Crafting a Winning Cold Email to VCs

Article hero image

Most VC hate cold emails from entrepreneurs. 

Reasons vary: 

i) cold pitches are often poorly prepared; 
ii) skeptical VC will say to themselves “why couldn’t you find a warm relationship to fund this” or “why am I seeing this and not someone else;” 
iii) some VC insist that you actually go out and find a connection to intro you to them directly, which is bullshit.

At Blossom Street Ventures we love cold emails from entrepreneurs and my email is all over the place. Here’s a few things to keep in mind when making your pitch to me or any other VC, cold:

Your opening paragraph is everything. Your email to any VC should be no more than 1 paragraph and include only one attachment. That attachment shouldn’t be anything more than a 10 to 15 page pdf deck. Your paragraph is way more important than the deck because it’s the first thing a VC sees, so take one sentence to say what the business does, one sentence sharing the numbers you’re most proud of (revenue, users, growth, cash efficiency), and one sentence that includes your ask (for instance you’re raising $1mm at a $10mm pre). Based on that one paragraph, a VC will decide whether to move on to the deck.

The deck should be simple. The deck should be concis. Stretch to 15 pages if you must. 

Your key slides are as follows: 

i) what the company does; 
ii) the problem your big market is facing; 
iii) historical financials/major numbers; 
iv) team including your email address; 
v) customers won to date and key metrics of the value you provide them, or any other major milestones; 
vi) your ask. As you can see that’s only 6 bullet points, which means 6 slides is adequate.

Remembers the purpose of your email isn’t to get funding — no VC funds a company based on an initial email. Rather, the purpose of your email is to get a conversation. Keep it short, keep it simple, and your cold email will be well on its way to that all important first conversation.

Originally published on Medium

Stay Ahead in Tech & Startups

Get monthly email with insights, trends, and tips curated by Founders

Read also

10 Tips for Early-Stage Startup Pitch Meetings

As an active early-stage investor, I hear 4 – 8 pitches daily, each lasting 30 mins, offering feedback on the product and the pitch to add value.

14 VC Scam Traps for Founders Raising Funds

14 common scams in fundraising revealed to educate founders on hostile practices, ensuring awareness and prevention. No name-and-shame, only insights.

A Founder’s Guide to Managing Failure

When we set out to build a project that must survive and thrive, we start living in a world where the statistical likelihood is that it won’t.

Choosing the Right Marketer for Your Startup

The main job market challenge is finding developers crucial for product success, but marketers are vital too; 22% of startups fail due to weak marketing.

Combating Burnout. Founders' Experience.

I was recently at New York Tech Week, and one of the panels I attended was about working with burnout from founders, coaches, and doctors.

Join 3000+ startups

The Top Voices newsletter delivers monthly startup, tech, and VC news and insights.

Dismiss