How to raise pre-seed without connections

The warm-intro advice assumes you already know people who know investors. Plenty of founders do not. The good news: pre-seed is the stage where a sharp cold approach works, because angels and micro-funds expect to meet strangers.

Build proof before you build a list

At pre-seed you are selling the team and the insight, but any proof helps: a waitlist, a pilot, early revenue, a working prototype. Get one number you can lead with.

Build a targeted list, not a big one

Twenty investors who back your exact sector and stage beat two hundred random ones. Filter hard by sector, stage and cheque size. A pre-seed investor list does the filtering for you; a free sample lets you judge the data first.

Cold email that reads like a warm one

Reference something specific they backed, lead with your strongest proof, and make one clear ask. Use the investor email template and avoid the common mistakes.

Create your own warm intros

Every reply, even a no, is a relationship. Ask a passing investor who else they would talk to. Cold turns warm fast when you are useful and specific.

Expect a funnel

Most cold emails get no reply. Contact enough of the right people and the math works. See how many investors to contact.