If you are thinking of reaching out, here is what makes the first email useful.
I would rather you send four honest sentences than a polished deck. The honest sentences tell me more.
- One
A few sentences on what you are trying to do.
The plain-language version. Not the strategy doc. The version you would say to a friend who has never heard of your product.
- Two
A few sentences on what feels stuck.
Even if you cannot name it cleanly yet. Especially if you cannot. That is usually the more useful part.
- Three
One link — your product, your team, anything.
I prefer a real artefact to a deck. A live URL, a Loom, a screen, a doc. One is enough.
- Four
When you are hoping to start.
Loose is fine. "Next month" is useful. "Maybe Q3" is also useful. It tells me how long the email can wait.
03 · And a few things to leave out
- A formal RFP. I do not respond to those in any useful way.
- A long NDA in the first email. If we work together I will sign one. The first email is not the place.
- A list of deliverables you want me to price. We can get there. Start with the question, not the receipt.
04 · What happens next
I read every first email within a few days. If it is a fit, I reply with a short note and two or three possible times to talk.
If it is not, I will say so plainly — and usually point you toward someone better suited or something to read. Quiet rejections do nobody any favours.
If you are not sure whether to email at all, the conversation page is the lowest-stakes way to find out.
Write the email.
Four honest sentences are enough. Start with the question, not the receipt.