Calling usually works if you are not trying to sell something.
Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
11–20 of 48 posts
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#12I've had this issue, I've literally gone months without a reply when trying to buy access to an API for $1,000 a month... i don't know either... it def showed they are not a place to do business.
What was the API?
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#13Cold emailing people has an incredibly low success rate. Though getting a professional looking website and email address might help. The emails often end up at some assistant who's afraid to bother the big boss. If you can, try to get in direct contact with people who call the shots, and ask them to take a 10 min meeting or phone call.
I like how the actual secret to success is basically 'already be an insider with lots of connections'. I definitely don't think you're wrong; it just goes against the esoteric startup narrative we always see.
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#14Cold emailing people has an incredibly low success rate. Though getting a professional looking website and email address might help. The emails often end up at some assistant who's afraid to bother the big boss. If you can, try to get in direct contact with people who call the shots, and ask them to take a 10 min meeting or phone call.
I like how the actual secret to success is basically 'already be an insider with lots of connections'. I definitely don't think you're wrong; it just goes against the esoteric startup narrative we always see.
Networking is slow and painful, but unfortunately I'd say it's pretty necessary. It's a resource just as important as customer empathy or programming ability.
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#15In my CTO role, I run into a lot of people who want to integrate with my company. It will certainly help to have a company site and use a company email address to show legitimacy. Have a specific use case in a tailor emails and explain why you want to integrate with my API and why it will benefit my company.
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#16Try to get to know someone that work there through LinkedIn. Ask for introduction to someone you know. You don’t need to directly get to the person you are looking for, just someone in the company. Then ask this person who would be the best person in the company to interact with and ask for an introduction.
Getting there from inside is much easier
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#17I've had this issue, I've literally gone months without a reply when trying to buy access to an API for $1,000 a month... i don't know either... it def showed they are not a place to do business.
What was the API?
Bowker Book API, I still can't tell if they really want to sell access. Takes months to get a reply and didn't trust them enough to even test it with that type of reply rate.
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
I like how the actual secret to success is basically 'already be an insider with lots of connections'. I definitely don't think you're wrong; it just goes against the esoteric startup narrative we always see.
Networking is slow and painful, but unfortunately I'd say it's pretty necessary. It's a resource just as important as customer empathy or programming ability.
In life it's either who you know or good SEO.
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#19I've gotten emails from random people/ companies in the past. They found my name on LinkedIn and proceed to spam firstname.lastname@company.domain These get ignored first time round. Second time they get marked as spam. Third time onwards, well I just get a bit annoyed. But I never reply. I should probably try to block that email straight up. For example, I've received emails from someone every Monday for 5 weeks in…
Whenever this happens I create a filter and skip the inbox from that sender.
Re: Ask HN: Startup, how to get companies to take you seriously?
#20Really depends on the context, but I would mostly disagree with folks saying you need a "landing page" for this. It would probably be enough to just have an email that isn't your private one, and give yourself a relevant title such as "CTO" or "VP Partnerships". Also, if in doubt, call the companies.