Cold outreach

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

How to do cold outreach

Mark Cuban has revealed that he has invested more than $100m in companies through cold outreach alone. Most famously, Tim Ellis, founder of Relativity Space, cold emailed him at the age of 23 asking to invest in his project. The Subject Line said, 'Space is sexy 3D Printing an entire Rocket', and Mark Cuban replied minutes later, with an investment offer five times bigger than what Ellis asked for. Today, Relativity Space is worth ~ $5.2b and is one of the most important names in SpaceTech.

Personally I'm a huge fan of Cold Outreach for one simple reason: cold outreach, done properly, works. The methodology I share in my Fundraising Playbooks Course is nested at the intersection of a number of strategic playbooks:

  1. build a relationship with the individual first,

  2. don't play all your cards at once, and

  3. do the right research to avoid spraying & praying.

I've seen these strategies used by professionals who landed investment with a16z, raised from the likes of Sequoia, True Ventures, and Lakestar, and in one of my Masterclasses, a Founder who cold emailed a VC with an email built on this methodology received a reply just 20 minutes after he hit 'send' and went into successful fundraising discussions.

Whilst a warm introduction to an investor can go a long way, I like the cold outreach approach as it presents an opportunity to build a more egalitarian access to capital. Some of my favourite Cold Email openers include:

  1. “I read your article on X, and I’m seriously impressed with the numbers”

  2. “Great panel talk yesterday - you said X and this made me think of Y”

  3. “My advisor, [Name], who you worked with at ABC Ventures, mentioned that you're the best person to talk to about X”

  4. “Know this is a bit of a long shot, but figured I might as well give it a shot” (this is taken from an email that landed at job at a16z)

How you reach out cold to Angel Investors differs from how to reach VCs. There is a different playbook to reaching both of them. Angels typically invest in what they know (based on their past experience, background, skillset) and often syndicate a bunch of small cheques to spread the risk. Angels would see a potential early exit (within 5-7 years) as an incentive to invest as well.

VCs follow a specific investment thesis usually delimitated by geography, stage of growth, sector/vertical, revenue criteria, amongst other requirements. They prioritise long-term scalability potential behind your business as they seek outsized returns, typically Seed to Series A: 100x return, Series B to C: 10x return, and Pre-IPO: at least a 3x return.

Written by the guest author, Eva Dobrzanska, Head of Investments at FundIQ + Sixth Wave Ventures

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, England, W1J 9DZ, UK

Thu 16 May, 18:00 - 22:00 BST

Rare Founders

Tech Roast

Ghita El Haitmy (founder of TechBible) who will be hosting a tech roast - where 10 pre-selected SaaS businesses will be demoing their services in real time to the live audience.

In-person event

Runway East Bloomsbury, 24-28 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SN, UK

Wed 29 May, 18:00 - 22:30 BST

OTHER EVENTS❤️

Future London

Beeloud & Build AI 2024 Hackathon

Join the Build AI 2024 hackathon, the loudest AI event in Vancouver and London, where you can team up, build innovative AI solutions, win prizes, and engage with investors. This dynamic event, happening both online and in-person, challenges participants to go from idea to active users in just 54 hours.

In-person event

Future House, Unit 4 Prout Rd, London, E5 9NP, UK

Fri 10 May, 18:00 - Sun 12 May 21:00 BST

Launch Club Capital

Woman UP! Success In The Boardroom And Beyond!

This empowering workshop series is crafted for female founders at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey. Dive into topics like presenting with confidence, workplace culture, and AI, all while building invaluable connections in a vibrant networking environment.

In-person event

Shoreditch Exchange, Senna Building, Gorsuch Pl, London, E2 8JF, UK

Sat 11 May, 12:00 - 18:00 BST

Social Wellness Club

Walk & Talk - Richmond Park

Looking for a new way to meet like-minded friends? You’re in the right place. It’s time for SWC Walk & Talk's to head west to Richmond Park...! Join them at 11am for a walk in nature followed by a well-earned coffee & croissant afterwards!

In-person event

Richmond Gate Lodge, Richmond, London, TW10 5HU, UK

Sun 12 May, 11:00 - 13:00 BST

Hyperlane

London Hyperlane Rust Meetup

Learn how Rust powers Hyperlane’s off-chain clients, handling millions of monthly messages! Dive into topics like data indexing, throughput, monitoring, and crates used. Whether you're a crypto-savvy engineer or a Rust enthusiast curious about the space, this event is for you. Join us in Shoreditch for an evening of insights and networking with the Hyperlane team!

In-person event

Shoreditch area, London, UK

Wed 15 May, 18:30 - 21:00 BST

SeedLegals

How to find the right investors for your business

Learn how research and outreach personalization can supercharge your fundraising efforts.

Online event

Wed 15 May, 17:00 - 118:00 BST

Eurasian Business Hub

Investment Readiness In The UK

Join for a discussion on the journey of venture-building and early-stage fundraising in the UK.

​​You will explore the challenges that Eurasian founders face, getting an overview of the current investment landscape in the UK.

​In-person event

UCL School of Management, Level 38 and Level 50, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA, UK

Wed 15 May, 19:00 - 21:00 BST

Pi Labs

Summer Party

Expect cocktails, innovators, and a rooftop terrace with breath-taking views of London. This event brings real estate owners, operators & investors, VCs, angels and founders who are creating a digital & sustainable built world.

In-person event

Waterloo area, London, UK

Thu 16 May, 18:00 - 21:00 BST

Consumer Duty

Consumer Duty Board Reporting & The Power of Data

The FCA’s Consumer Duty board reporting deadline is fast approaching. The FCA had reminded firms to “get serious about their data”.

However, what exactly does it mean to take data seriously? How do we identify the data that is pertinent for implementing the Consumer Duty?

Online event

Fri 17 May, 15:00 - 16:00 BST

Rob, Rob, Pedro and Oliver

Tech Startups in the Pub

Join this casual, inclusive tech meetup where founders and developers at any stage can connect, share insights, and learn from each other. Whether you're just starting out or part of a well-established company, everyone is welcome!

In-person event

The Windmill, 27 Tabernacle St, London, EC2A 4DE, UK

Fri 17 May, 18:00 - 22:00 BST

UKBAA

Legal Implications for Investors Joining the Board as Non-Executives

Join UKBAA’s Friday Focus session to delve into the legal implications for investors considering board positions as non-executives. We'll explore board appointments, duties and responsibilities of non-executive directors, and the potential risks and liabilities.

Online event

Fri 17 May, 11:00 - 12:00 BST

Vasily Alekseenko Rare Founders

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

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