Dear SaaStr: Does Cold Emailing VCs Work? What Are Some Tactics to Help Increase the Odds?
Yes, cold emailing VCs does work, especially with earlier-stage investors — if the email “pitch” is perfect.
It has to be the full package, because you’re lacking the social proof of a warm intro. And there are just so, so, so many start-ups. So many 1000s of them.
Your cold email doesn't work to VCs because the cold email isn't incredibly compelling
If it is, you'll get a response
— Jason ✨👾SaaStr.AI Sept 10-12✨ Lemkin (@jasonlk) January 21, 2022
Make sure:
- The metrics are just super solid.
- The value prop is 100% clear.
- You’d want to invest simply based on the email, no questions asked, no pitch or demo required.
- It’s perfectly tailored to the VC, so it looks like you have a very strong reason to want that VC in the deal.
Then, don’t expect a follow-up or response. Don’t go nuts with 70 follow-up emails.
But if the email pitch is perfect, and it’s an early-stage firm, you may get a response.
I’ve invested this way many times, including into a number of unicorns (Talkdesk, Salesloft, Algolia, Pipedrive).
But — and this is key — few VCs have time to “meet for coffee” or “talk about your idea“. The email pitch has to stand alone, and just be perfect.
Much more, with 2 great examples here: