How to research a startup before reaching out
research a startupstartup researchbefore cold outreachprospect research
What to Know Before You Send the First Message
Five minutes of research is the difference between a reply and the trash folder. Before reaching out, find:
1. Their most recent funding round, the amount, and the date
2. Who led the round and which investors are on the cap table
3. What the company actually does, in one plain sentence
4. Recent hires, launches, or expansion news
5. The specific person who owns the problem you solve
Use these to write an opening line that proves you did the work, then connect their current moment to your offer.
How to Research at Scale Without Spending Hours
Manual research does not scale past a handful of prospects a day. To keep quality high while reaching more companies: - Start from a directory that already bundles funding date, amount, and founder name - Standardise the three or four data points you need for every prospect - Spend your saved time on the one custom sentence that makes the email feel personal
JustRaised lists the funding details and founder name together, so part of the research step is done before you start writing.
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