By Seniority Level · Any
Reaching out to Startup CTO/Founder
Exploring opportunities or learning about startup
Subject
Excited about what you're building at [Company Name]
Alternate subject lines
Email body
Hi [Name], I hope you're doing well! My name is [Your Name], and I'm a [Your Role] with [X years] of experience in [your expertise]. I recently came across [Company Name] and was genuinely impressed by [specific aspect - e.g., "your approach to solving [problem]" or "the product's impact on [target audience]"]. I've been following your journey and particularly resonated with [specific thing - e.g., "your recent blog post on [topic]" or "your talk at [event]" or "the technical architecture you described in [article]"]. My background includes: •[Key skill / experience 1] •[Key skill / experience 2] •[Key skill / experience 3] I'm really excited about the problems [Company Name] is solving and would love to explore if there's an opportunity to contribute. I'd be grateful for a chance to learn more about your technical challenges and vision. Would you be open to a brief chat? I'm flexible with timing. Thank you for building something impactful! Best regards, [Your Name] [LinkedIn Profile] [GitHub Profile] [Portfolio / Project Link if relevant]
Tips for success
- Show genuine interest in their mission and product
- Reference specific things they've shared or built
- Be enthusiastic but professional
- Demonstrate understanding of startup challenges
- Show you've used or researched their product
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Research the company and product thoroughly
- Show alignment with their mission and values
- Be flexible and adaptable in your approach
- Demonstrate startup mindset and hustle
- Follow up respectfully
Don't
- Don't focus only on salary and perks
- Don't send generic startup emails
- Don't ignore their product - try it first
- Don't compare negatively to big tech
- Don't forget to show passion for their problem space
Placeholders
[Name]Person's first name[Your Name]Your full name[Your Role]Your current role[X years]Your years of experience[Your expertise]Your area of expertise[Company Name]Startup name[Specific aspect]Something specific about their company[Specific thing]Specific blog/talk/article reference[Key skill/experience]Your relevant skills[LinkedIn Profile]Your LinkedIn URL[GitHub Profile]Your GitHub URL[Portfolio/Project Link]Relevant workFollow-up email
5-7 days after initial emailFollowing up - Interested in [Company Name]
Hi [Name], I hope you're doing well! I wanted to follow up on my message about [Company Name]. I'm still very excited about what you're building and would love to explore how I can contribute. I understand startups move fast, so happy to chat whenever it's convenient. Thank you! Best regards, [Your Name]
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