The Complete Guide to Pre Seed Investor Outreach US: How to Find Investors and Master Cold Email Strategies for Startup Fundraising

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

Key Takeaways

• Pre-seed investor outreach in the US requires a targeted, systematic approach to stand out in a competitive market.
• Build a filtered list of investors based on sector thesis, geography, check size, and recent activity.
• Warm introductions through mutual connections are the preferred path to investor meetings.
• A well-crafted cold email strategy can work when personalized and value-focused.
• Track key metrics like open rates, reply rates, and meeting conversions to optimize your outreach.
• Avoid common mistakes like spray-and-pray emails, ignoring check size fit, and pitching without proper preparation.

Startup founders in the United States often waste upwards of six months chasing the wrong people. You spend hours scrolling through LinkedIn and sending emails into the void. This burns valuable time you should spend building your product. To succeed, you need a specific plan for pre seed investor outreach us.

The US market is loud and competitive. Investors in hubs like San Francisco and New York see thousands of pitch decks every year. If you want to stand out, you cannot rely on luck. You need a system.

This guide is your step-by-step playbook. We will cover exactly how to find pre seed investors in the us, how to build a list, and how to execute a winning pre seed cold email strategy. By the end of this post, you will have a clear path to securing your first round of capital.

The US Pre-Seed Funding Landscape

Before you send a single email, you must understand the terrain. Pre-seed funding is the earliest stage of external capital. It bridges the gap between a raw idea and a seed-stage company with real traction.

What is Pre-Seed in the US?
In the US, pre-seed rounds are typically used to fund prototypes, market research, and initial team building. You are raising money to prove your concept works.

• Cheque Sizes: Rounds usually range from $50,000 to $1.5 million.
• Instruments: Most deals use SAFEs (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) or convertible notes.
• Valuation: This varies, but it is generally lower than seed rounds because the risk is higher.

Key Investor Types
You need to know who holds the chequebook.

• Angel Investors: High-net-worth individuals investing their own money. They often move fast.
• Micro-VCs: Small venture funds that specialize in very early stages.
• Accelerators: Programs like Y Combinator or Techstars that give money and advice in exchange for equity.
• Friends and Family: Often the very first source of cash.

Why a US-Specific Strategy Matters
The US ecosystem is unique. Capital is concentrated in coastal hubs like San Francisco, New York, and Boston. However, investors here are also incredibly demanding. They prioritize founder execution and “unfair advantages” over generic business plans. A strategy that works in Europe or Asia might fail here because US investors expect a faster pace and higher ambition.

How to Find Pre Seed Investors in the US

Finding the right names is 80% of the battle. You cannot just email every investor you see on Twitter. You must build a targeted list of people who invest in your specific type of business. Here is how to find pre seed investors in the us efficiently.

The Investor Targeting Framework
Do not waste time on investors who are not a fit. Filter your search using these criteria:

• Sector Thesis: Do they invest in B2B SaaS, Biotech, or Consumer Apps? If you pitch a fintech idea to a health-tech investor, you are wasting time.
• Geography: Some investors only back founders in their city. Others invest anywhere in the US.
• Check Size: If you need $200k, do not pitch a fund that has a minimum check size of $1 million.
• Lead vs. Follow: Know if the investor can lead the round (set the terms) or if they only follow others.

Tools for Building Your List
You need data to find these people. Use these platforms:

• Crunchbase: Great for filtering by “United States”, “Pre-Seed”, and “Active Investors”.
• AngelList: The go-to place for angel investors and syndicates.
• OpenVC: An open database specifically for finding venture capital.
• PitchBook: A more expensive, professional tool for deep data.
• VC-Branded Job Boards: Sometimes looking at who portfolio companies are hiring gives you a clue about active funds.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. Search: Go to Crunchbase or AngelList.
2. Filter: Set the location to “United States”. Set the investment stage to “Pre-Seed”.
3. Narrow Down: Add your industry keyword (e.g., “Artificial Intelligence” or “E-commerce”).
4. Verify Activity: Look at their recent investments. Have they deployed capital in the last 6 months? If not, skip them.
5. List Building: Export the names to a spreadsheet or Notion doc.

Building Your Dynamic Shortlist
Create a central database for your outreach. You can use Airtable, Excel, or Notion.

• Column A: Investor Name.
• Column B: Firm Name.
• Column C: Email Address.
• Column D: LinkedIn URL.
• Column E: Why they are a fit (write one specific reason).
• Column F: Status (To Contact, Contacted, Meeting Booked).

Pre-Outreach Preparation

You have your list. Now you need to get your house in order. If you reach out with a messy story, you burn the lead.

Crafting an Investable Story
US investors buy the vision before they buy the product.

• Vision: What does the world look like if you succeed?
• Market Size: Is the opportunity big enough to return 100x their money?
• Unfair Advantage: Why is your team the only team that can solve this problem?

Essential Assets
Have these ready before you send a single message:

• Teaser Deck: A short 5-7 slide presentation that sparks interest.
• One-Pager: A single PDF summary of the business.
• Traction Dashboard: Even if pre-revenue, show momentum. This could be user signups, letters of intent, or prototype completion.

Social Proof
Investors are herd animals. They feel safer if others trust you.

• Advisors: Do you have industry experts helping you?
• Waitlists: Do you have 1,000 people waiting for your product?
• Press: Have you been mentioned in niche blogs?
• Pilot Customers: Do you have beta testers?

Warm Introduction Tactics (Preferred Path)

The best way to meet an investor is through a warm introduction. In the US, a referral from a trusted source instantly validates you.

Mapping Your Network

• LinkedIn 2nd Degree: Look at your target investor on LinkedIn. Do you have mutual connections? If yes, ask that mutual friend for an intro.
• Alumni Networks: Did you go to the same university? US investors often have a soft spot for fellow alumni.

Community Presence
Be where the investors are.

• Twitter/X: Engage with their content. Reply to their tweets with thoughtful comments.
• Communities: Join YC Startup School, Product Hunt, or niche Slack groups.

The “Ask for Intro” Script
Make it easy for your connector. Send them a “forwardable email” they can just pass along.

Subject: Intro to [Investor Name] for [Your Company]

Hi [Connector Name],

I noticed you are connected to [Investor Name]. I am currently raising our pre-seed round for [Your Company]. We are solving [Problem] and have already [mention one key traction point].

I think [Investor Name] would be a great fit because of their investment in [Portfolio Company].

Could you forward the blurb below to them to see if they are open to a chat?

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Pre Seed Cold Email Strategy

Warm intros are great, but you will run out of them. This is where a pre seed cold email strategy becomes critical. Cold outreach works in the US if you do it correctly. The goal is not to beg for money. The goal is to start a conversation.

Why Cold Works
US investors are looking for deal flow. They are afraid of missing out on the next big thing. If your email is relevant and professional, they will read it.

The Structure of a Winning Cold Email
Keep it under 150 words.

1. Subject Line: Needs to be short and specific.
2. The Hook: Personalize the first sentence. Prove you did your homework.
3. The Value: What problem do you solve? What is your traction?
4. The Ask (CTA): Low friction. Ask for a brief call or feedback.

Subject Line Examples

• “Quick Intro: AI for Law Firms (ex-Google team)”
• “Re: Your investment in [Portfolio Company]”
• “[Your Company] x [Investor Firm] – Pre-Seed Opportunity”

Personalization at Scale
You cannot send generic emails. You must use merge tags or specific research.

• Mention a recent tweet they liked.
• Mention a specific investment they made in your sector.
• Use a tool like Loom to record a 60-second video pitch.

Template 1: The “Portfolio Fit” Approach

Subject: Building for [Industry] like [Portfolio Co]

Hi [Investor Name],

I saw you were an early backer of [Portfolio Company]. I love their approach to [Strategy].

I’m building [Your Company]. We help [Target Customer] solve [Pain Point]. Unlike current solutions, we [Unique Mechanism].

We just launched our beta and have [Number] active users.

Given your thesis on [Sector], I’d love to get your feedback. Are you open to a 10-minute call next Tuesday?

Best,
[Your Name]
[Link to Deck]

Template 2: The “Traction” Approach

Subject: [Your Company]: $10k ARR in first month

Hi [Investor Name],

I’m reaching out because you invest in [Sector].

We are building the operating system for [Niche]. In just 4 weeks, we have:

• Onboarded [Number] customers
• Secured [Partnership Name]
• Built a waitlist of [Number]

We are opening our pre-seed round and thought of you first. Here is our deck: [Link].

Do you have time for a brief chat this week?

Best,
[Your Name]

Compliance
Always adhere to CAN-SPAM laws. Include your physical address in the footer and an easy way to opt-out.

Multichannel Follow-Through

Sending one email is not enough. Investors are busy. Your email might get buried. You need a multichannel approach.

The Sequence
Do not annoy them, but stay on their radar.

1. Day 1: Send the cold email.
2. Day 2: Connect on LinkedIn (blank request or simple note).
3. Day 4: First follow-up email.
4. Day 8: Second follow-up email (add a new piece of news).
5. Day 14: Break-up email (last attempt).

Coordinating Channels

• LinkedIn: If they accept your connection request, send a polite message referencing your email. “Thanks for connecting, sent you a note earlier about [Company].”
• Twitter: Engage with their tweets during the campaign window. It makes your name familiar.
• Events: If you are in a hub city, attend events where they might speak. “Bumping in” is powerful.

Organization
Use a CRM. You can use HubSpot, Affinity, or a simple spreadsheet. You need to know exactly who you contacted and when. Automated reminders are essential so you never miss a follow-up date.

Tracking & Optimizing Outreach Metrics

You cannot improve what you do not measure. Treat fundraising like a sales funnel.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Open Rate: Are your subject lines working? You want >40%.
• Reply Rate: Is your pitch interesting? You want >5-10%.
• Meeting Conversion: How many replies turn into Zoom calls?
• Term Sheet Rate: The ultimate metric.

A/B Testing
Don’t guess. Test.

• Subject Lines: Send 50 emails with Subject A and 50 with Subject B. See which one gets opened more.
• The Deck: Test sending a “Teaser Deck” (5 slides) vs. a full deck.
• The CTA: Test “Are you open to a call?” vs. “Can I send more info?”

Refining the List
If you are getting a lot of “No, not a fit” replies, your targeting is wrong. Go back to Section 2. Look at the data. Are you pitching growth investors instead of pre-seed investors? Adjust your list based on the feedback.

Common Pitfalls in Pre Seed Investor Outreach US

Even smart founders make basic mistakes. Avoid these errors to keep your reputation clean.

The “Spray and Pray” Method
Sending the same generic email to 500 investors is a disaster. It is obvious, annoying, and leads to instant deletion. It signals that you are lazy.

Ignoring Check Size Fit
Pitching a multi-billion dollar fund for a $50k check shows you do not understand the industry. They literally cannot write a check that small.

Cultural Missteps

• The Hard Sell: Do not try to “close” the investor in the first email. Build a relationship.
• Over-Sharing: Do not send your deepest technical secrets in the first email.
• Dishonesty: Never lie about traction or committed capital. The truth always comes out during due diligence.

Mini Case Studies / Founder Spotlights

Real examples show how this works in practice.

Case Study 1: The Networker (Biotech)
A biotech founder needed high capital for lab work. Cold email was tough because the science was complex.

• Strategy: She identified 50 key investors. Instead of emailing them, she found 10 other founders in their portfolios. She asked those founders for advice first.
• Outcome: After building rapport with the founders, they introduced her to the investors. She raised her round through warm intros.
• Lesson: Use the “founder network” to bridge the gap to investors.

Case Study 2: The Cold Email Hustler (SaaS)
A SaaS founder had no network and lived outside a major hub.

• Strategy: He used a hyper-personalized pre seed cold email strategy. He researched each investor’s blog posts and referenced them in the intro.
• Email: “I built a tool that solves the exact problem you wrote about in your Medium post last week.”
• Outcome: He secured a 15% reply rate and booked 20 meetings in two weeks. He closed his round with three micro-VCs.
• Lesson: Relevance beats geography.

Quick-Hit Resources & Templates

To speed up your process, here is a summary of what you need to create:

• Target List Template: Set up your Airtable with columns for Name, Firm, Thesis, Last Investment Date, and Connection Status.
• Swipe File: Create a document with 3 different subject lines and 3 different email body variations.
• Investor Fit Checklist: Before emailing, ask:
  • Do they invest in my sector?
  • Do they invest at my stage (Pre-Seed)?
  • Have they invested in the last 6 months?
  • Do I have a personal hook?

Conclusion & Action Checklist

Raising pre-seed capital in the US is a grind. It requires resilience, research, and a thick skin. But it is also a solved problem. If you follow the steps, target the right people, and tell a compelling story, you will get meetings.

Remember, the goal of outreach is not to get a check instantly. It is to start a relationship. Be professional, be persistent, and be valuable.

Your 7-Step Action Plan:

1. Define your story: Create your teaser deck and one-pager.
2. Build your list: Find 100 relevant investors using Crunchbase or OpenVC.
3. Filter ruthlessly: Remove anyone who hasn’t invested recently or doesn’t fit your sector.
4. Map your network: Check LinkedIn for warm intros first.
5. Write your scripts: Create 2-3 personalized cold email templates.
6. Launch: Send 10-20 emails per day. Do not blast everyone at once.
7. Follow up: Send respectful follow-ups to anyone who doesn’t reply.

The fundraising journey is tough, but you don’t have to do it manually. Tools and strategies exist to help you focus on what matters – building your business. Start your outreach today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it typically take to raise a pre-seed round in the US?

Most founders spend between 3 to 6 months raising a pre-seed round. This timeline includes list building, outreach, meetings, due diligence, and closing. If you have strong traction or warm introductions, you can shorten this to 6-8 weeks.

Should I focus on angel investors or venture capital firms for pre-seed?

At the pre-seed stage, angel investors and micro-VCs are typically better fits than traditional VC firms. Angels move faster and have lower minimum check sizes. Micro-VCs specialize in early-stage investments. Traditional VCs usually come in at seed or Series A.

What is a good reply rate for cold emails to investors?

A reply rate of 5-10% is considered good for personalized cold outreach. If you are getting less than 3%, your targeting or messaging needs work. Anything above 15% means you have an excellent product-market-investor fit.

How many investors should I contact during my fundraise?

Start with a curated list of 100-150 highly relevant investors. Do not blast thousands. Quality beats quantity. If you personalize your outreach and follow up consistently, 100 well-targeted investors are enough to close your round.

Is it okay to follow up multiple times with an investor who hasn’t responded?

Yes. Most investors are busy and miss emails. A polite follow-up sequence (3-4 emails over two weeks) is standard practice. Just make sure each follow-up adds value, like sharing a new milestone or piece of traction. Avoid being pushy or entitled.

Do I need traction to raise pre-seed funding?

Not always, but it helps significantly. Traction can be user signups, letters of intent, beta testers, or even social media buzz. If you don’t have traditional traction, focus on your unfair advantage, your team’s credentials, or the uniqueness of your approach.