The Forwardable Email: Your Best Tool for Breaking into Networks
Why most founders fumble intro requests—and how to fix it.
Co-authored with Aaliyah Aramjoo.
An investor takes a meeting with you. The conversation goes well. At the end, they say: “This isn’t the right fit for us, but I’d be happy to introduce you to a few other funds. Send me something I can forward.”
This is the moment. And most founders miss it.
They send a three-paragraph essay about their company’s origin story. Or something vague, such “we’re raising a round and would love to connect” note. Or—worst of all—they don’t send anything at all, assuming the investor will just figure it out.
Here’s what we’ve learned: if you make it hard for someone to introduce you, you risk the chance that they won’t. Even if they want to help.
A forwardable email isn’t about you. It’s about making the person forwarding it look smart and helpful. That’s the entire game.
What We’ve Seen Work
A good forwardable email does three things:
It’s short. Three to four sentences max. The person forwarding it should be able to skim it in ten seconds and know exactly what you need. If they must edit your email to make it work, you’ve already lost.
It’s clear about what you do. One sentence. “We help accounting firms automate tax compliance workflows” is better than “We’re modernizing professional services.” Clarity beats cleverness every time.
It includes a specific ask. Don’t say “I’d love to connect.” Say “I’m raising a $2M seed round for B2B SaaS in healthcare—would you be open to a 20-minute intro call?” Specificity makes it easy to say yes or no.
The Structure
Here’s what works:
Line 1: Who you are and what the company does. “I’m [Name], founder of [Company]. We help [specific customer] solve [specific problem].”
Line 2: The traction or proof point that matters most. “ We closed five enterprise deals last quarter and hit $150K in MRR.”
Line 3: What you need and why the timing matters. “We’re raising a $2M seed round to expand our sales team and build out our data dashboard.”
Line 4: The ask. “Would you be open to a 20-minute call to discuss whether this might be a fit?”
That’s it. Four sentences. No fluff. Easy to forward.
And don’t forget to include any helpful attachments, such as a pitch deck.
When You Need One Ready
You should have a forwardable email drafted and ready to go before you start taking meetings. When someone offers to make an intro, you want to send it within the hour—not three days later after you’ve “had a chance to put something together.”
Investors talk to dozens of founders every week. If you’re not top of mind when they’re thinking about who to introduce you to, you may have missed your shot.
We tell founders this all the time: venture is a network-driven game. The ones who make it easy for people to help them are the ones who get the intros. And the intros are what open doors.
Legal Disclaimer
This newsletter provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on your contracts, consult with a qualified attorney.
Co-authored with Aaliyah Aramjoo
Aaliyah is an investor at KCRise Fund, where she evaluates early-stage opportunities and works closely with portfolio companies. She writes a finance newsletter (two cents) and has built a strong voice in the Kansas City venture community since entering the venture space.
About Liam
Liam is an attorney and former venture capital principal who has worked across tech transactions, M&A, IP, and early-stage investing. He’s spent years on both sides of the table—negotiating deals as counsel and evaluating opportunities as an investor.
Field Notes for Founders brings practical insights from that experience to help entrepreneurs build smarter companies.