term visions and break them into manageable milestones for personal and business success.

  • How to create long-term visions to inspire and motivate

  • Breaking visions into manageable milestones

  • Aligning goals with personal and business needs

Online event

Tue 3 Sep, 13:00 - 13:30 BST

Pitch Club Community

Pitch Club Community n.156

Whether you're gearing up for a TEDx talk, an investor pitch, or simply looking to sharpen your public speaking prowess, PitchClub is your go-to community.

The stage is yours every 1st Tuesday of the month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM GMT.

Online event

Tue 3 Sep, 19:30 - 20:30 BST

GoodTech Ventures

Introduction to Impact Masterclass

Prepare to embark on a journey of discovery and empowerment at this exclusive Introduction to Impact for Impact Founders session. You will explore the fundamental principles of impact and will be equipped with the knowledge to articulate and amplify your venture's social mission.

Online event

Wed 4 Sep, 11:00 - 12:00 BST

Scribe

Find your next Angel investor

Fundraising for your startup, but frustrated that your efforts aren't being recognised by the right investors? In this practical and interactive 60-minute workshop, you will learn how to direct that founder energy towards pinpointing the right Angels who will genuinely want to back you and your business.

Online event

Wed 4 Sep, 13:00 - 14:00 BST

Glenluna Ventures

Startup Deck Roast

​Join this webinar to learn what investors think when they see your deck. This isn't your typical webinar; this is a real-time, no-💩 walkthrough of a few pitch decks where David will be talking out loud about what’s going on in an investor's head when they open an email from a founder. Spoiler alert: some things make them want to cry... and not in a good way. 😭

Online event

Thu 5 Sep, 11:00 - 12:30 BST

Equitas

Britain's Got Tech Talent

In the fast-paced world of recruitment technology, staying ahead means embracing the latest innovations and best practices. Don’t miss ‘Britain's Got Tech Talent’, an exclusive webinar designed for organisations eager to discover new solutions for enhancing recruitment and talent management.

Online event

Thu 5 Sep, 12:00 - 12:40 BST

The Entrepreneurs Network

How Britain Can Back Breakthrough Businesses

This reception at the House of Lords will be an opportunity to build a bridge between private businesses and the government. Leading figures from both of these worlds will be in attendance.

​Steve Rigby, Chair of the Private Business Commission and co-CEO of Rigby Group, will explain the Commission’s proposals. He will be joined by senior figures from the new Government who will outline Labour’s strategy for business growth and engagement.

In-person event

Houses of Parliament, Parliament Sq, London, SW1A 0PW, UK

Thu 5 Sep, 15:30 - 17:00 BST

SeedLegals

It takes more than a pitch deck

Are you raising investment for the first time? Perhaps you are confused by the process of valuing your startup? Or maybe you are mystified by the funding language used by investors? ​This webinar will demystify the process and provide practical advice that makes it more likely you will be successful in raising investment.

Online event

Fri 6 Sep, 13:00 - 14:00 BST

SeedLegals

Founder & Angel investor party

This event is designed to bring together the brightest founders and the most active angel investors for meaningful connections, shared insights, and potential collaborations—all in a relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere that encourages genuine conversation.

In-person event

Near Old Street, London, UK

Mon 9 Sep, 19:00 - 23:00 BST

Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders

Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.

Reply

or to participate.