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Why we picked it OpenVC runs the platform millions of these emails pass through, so their rules are drawn from data, not opinion: put a thesis-fit signal in the subject ("SaaS for supply chain"), lead the body with one traction metric, and keep the whole thing under 1,000 characters so a partner reads it in 60 seconds. Pair it with their companion post of 13 real annotated cold emails founders actually sent to see the rules in the wild.
How to Cold Email Investors (And Actually Get Replies)
From OpenVC by OpenVC Team 12 min read
- The top 10 percent of founders still hit 15 to 25 percent reply rates on cold email, so "cold email does not work" is a myth told by people sending bad ones.
- Budget 10 to 15 minutes per genuinely customized email and target 80 to 120 thesis-fit investors rather than blasting 500; precision is the whole game.
- One specific ask tied to a date beats a vague "would love to connect," and most yeses come from the second or third follow-up, not the first send.