Build something valuable and get users. Investors will be knocking on your door. The real world is capitalist
Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
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Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#12Have you done anything noteworthy? If not, like if you're fresh out of school in your early twenties, then your best option for immediate capital is a program like YC. Or if bootstrapping is an option, do that until you have metrics people can't say no to. Your resume doesn't matter at $1m ARR or 10 million MAU or whatever, only how fast you got there. Otherwise, maybe don't reach out to partners directly. Go downmar…
> if you're fresh out of school in your early twenties, I would argue that starting a startup at that age is a bad idea for most. it was a different time 20 years ago. plus most of those success stories are people who were already well connected. Tech has mostly matured and there are processes in place for good releases. you're better off working for other startups and learning what a good work culture looks like. wo…
Devils advocate, but you also will never have as little risk, and as much energy as you will when u are in your 20s. If you start in ur 20s, and fail - no big deal, as long as you keep expenses low - just find another job. Not so when you’re 40, have kids, a mortgage, more health issues, older parents to care for, etc
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#13Good question. If I needed an investor I would go to meetups and talk to them coyly e.g. "yeah doing a startup, got some customers.... so how do you advise I reduce churn for this parricular segment" "can I pay for some time for advice" and such like. Tease em.
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
> if you're fresh out of school in your early twenties, I would argue that starting a startup at that age is a bad idea for most. it was a different time 20 years ago. plus most of those success stories are people who were already well connected. Tech has mostly matured and there are processes in place for good releases. you're better off working for other startups and learning what a good work culture looks like. wo…
Devils advocate, but you also will never have as little risk, and as much energy as you will when u are in your 20s. If you start in ur 20s, and fail - no big deal, as long as you keep expenses low - just find another job. Not so when you’re 40, have kids, a mortgage, more health issues, older parents to care for, etc
I’m 38 and have a start-up. I am more focused, energetic and hard working than in my 20s, and of many I’ve met.
Most funders and programmes disregard me due to age and gender (f), that’s their loss. These stereotypes aren’t helpful, but they won’t change anytime soon and no point complaining - I’ll just keep killing it.
‘I don’t want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me’ - this quote from the Departed aligns with my view ;)
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#15A UK investor said to me treat it like a sale funnel. Reach out to 100-200 and hope for 5/10 meetings and convert a couple.
Conversion rate likely higher in US and depends obvs on you, your idea, your pitch, timing etc
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
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Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#17Yes, if you are doing your due diligence to learn about the individual and finding the right channel to contact them, your odds of response increase. Also, make sure you give more than you get :) Doing all the hard work up-front, like coming up with an agenda, also helps. Send as much pre-material as possible: demos, etc.
X > Email > LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a cesspool!
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Devils advocate, but you also will never have as little risk, and as much energy as you will when u are in your 20s. If you start in ur 20s, and fail - no big deal, as long as you keep expenses low - just find another job. Not so when you’re 40, have kids, a mortgage, more health issues, older parents to care for, etc
I’m 38 and have a start-up. I am more focused, energetic and hard working than in my 20s, and of many I’ve met. Most funders and programmes disregard me due to age and gender (f), that’s their loss. These stereotypes aren’t helpful, but they won’t change anytime soon and no point complaining - I’ll just keep killing it. ‘I don’t want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me’ - th…
Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. They arent meant to apply to everyone. If they did, they would be called universal truths, not stereotypes.
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m 38 and have a start-up. I am more focused, energetic and hard working than in my 20s, and of many I’ve met. Most funders and programmes disregard me due to age and gender (f), that’s their loss. These stereotypes aren’t helpful, but they won’t change anytime soon and no point complaining - I’ll just keep killing it. ‘I don’t want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me’ - th…
Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. They arent meant to apply to everyone. If they did, they would be called universal truths, not stereotypes.
Why speculate when there's actual data on this?
Re: Ask HN: Have you gotten anywhere cold messaging investors?
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