Only so that the investor will get 2-3 emails from founders who really know nothing about you other than what they found out in a 10 minute phone call or a rushed 30 min Starbucks on 2nd and Folsom.
Shouldn't an associate (who actually gets paid for this job) do this, rather than waste founders who are busy building their own companies?
Don't you think that system is broken?
"you suggest people waste: - a lot of their own time" I wouldn't call it "wasting time" if it gets you the result you want.
"even though you have nothing in common with them" Being startup founders is already having a lot in common.
"All you want is a backhanded intro" I wouldn't do any of this in a backhanded way, founders will smell it. Be transparent and upfront.
"Only so that the investor will get 2-3 emails" The question was how to get warm introductions... these are warm introductions :)
"from founders who really know nothing about you other than what they found out in a 10 minute phone call" ... or from follow up interactions you've had with them after that initial 10 minute phone call...
"Don't you think that system is broken?" Nope :) I think it's an imperfect system - but then everything in the real world is.
1. Reach out to people who got funded by the VCs you want.
2. Ask them for a 10 minute phone call or if you can invite them for coffee. Do this with enough people and some WILL take the time.
3. Be awesome when talking to the founders (so they like you and believe you've got the stuff.
4. Ask for an intro.
5. Repeat 1 - 4 until you get an intro.
Details: https://medium.com/@Steli/how-to-get-warm-introductions-to-v...