Getting warm introductions to  investors can be an amazing way to increase your chances of getting funding for your startup (at least, to arrange 1st call meetings).‍

Here are a few steps you can take:

Events. Attend industry events, conferences, and seminars to meet potential investors. Build relationships with people who can introduce you to investors, such as lawyers, accountants, and successful entrepreneurs.‍

Startup communities. Join online startup groups in Slack, Discord and other places, and get involved in the community. This will help you build relationships with other entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts who can potentially introduce you to investors. ‍

Use your network. Leverage your existing network to try to get a warm introduction to the investor. Ask anyone you know who might have a connection to the investor to introduce you. Probably, you already have mutual friends with particular investor.

Pros of being introduced:

— Higher chances (by 84%) to arrange a meeting

— Increase credibility to yourself and your company

— Increase the likelihood of consideration

— Begin a relationship between yourself and the investor

— Higher likelihood of receiving investment from the investor

— Negotiate a higher valuation for your company

— Get a valuable feedback and advice more likely

— Save time and effort in seeking out potential investors

Did you know

“84% of respondents say that they are more likely to engage with someone who has been recommended by a mutual connection” — LinkedIn Study.

“70% of angel investors prefer to invest in companies that were introduced to them through a mutual contact” — Angel Capital Association.

“Companies that received warm introductions had a 62% success rate in raising funding, while those that did not had a success rate of only 23%” — Kauffman Foundation Study.