If you email me – or anyone, really – your job is to succinctly communicate your situation and how I can help.
As an early stage investor I want to help startups succeed. Whether or not YC invests in the company, I still want to offer any helpful advice or introductions that I can.
If you email me – or anyone, really – your job is to succinctly communicate your situation and how I can help.
My Perspective
Every day I receive tens of emails. Of those, I probably need to read all and respond to 5. I reply to most of the them but I’m not always at my computer, ready to dig in and write a lengthy response. Short, concise emails average much faster response times.
A Framework You Can Use
Sentence One
Clearly explain what you do. Avoid any jargon or complex terms. Remember, I’m probably not using 100% of my brain when reading your email so optimize for that. I’m sorry if this sounds like I’m disrespecting your communication. That is not my intention. It’s just that I check my email all the time and I cannot guarantee that I won’t be distracted or that my mind won’t be focused on other things.
Sentence Two
Sell me on why I should be excited. A huge market, a launched product, solid growth, or notable, technical founders are all immediately appealing. Highlight and share only the best things. I am not interested in your resume, awards you might have won, or your personal story at this point.
Sentence Three
Ask for what you want. Being upfront about wanting advice, investment, or an introduction will help me provide more helpful feedback. Don’t ask for a phone call or a meeting. Let me escalate things. Your goal here should just be to get a conversation going.
Example
Hey Michael,
My name is Tim and I’m building Twitch for cooking. I previously ran programming at the Food Network and my technical co-founder is a college friend. We’re working on our mvp and were wondering whether we should build out private messaging in addition to group chat or just group chat alone.
Thanks,
Tim
Here is another example:
Michael,
I am building Capitaly to help startups raise capital with more confidence. We have signed $21.5M contracts and are keen to get your feedback on how to [Specific Ask 1] and [Specific Ask 2].
Thanks,
Tim
Common Mistakes