How founders can warm up investors on LinkedIn
A two-week way for founders to get on an investor's radar on LinkedIn before asking for a meeting: engage with their thesis, connect with a specific note, then make a short, easy ask.
The short answer
Spend two weeks showing a partner you understand what they invest in before you ask for anything. Follow them and react to posts in your space, leave one comment with a real data point, then connect with a note that ties their thesis to what you're building. Two days after they accept, send one line of traction and ask for 20 minutes. If you can get a warm intro from someone they know, do that instead.
#Start with their thesis, not your deck
Most partners write about what they want to fund. Read their last five posts and any blog or podcast they link to. Write down their thesis in one sentence. If your company doesn't fit that sentence, they're the wrong investor, however famous the fund.
| Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|
| They've posted about your problem in the last six months | They only post about portfolio wins |
| They invest at your stage | Their smallest cheque is bigger than your round |
| They've backed founders like you | They've backed a direct competitor |
| They reply to comments | Their posts are clearly ghostwritten announcements |
#The two-week plan
- Week 1: follow and react
Follow the partner and react to two or three posts that relate to your space. Quietly, no comments yet.
- Week 2: one real comment
Add a data point, a customer quote or a respectful counter-view in one or two sentences. No pitch, no link.
- Day 15: connect
A short note tying their thesis to what you're building.
- Day 17: the ask
One line of traction and a 20-minute ask with two time options. Make "not now" easy.
Thanks for connecting, Daniel. Quick context: £40k MRR and three design partners in logistics. Given your focus on supply-chain software, would a 20-minute look in the next few weeks be useful?
#What to do when they reply
- "Send the deck": send it with a three-line summary, not just an attachment.
- "Too early for us": ask what milestone would make it interesting, and note it.
- "Not our focus": thank them and ask if there's anyone they'd suggest. Often there is.
- No reply: one gentle follow-up after a week with a genuine update, then stop.
Frequently asked questions
No. Ask for a short call first and offer the deck if they're interested.
