What Founders Should Say When Reaching Out to VCs on LinkedIn
What Founders Should Say When Reaching Out to VCs on LinkedIn
Reaching out to VCs on LinkedIn is hard.
They're busy. They're pitched 10 times a day. And most cold messages?
Ignored. Or worse—left on read.
But here's the truth:
VCs do reply on LinkedIn—if you know how to approach them.
This post breaks down exactly what to say, what to avoid, and how to write a DM that gets noticed without sounding like a pitch deck in disguise.
🧠 What VCs Are Thinking When They Open a DM
Before we dive into the templates, remember this:
VCs aren't just evaluating your startup—they’re evaluating you.
Your first message signals:
- How you think
- How you communicate
- How self-aware (or delusional) you are
- How likely you are to build something people want
So… no pressure. But also: don’t blow it.
💬 The Goal of Your Message Is NOT to Get a Check
Your goal is simple:
Spark curiosity → earn a reply → start a relationship.
You’re not closing funding in a DM. You’re starting a conversation.
✍️ Structure of a High-Converting VC DM
1. Personal context
Mention why you’re reaching out to them specifically (not a mass blast).
2. Who you are / what you're building
One sentence. No jargon.
3. Early traction / unique insight
Numbers or a sharp POV. Not fluff.
4. CTA: permission to share more
Ask if they'd be open—not assume they will be.
✅ Example 1: Pre-Seed Founder with Traction
Hey Julia — I've been following your work with early-stage infra bets like Vercel. Loved your recent post on bottoms-up GTM.
I’m building Reverb — we help remote sales teams cut onboarding time in half with async video intelligence. Launched 3 weeks ago and already onboarded 22 teams.
Would love to share more if you're exploring this space. Totally understand if the timing’s off.
✅ Example 2: Founder with a Sharp POV
Hi Karan — Really appreciated your thesis on vertical SaaS differentiation. It aligns with something we’re seeing at Groundline.
We’re building AI-powered ops tooling for precision agriculture. It’s a boring industry—but our first pilot reduced spoilage by 17%.
Happy to share more if you’re curious.
✅ Example 3: No Traction Yet, But Deep Why
Hi Anjali — I saw you led the pre-seed round for HealStack. I’m working on something in a similar space and would love to get your perspective.
I’m a solo founder building a better data pipeline for clinical trials—based on pain points I saw first-hand while running ops at a CRO.
Would it be okay if I shared a short deck and our hypothesis?
🚫 What NOT to Do
❌ Generic spray-and-pray
“Hi, we’re raising our pre-seed round and thought you’d be interested.”
→ Delete.
❌ Ego pitch
“We’re the Uber of [X]. $20B TAM. Market is ripe. Just need the capital.”
→ No trust. No credibility.
❌ Overshare
9-paragraph life story + link to Notion + full pitch deck.
→ Too much too soon. Save it for the call.
🧠 Advanced Tips
- Follow before you DM — Warm it up with a like or comment on their post.
- Time your message well — Late morning or early afternoon local time.
- Use your profile as backup — Make sure it’s crisp, credible, and not a ghost town.
- Expect a “not now” — Stay in touch, send updates, and don’t burn the bridge.
TL;DR — Reach Out Like a Founder, Not a Fundraiser
- Lead with relevance
- Be clear and concise
- Invite, don’t assume
- Respect their time
- Make it easy to say yes
Because the best investor conversations don’t start with a pitch—they start with a spark.
P.S.
We built Jerry to help founders surface warm leads, track who’s engaging with their content, and craft messages that don’t sound like… well, everyone else.
Outreach shouldn’t feel gross.
It should feel like you.