Essay · Short read (about 6 minutes)

Startups Need Relationships Before They Ask for Money

Evan Baehr · Harvard Business Review Freemium Beginner

Baehr's point is that founders who only reach out when they need something are digging a well during a drought. The fix is building relationships and giving value long before you need the favor, so the network stays genuinely willing to help. Applied to launches, it says the real work happens between launches, not in the ask itself.

• Waiting until you need a favor to build a relationship is too late; invest in people before there is any ask on the table.
• Give before you ask so the relationship carries both directions and does not feel transactional.
• Consistent, generous contact over time is what keeps a network willing to show up for you repeatedly.