1. Building Your Investor List
- There are 800+ seed funds in the US. Find ones that match your business.
- Useful tools: Dorm Room Funds VCWiz, NFX Signal, Shai Goldman's Google Doc
- Filter by: location, stage/size, sector, investment geography
- Target 50-100 funds
2. Organize in Google Docs
- Use Google Docs for easy sharing with your network
- Put your top 10 must-have funds at the top
- Include portfolio companies, customers, and notes for each fund
- Template link
3. Requesting Introductions
- Choose the best person to make each introduction
- Email subject: "Intro: [Your Name] @ [Company] <> [Fund Name]"
- Include company description, customized messaging, and pitch deck PDF
- Send separate emails for each fund introduction
4. Pipeline Management
- Update Google Docs status as introductions happen
- Follow up if no response; try other intro sources
- "If you haven't been formally rejected, it's okay to try multiple times. Persistence is key."
5. Pitch Deck and Meeting Scheduling
- Practice your pitch before live meetings
- Prepare for frequently asked questions
6. City-by-City Meeting Strategy
- Visit key investment cities (SF, NYC, LA) in person
- Create separate Google Docs tabs per city
- Schedule 30-minute pre-calls 1-2 weeks before visits
7. Post-Meeting Management
- Aim to connect with 20-30 funds
- Remember: every communication IS your pitch
- Ask: fund/check size, involvement level, target ownership, decision process, interest level
8. Closing the Round
- When multiple funds show interest, set a clear term sheet deadline
- Always give feedback to people who made introductions
Key Takeaways
- Investor pipeline / Google Docs management / Intro requests
- Pitch deck preparation / City-by-city strategy / Persistent follow-up
- Network etiquette / Partnership mindset / Persistence