Why Startups Are Different

At big companies, you go through HR. At startups, founders are often the hiring managers - especially for early hires. This is your biggest advantage as a job seeker.

Finding Founder Contact Info

Startup founders are surprisingly accessible:

Twitter/X: Many founders are active and respond to DMs

LinkedIn: Connect with a personalized note

Company website: Check the team page

Crunchbase/AngelList: Often lists founder emails

Email pattern: Try firstname@company.com

What Founders Care About

Founders are busy. They care about:

• Impact: Can you move the needle quickly?
• Hustle: Are you willing to wear multiple hats?
• Culture fit: Will you vibe with the team?
• Low risk: Can you prove yourself before a full commitment?

The Perfect Founder Outreach

Template: The Problem-Solver

Subject: Idea to help [Company] with [specific challenge]
Hi [Founder Name],
I've been following [Company] since [specific milestone]. What you're building in [space] is exciting.
I noticed [specific observation - maybe from their job posts, product, or business]. I ran into a similar challenge at [Previous Company] and [specific result you achieved].
I'd love to share a few ideas on how I could help [Company] [specific goal]. Would you be open to a 15-minute chat this week?
[Your Name]

Template: The Superfan

Subject: [Product] changed how I [specific use case]
Hi [Founder Name],
I've been using [Product] for [timeframe] and it's genuinely changed how I [specific benefit].
I'm a [your role] with experience in [relevant skills]. I'd love to contribute to what you're building. Even happy to start with a small project to prove my value.
Worth a quick chat?
[Your Name]

Following Up

Founders are busy. If you don't hear back:

• Wait 5-7 days
• Send a brief, friendly follow-up
• Try a different channel (email → LinkedIn → Twitter)