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Blog | Aug 21
WRITTEN BY Maki Team
If an unopened email sitting in a VC’s inbox is what's stopping your startup from reaching a world of opportunities, this blog post is for you.
Here, we share four essential tips to help you write cold emails that not only grab the attention of VCs but also keep them wanting to hear more about your startup. Plus, we'll showcase actual emails from our portfolio companies that successfully caught our attention and led to investments. All these examples have been carefully approved by our team, giving you a firsthand look at what works in the real world of VC pitching. So, let's dive in!
It is said that an average recruiter spends 6 seconds looking at a resume. While email engagement data for VCs may not be so readily available, we know that they are busy people, swamped with emails. So aim for a concise and clear email that’s easy to read and prompts action. Include at least these:
A well-crafted email can be enough to pique interest, and you can also ask the VC if they wish to see a pitch deck. If you do choose to include a pitch deck, make sure it covers the following points:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in this case, numbers are worth a whole lot more. Use key metrics to demonstrate achievements and potential. Whether it’s YoY growth, MRR, or Net revenue, concrete data adds credibility to your pitch, which in this case is the email. Highlighting these numbers upfront can quickly capture a VC’s interest.
Before reaching out, research the VC’s investment portfolio and focus area. Take the time to understand the individual investors, what they have been talking about, and which industries they seem to be following closely. For instance, an early-stage Nordic VC with a deep-tech & brand-driven focus, receiving an email from a research and commercial expert founder duo developing a novel, sustainable solution in material tech would be very spot on. Tailor your pitch to align with the VC’s interests and investment thesis. Show them that you’ve done your homework and how your startup fits their criteria.
Make it personal. Every email you send should be tailored to the specific VC you’re reaching out to. Mentioning a recent investment they made or an article they wrote, that’s relevant to the case you’re making on behalf of your startup, can make all the difference. Don’t send mass emails; it’s easy to see right through them and very unlikely to resonate with VCs.
Here is a great example of a cold email that landed in our inbox from Alvar Pet. After many discussions, we ended up investing in them. Take a look:
Here is another cold email we received, that checks all the boxes:
Are you working on an industry-shaking idea that we should definitely hear about? Send us a snappy cold email at lets@maki.vc