If you’re raising funds right now and getting nothing but silence and ghosting from investors, then you’re not alone. It happens to the best of us. But the good news is that there are actual proven strategies that can turn things around. Here are a few tips and tricks to change that:
Ask Founders for Introductions
Why would you send a cold email if you can just get a warm introduction? Founders who have already raised capital are in your corner to help. Ask them to introduce you to their investors. It’s one of the easiest ways to get past the noise of the inbox and straight into the meeting room. An added bonus? If a successful founder has mentioned you, you’ll be headed into this with credibility.
Nail Your Subject Lines
If you do happen to go with the cold outreach approach, you have to keep in mind that investors get hundreds of emails every single day. All of which are from people who are raising capital just like you. So, what’s going to make them open yours specifically? Try leading with the size of the problem. Show them you’re tackling something big. For example, something like “$75Bn Market for Hailing Taxis” (Uber) grabs the attention of the investor right away. It tells the investor that you’re solving a massive, valuable problem.
Keep it Conversational
No one needs a long, formal sales letter/pitch anymore. It isn’t 1985 and you’re not going to the top floor of the skyscraper. It’s 2024, and we can reach out via LinkedIn or an email. Investors are busy, and they don’t want to sift through paragraphs of corporate jargon. Instead, write as if you’re talking to a friend. Keep it casual, direct, and human. The best emails feel like a real conversation, not a pitch. Want another great tip for this? Try to write like their long lost love – just kidding, don’t do that – unless you want a quick “leave me alone.”
Make it Short
Every single extra, filler word you add to your message is another reason to stop reading. The best investor emails are typically short, conversational, and to the point. They answer the key questions investors care about, such as:
- What’s the problem
- How big is the market
- Why are you the one to solve it
Answer these in as few words as possible. Think of your email like an elevator pitch: get in, make your point, and get out.
Takeaways
So, if you’ve been getting ghosted by investors as if they were that girl/guy you had a crush on just last week, give these strategies a try. They might also be applicable to your love life – no no. You’ll definitely see an increased chance of getting noticed – and hopefully, getting funded.
