Fundraising
Investor Outreach Cold Email Example
Cold email to investors example that gets meetings. Shows how to lead with traction, demonstrate thesis fit, and stand out in a VC's inbox.
The Scenario
A seed-stage B2B SaaS founder reaches out to a VC partner who has invested in similar companies. The startup has meaningful traction and is raising their seed round.
The Email
SUBJECT LINE
CloudSecure - $85k MRR, B2B security
Hi Michael, I'm the founder of CloudSecure. We help mid-market companies automate cloud security compliance. Traction: - $85k MRR, growing 22% month-over-month - 45 customers including Dropbox, Instacart, and Notion - $0 in paid acquisition - 100% inbound/referral - NRR: 135% Why now: SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance became table stakes for selling to enterprise. The market grew from $2B to $8B in 3 years, and existing tools (Vanta, Drata) are focused on SMB. Mid-market is underserved. Why you: Your investment in Snyk and LaceworkHQ shows your thesis around developer-first security tools. We're building the same playbook for compliance. We're raising a $3M seed led by Jason Lemkin (committed), looking for one more partner. 20 minutes to discuss? Lisa Chen Founder & CEO, CloudSecure
Why It Works
- 1Subject line leads with most impressive metric
- 2Traction is specific and impressive (MRR, growth rate, logos)
- 3NRR shows strong product-market fit
- 4Clear market thesis and why now
- 5Demonstrates knowledge of VC's portfolio
- 6Social proof from committed investor
- 7Specific ask (20 minutes)
Key Elements Breakdown
OPENING
Direct - company and what they do in one line
VALUE PROPOSITION
Growing fast in a large, underserved market
SOCIAL PROOF
Customer logos, Jason Lemkin commitment, 135% NRR
CALL TO ACTION
Specific time ask - 20 minutes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leading with the idea instead of traction
- No numbers or vague numbers ("growing fast")
- No thesis alignment with the VC
- Asking for more time than needed
- Not demonstrating why now
Variations to Try
- Reference a recent blog post or tweet from the VC
- Lead with a specific thesis statement
- Include a deck link for convenience
Related Templates
More Examples
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