How to Email an Investor After a Warm Intro
The warm intro landed. Your target investor is on the CC line. Here’s the battle-tested script and strategy to turn that intro into a term sheet.
TL;DR: After getting a double opt-in intro, email the investor by moving your connector to BCC. Your email must be a short, personalized pitch with strong traction metrics and a link to a trackable deck (never an attachment). Follow up with a concise "nudge-update-breakup" cadence if you don't hear back.
Key takeaways
- Secure a "double opt-in" intro using a forwardable blurb.
- When you get the intro, immediately move your connector to BCC.
- Your email must be <200 words and include specific traction metrics.
- Never attach a deck. Use a trackable link (DocSend, Pitch).
- Your call to action must be specific: suggest a 20-minute call next week.
- Use a "Nudge, Update, Breakup" sequence for follow-ups.
Your First Impression is an Email
The warm intro landed. Your target investor is on the CC line. This is the first real test of your ability to sell, and your email is the entire playing field.
Most founders send rambling emails with clunky attachments and weak calls to action. They get deleted in seconds. This guide gives you the process and scripts experienced founders use to turn an introduction into a meeting.
Before the Intro: Master the Double Opt-In
Never let anyone introduce you without the investor's permission. A surprise intro is a cold email with an awkward social tax. It forces the investor to deal with an email they didn't ask for and puts your connector in a bad spot.
You must secure a "double opt-in." This means getting explicit permission from the investor before the intro is made. You do this by making it trivially easy for your connector to ask on your behalf. Send them a "forwardable blurb."
The Ask Template
This email goes to your potential connector.
Subject: Intro to [Investor Name]?
Hey [Connector Name],
Hope you're doing great. We're raising a M pre-seed for Acme Inc., an AI platform that automates last-mile logistics for DTC brands. We just crossed $30k MRR and are growing 50% month-over-month, with early customers like Glossier and Away.
I saw [Investor Name] led the seed round for [Relevant Company] and seems to be deep in the e-commerce infrastructure space. Would you be open to asking them if they'd be up for an intro?
I've drafted a short blurb below to make it dead simple. Thanks either way!
The Forwardable Blurb Template
This is what your connector will send to the investor. It must be potent and concise—under 100 words. It has one job: to get the investor to say "yes, please connect us."
Acme Inc. is an AI-powered logistics platform for DTC brands that saves them over 20% on shipping costs. We're at $30k MRR, growing 50% MoM, and are trusted by brands like Glossier and Away.
They are raising a M pre-seed round to scale their engineering and sales teams. A link to their short teaser deck is here: [Link to trackable teaser deck]
The Intro Is Made: How to Write the Perfect Pitch Email
Once your connector sends the intro email, you must reply within a few hours. Your goal is simple: get the investor on the phone. Every word should serve that purpose.
Continue reading the full guide
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