How should I reach out to a VC for the first time? - Entrée Capital (2024)

September 12, 2023 | 3 minutes read

Imagine this common situation: You receive an email notification from an unfamiliar sender with a general title that may or may not be related to you. If you decide to pay attention to it, you open it and “surprisingly” find copy-pasted content clearly based on a template. It’s not personalized and lacks basic information. In the worst case, it’s personalized but contains incorrect details about you (such as the wrong name after “Hi”). Hitting ‘delete’ is the next logical step!

We receive hundreds of emails from startup founders each week. It is challenging to engage with the volume, so what catches our attention is not a templated email. So, what can you do to rise above the noise?

🤝 First, try a personal connection

Regardless of whether you are an exceptional writer or you know all the tricks to craft an eye-catching email, we strongly recommend reaching out to a VC through mutual connections and setting up a personal introduction. In the era of content inflation, standing out among numerous intro emails and getting a response is challenging. Moreover, the VC world relies heavily on networks and connections, and recommendations play a crucial role when investing in a startup. Investors will likely prefer to meet someone who comes recommended by a person they trust.

📨 If you choose to send an email, consider following these guidelines:

1. Show familiarity with the VC – Demonstrate your knowledge and familiarity with the VC you are reaching out to. Each VC is different, with unique values, focus areas, and stages of investment. Provide information that emphasizes this; it’s not a generic email sent to all potential investors, but a message crafted specifically for this particular VC. Yes, it might take more time, but the effort will be worth it if you succeed.
2. Include must-know details and highlight the important ones – What might seem obvious to you might not be obvious to the reader. Provide all the essential details the investor should know about your startup, and don’t skip on highlighting the uniqueness and differentiation of your product/solution. Including a deck will be helpful as well.
3. Keep the content short, fluent and easy to read – Short & to the point! Keep your language simple, avoiding overly complex sentences. Before sending the email, ask a few people (both from your industry and those unfamiliar with it) to read it. Gather their reactions and feedback, apply comments, and then proceed with sending it out.
4. Ensure the email is sent to the relevant person – We have witnessed founders sending their pitch emails to unrelated people within the VC. Double-check that you’re sending the email to the right person who: A. handles investments and B. handles investments in your sector.

In conclusion, when seeking funding for your startup, it is highly recommended to first try finding a personal lead who can connect you with the VC/investor. If that proves challenging and you cannot establish such a connection, then proceed with writing a personalized and precise email to the investor.