Warm introductions are the best way to get investors’ attention. Unlike cold outreach, they come with trust and credibility, making it easier to start meaningful conversations. Here’s how you can secure them:
- Map Your Network: Identify people in your network who can connect you to investors – colleagues, mentors, alumni, or LinkedIn contacts.
- Choose the Right Investors: Focus on investors who align with your startup’s stage, industry, and goals.
- Write a Strong Pitch: Craft a concise, clear pitch that highlights your problem, solution, traction, and funding needs.
- Request Introductions Thoughtfully: Use the double opt-in method and respect your connector’s relationship with the investor.
- Maintain Relationships: Follow up promptly, provide regular updates, and nurture connections for future opportunities.
These steps can help you turn your network into valuable investor connections. Focus on building trust and staying organized to maximize your chances of success.
Getting Warm Intros – 4 Pro Tips for Referrals that Convert
Step 1: Map Your Network Connections
Creating a detailed map of your network is a key step in identifying potential paths to investors. This process sets the stage for the targeted outreach described in the following steps.
List Your Current Contacts
Start by organizing your professional connections. Include people who may have direct or indirect links to investors:
- Industry Experts: Former colleagues, mentors, or advisors familiar with your sector.
- Fellow Founders: Startup founders who have successfully raised funds.
- Professional Service Providers: Lawyers, accountants, or consultants who often work with investors.
- Alumni Networks: Classmates and professors from your educational background.
Group these contacts based on their influence and involvement in the startup ecosystem.
Check LinkedIn Connections
Leverage LinkedIn to uncover additional opportunities:
- Use LinkedIn’s filters to locate second-degree connections tied to your target investors.
- Review shared connections, prioritizing those with recent endorsements or interactions.
- Look for contacts actively engaging with investors through comments, shares, or participation in relevant groups.
Align with Investor Interests
Tailoring your approach to match investor preferences can significantly boost your chances of a successful introduction. M Accelerator highlights the importance of understanding investor expectations before reaching out.
Here are some key factors to consider:
| Criteria | What to Consider | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Focus | The investor’s current portfolio | Demonstrates their expertise and interest |
| Investment Stage | Typical funding amounts and stages | Ensures your timing is appropriate |
| Geographic Focus | Regions where they prefer to invest | Indicates practical feasibility |
- Portfolio Fit: Confirm that your startup aligns with the investor’s existing portfolio.
- Investment Strategy: Check if your business model matches their stated focus.
- Recent Activity: Look at their investments over the past 12-18 months to gauge interest.
Keep track of your findings in a spreadsheet. Include each contact, their connection to the target investor, and how your startup aligns with the investor’s interests.
This organized approach will help you focus on connections most likely to lead to meaningful introductions, setting you up for success in the next steps.
Step 2: Choose the Right Investors
Identify investors who align with your startup’s goals and are within reach through your connections.
Define Your Target Investor
Once you’ve mapped your network, create a profile for the ideal investor based on your startup’s stage and financial needs. Here are some important criteria to consider:
| Investment Criteria | Key Considerations | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Stage Focus | Early-stage, Series A, Series B | Matches your current fundraising requirements |
| Check Size | Typical investment range | Ensures the funding meets your needs |
| Industry Experience | Portfolio in your sector | Shows familiarity with your business model |
| Geographic Preference | Preferred investment regions | Impacts the likelihood of engagement |
Having a clear profile helps you focus your efforts and approach the right investors.
Find Investors Online
Here are some effective ways to build your list of potential investors:
-
Professional Platforms
Use platforms like M Accelerator, which connects startups to a network of over 25,000 investors, offering targeted opportunities. -
Portfolio Analysis
Look into investors who have funded companies in your industry. Pay attention to recent investments and those at a similar growth stage as your startup. -
Active Engagement
Stay updated on investor activities like recent deals, speaking engagements, articles, or social media posts.
Sort by Fit and Access
Once you have your list, rank investors based on two key factors:
- Fit Score: Assess their relevance based on industry focus, stage, geography, and recent investments.
- Access Score: Evaluate your connection strength through direct links, mutual contacts, recent interactions, or relationships with portfolio companies.
Rate each factor on a 1-5 scale to prioritize investors who rank high in both areas. With this refined list, you’re ready for the next step: crafting your pitch.
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Step 3: Write Your Pitch
Once you’ve mapped your connections and built a targeted investor list, the next step is crafting a pitch that grabs attention and encourages introductions.
Create a Short Pitch
Your pitch should be brief but impactful – enough to inspire connectors to introduce you to investors. Focus on these key elements:
| Component | Content Guidelines | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Statement | One sentence explaining the challenge | Highlights the market opportunity |
| Solution | A concise explanation of your solution | Communicates your value proposition |
| Traction | 2–3 strong metrics that show growth | Proves market interest |
| Ask | Specific funding amount and how it will be used | Clarifies the investment opportunity |
Keep your pitch under 150 words. This makes it easy to understand and share while staying focused on what investors care about most.
Draft the Introduction Email
When writing your email, structure it so it’s easy for your connector to forward. Here’s how:
- Forwardable Email Format:
- Top Section: A personal note to your connector.
- Bottom Section: Your forwardable pitch.
- Clear Subject Line: Use a professional and straightforward format like: "Intro Request: [Your Company] – [Brief Description] (Raising $X)."
- Professional Context: Briefly explain your current status and immediate goals. As M Accelerator puts it, "If you can’t communicate your business with a powerful idea you won’t be able to build it".
Adjust for Each Contact
Personalization is key. Reference shared experiences, align your business with the investor’s interests, and highlight how the introduction benefits everyone involved.
Make it simple for connectors to say yes by providing all the necessary details upfront. Keep your communication clear, concise, and focused on what matters most. This approach improves your chances of securing introductions to the right investors.
Once your pitch is tailored, you’re ready to move on to Step 4 and start requesting introductions.
Step 4: Request Introductions
Approach introductions thoughtfully to improve your chances of getting a positive response.
Be Clear in Your Request
When asking for introductions, make your intentions clear and explain why you’re reaching out:
| Request Component | What to Do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Context | Explain why the investor is a good fit | "Their recent focus on B2B SaaS aligns with our product." |
| Value Proposition | Emphasize mutual benefits and your progress | "Our current growth trajectory matches your investment interests." |
| Timing | Specify your timeline | "We’re finalizing our seed round soon." |
Keep your message short and to the point. Also, ensure your request respects the existing relationship between you and the person making the introduction.
Use the Double Opt-In Method
The double opt-in method makes the introduction process smoother and more professional:
Start by sending a brief email to your connector, explaining your request and attaching a forwardable pitch. Wait for their confirmation that they’re comfortable introducing you and that they’ve checked with the investor. Once both parties agree, the introduction can proceed. This approach shows respect and increases the chances of a successful connection.
Follow Up the Right Way
Timely follow-ups are key:
- Wait 5–7 business days before following up
- Space additional follow-ups 7–10 days apart
- Limit yourself to three follow-ups per request
If you don’t hear back after three attempts, move on to other opportunities. Use a spreadsheet to track your outreach and avoid duplicate efforts.
When you get a successful introduction, reply within 24 hours. Thank both parties promptly and suggest clear next steps to keep the momentum going.
Once you’ve mastered follow-ups, you’re ready to focus on building those new connections.
Step 5: Maintain Relationships
Build strong investor relationships with timely follow-ups and clear communication.
Handle New Introductions
When you receive a warm introduction, timing is everything. Here’s a simple timeline to follow:
- Within 24 hours: Send a personalized thank-you note.
- Within 2–3 days: Schedule your first meeting.
- Within 1 week: Share your detailed pitch deck.
- Post-meeting: Follow up with clear action steps.
Keep the person who introduced you in the loop about major outcomes. This encourages them to make more connections for you in the future.
Keep Investors Updated
Once connections are made, consistent updates help strengthen relationships:
- Monthly: Share short updates with key metrics and milestones.
- Quarterly: Provide a more detailed update on financial and strategic progress.
- Annually: Highlight year-over-year growth and outline future plans.
These updates not only keep investors informed but can also lead to new introductions and opportunities.
Grow Your Network
Every connection is a chance to expand your network strategically. Here’s how to make the most of it:
- Ask for introductions to portfolio companies.
- Attend events hosted by investors.
- Participate in industry conferences.
- Join founder communities.
- Get involved with accelerator programs.
Programs like M Accelerator can be particularly helpful by offering mentorship and networking opportunities. Here’s what others have said about their experience:
Ellen Deng, Founder at Vinofy, shared that M Accelerator provides mentorship, community support, and networking opportunities, with continued support even after the program ends.
Francesco Simeone, CEO at Tora Tora Travel, noted that working with experienced professionals in structured programs helped him grow his team to 12 employees.
Focus on building meaningful relationships that align with your startup’s goals. Quality connections will have a much bigger impact than sheer numbers.
Conclusion: Next Steps
5-Step Summary
Here’s a quick breakdown to help you secure warm investor introductions: map your network, identify aligned investors, create a concise pitch, ask for clear introductions, and maintain connections. These steps help build a solid foundation for growing your network and achieving investor success.
Keep Building Connections
Expanding your network doesn’t stop once you’ve made initial connections. Keep pushing forward with these strategies:
- Join startup communities and accelerator programs
- Attend events and conferences specific to your industry
- Stay engaged with your network by sharing updates and fostering meaningful interactions
How M Accelerator Can Help
Once you’ve outlined your networking strategy, professional guidance can take your efforts to the next level. M Accelerator offers personalized support by selecting 2–3 startups for warm introductions to its network of over 25,000 investors. They also provide tailored coaching to refine your pitch and build investor relationships.
This approach has led to impressive success stories, like that of Shuta Shibuya. Starting as a biologist, Shibuya transitioned into a startup founder and now drives innovation at a pharmaceutical company. His journey highlights the impact of having the right guidance and networking support.
"M Accelerator is a great starting point for anyone who is considering taking the leap to start a company. It provides mentorship, support from the community, and networking opportunities. And the support doesn’t stop when the startup program ends. They are always there to support the founders through their journey." – Ellen Deng, Founder at Vinofy
M Accelerator offers more than just introductions. They provide strategic pitch coaching, guidance on building lasting relationships, and ongoing support through a community of experienced founders.
