Key insights

• ⏱️ Keep the email short and readable in 60 seconds or less
• 💡 Focus on the problem you're solving
• 📈 Share traction or progress
• 👥 Personalize the email
• 🚫 Avoid sending a wall of text or being too aggressive in asking for an investment
• 🔍 Investors seek key information including the problem, solution, market size, co-founders, coding ability, and controversial ideas
• 💬 Avoid using jargon and use simple language that can be understood by anyone
• 📧 Send emails from a company address with your name included

Q&A

• What is the key advice on effectively cold emailing an investor?

  The key advice is to avoid bombarding with multiple emails, focus on piquing the recipient's interest, and lead with a compelling description of your work. The goal is to seek to have the recipient come to you for more information.

• What advice is given regarding pitch deck templates and email communication with investors?

  Startups should use a different pitch deck template, track email opens, keep emails short, aim for a conversation rather than an immediate outcome. The key to effective email communication with investors is to keep it concise, avoid immediately requesting an in-person meeting, and not send multiple follow-ups too quickly.

• What are some preferences and tools used by investors when receiving cold emails?

  Investors prefer emails from company addresses rather than weirdly formatted personal emails. They also use tools like Rapportive or Superhuman to gather information about the email sender. Attaching a deck to the email is not required, but there are common formats for decks that investors in Silicon Valley are used to.

• What key points are investors interested in when receiving cold emails from founders?

  Investors are interested in specific key points including the problem and solution, market size, co-founders, coding ability, and controversial insights. Founders should use simple language, avoid jargon, and email from a company address with their name included.

• What are the do's and don'ts of cold emailing investors?

  Do keep the email short and readable in 60 seconds or less, focus on the problem you're solving, share traction or progress, and personalize the email. Don't send a wall of text, use generic emails, or be too aggressive in asking for an investment.

• 00:00 Founders often ask for advice on cold emailing investors when raising money. Here are some do's and don'ts: Keep it short, focus on the problem you're solving, share traction or progress, and personalize the email. Avoid sending a wall of text, generic emails, or being too aggressive in asking for an investment.
• 01:08 Investors are interested in specific key points such as the problem and solution, market size, co-founders, coding ability, and controversial insights. Use simple language, avoid jargon, and email from a company address with your name.
• 02:25 Investors receive many weirdly formatted personal emails, prefer emails from company addresses, and use tools to gather information about the sender. Attaching a deck to the email is not required, but there are common formats for decks that investors in Silicon Valley are used to.
• 03:42 Startups should use a different pitch deck template, track email opens, keep emails short, aim for a conversation, not an immediate outcome.
• 04:54 The key to effective email communication with investors is to keep it concise, avoid immediately requesting an in-person meeting, and not send multiple follow-ups too quickly.
• 06:15 Key advice on how to effectively cold email an investor: Avoid multiple emails, focus on the recipient's interest, and lead with a compelling description of your work.