Ask HN: How are founders finding investors without warm intros in 2025?

paulwilsonn | 3 points

I'm not sure why anyone would think a connection to an investor would be easy to find. This is likely a bigger issue than whatever you're trying to build, because funding partners need to be a good fit.

Unfortunately, without existing connections, you have to put in a lot of effort helping people in your networks so you can ask them to help you. If you haven't been putting that work in by providing real help/value/relief to those in your network for years, it is an uphill battle to get a warm intro to an investor of all things.

leakycap | a day ago

- Get into a reputable accelerator program, you’ll build your network.

- Find meet ups in your major metropolitan area.

- Your 2nd and 3rd degree networks are bigger than you imagine, you can absolutely get a warm intro.

- Forgo all investment and bootstrap.

curious_curios | a day ago

connect w scouts - invite them for a coffee closeby their office - those are (younger) roles that build pipeline for the partners

flarion | a day ago

cold emails and DMs often go unread

Often that’s because spam filters tend to filter out unsolicited emails. DM’s work similarly.

Getting a warm intro requires resourcefulness. That’s a skill investors value. If a warm intro is too much work, then building a startup will be too.

Of course if you build something interesting investors may look for you…and you will need a good spam filter to filter distractions. Good luck

brudgers | a day ago
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| a day ago

Traction opens doors imo. Unless it’s some hard tech thing and you’re an Ivy League or industry expert with a solid plan.

moomoo11 | a day ago