Networking and investor events
How to Get Warm Introductions to the Right Investors
The #1 way to secure warm introductions to the right investors | Family Office Club Investor Panel
Founders and capital raisers who are still sending cold emails to investors and want a better way to get introduced.
Quotes from the session
"This industry in particular is all about the warm introduction, right? And I think a lot of people spin their wheels on cold outreach, which to me just is a total waste of time."
"if you're an entrepreneur, you basically have one shot at building trust with an investor. And if you blow it, you can't get it back."
"There's a saying in the industry saying if you want capital, ask for advice. If you want to get advice, ask for capital."
What you will hear
Warm introductions are the main way into this industry, according to a Family Office Club investor panel. One panelist called cold outreach a total waste of time. Their advice is to build a target list and find a warm path to each name. One panelist said everyone has a network and that someone who feels they cannot reach an investor may not have tried hard enough.
The panel also covered trust, staying power and asking for advice. One panelist said an entrepreneur gets one shot at trust, and exaggeration can end a deal. Another said a raiser should have money set aside to cover professional fees, marketing and feedback cycles. Richard C. Wilson and the guests also say to approach family offices for advice first, since some are founders who have faced the same cash struggles.
Key facts
- One panelist said raisers should have $300,000 to $500,000 set aside before raising capital, covering professional fees, offering materials and marketing.
- The panel advised choosing 10 family offices you would like to work with and asking each for advice.
- A panelist described warm introductions as the 80/20 rule for reaching investors.
Sources
From Richard C. Wilson's Centimillionaire Strategies YouTube channel: The #1 way to secure warm introductions to the right investors | Family Office Club Investor Panel. Quotes come from the video captions, lightly edited for readability. Figures are the speakers' own estimates and experience.
General education only. Not legal, tax or investment advice.
Talk to a securities attorney to explore options around offering documents, legal fee budgeting and investor outreach rules. Do not use AI to write your own legal agreements.
What stood out
- Skip cold outreach. One panelist said cold outreach is a total waste of time. The panelist described warm introductions as the way this industry works and as the 80/20 rule in practice.
- Build a target list. Make a list of the investors you want. Then work out how to reach each one through someone who knows you.
- Trust comes first. An entrepreneur has one shot at building trust with an investor. Half-truths or exaggeration can end the deal, and the investor may never explain why.
- Ask family offices for advice. Pick 10 family offices you would like to work with and ask each for advice. Some are founders who know the struggle of having too little money, so they may relate.
- Have staying power. A panelist said raisers should have $300,000 to $500,000 set aside before starting. Feedback often forces a redesign of the pitch, and those lessons cost money.
- 1Make your target list
- 2Map your network
- 3Find a warm connection
- 4Ask family offices for advice
- 5Build trust with honesty
Related questions
- Which investor conferences are worth attending for fundraising?The conferences worth your time have real investors on stage, a team that has run many events, and plenty of time to meet people in person.
- How do I close a funding round?I close a funding round by focusing on investors who fit the opportunity and moving each interested prospect through clear, consistent follow-up.
- What documents do investors request during due diligence?Prepare a clear, organized package covering your operations, investments, compensation, team, and track record.
Questions about this video
Why do the panelists prefer warm introductions?
One panelist said the industry is all about the warm introduction and that cold outreach wastes time. A referral, or a contact who already knows you, makes the approach less cold.
What should a founder do if they cannot reach an investor?
The panelist said everyone has a network. If you feel you cannot reach someone, you may not yet have tried every path. Make a target list and find a warm path to each name.
How can asking for advice help with raising capital?
The panel suggested asking 10 family offices for advice on what you are doing. Some are founders who know the same struggles, so they may offer next steps. The saying is that asking for advice can lead to capital.
Put this into practice with the family office fit check. See all networking and investor events resources.
