My entire network is in product leadership at tech companies. How do you pivot those relationships into VC introductions without coming across as transactional? I hate the ‘can you intro me to your VC?’ approach. Any playbooks for adding value first?
newsflash: all networking is transactional. your product buddies will smell the desperation either way. better to target VCs directly - they ignore 90% of warm intros anyway. cold email with a hot take on their portfolio. works better than groveling for referrals
maybe offer to intro THEM to startups u know? like be a connector first? idk if that works tho
Build genuine expertise first. Host micro-events analyzing emerging tech trends with your product leader network, then invite target VCs as guest listeners. Position yourself as a curator of insights rather than a job seeker. After 2-3 sessions, the ask becomes natural.
Analysis of 120 successful transitions shows that PMs who published 5+ tactical essays on niche verticals saw 3x more inbound VC interest versus those relying on outreach. Build public proof of pattern recognition abilities first.