Warm Intro

---
name: warm-intro
description: Get warm introductions to investors. Writes the forwardable (double opt-in) intro the founder sends to a mutual connection, plus the ask that makes saying yes easy, and ways to find warm paths. Use when a founder says "ask my contact to intro me to <investor>", "write a forwardable intro", "I have a mutual connection to <fund>", or wants to turn a connection into an investor meeting. A warm intro beats the best cold email — route here whenever a path exists.
---

# Warm introductions

A warm intro is the highest-converting way into an investor. This skill helps a
founder (1) find who can introduce them and (2) write a **forwardable, double
opt-in** intro that makes the connector's job effortless and the investor's
decision easy.

Read `shared/references/outreach-ethics.md` first. The connector is spending
*their* credibility for you — never make that costly or risky for them.

## The core mechanic: double opt-in, forwardable

The gold-standard etiquette:

1. **You write a short note to your connector** asking if they're willing to
   intro — and you include a **forwardable blurb** they can paste/forward as-is.
2. **The connector checks with the investor first** ("can I intro you to X?") —
   double opt-in. This protects the connector and means the investor arrives
   warm, not ambushed.
3. **The connector forwards your blurb**; the investor replies; you take it from
   there.

Your job is to make step 1 take the connector 30 seconds. The easier you make
it, the more likely it happens — and the better it reflects on you.

## Step 1 — Find the warm path

> If the founder doesn't yet know *who* to target at the firm or *who* can
> introduce them, run the **`warm-path-finder`** skill first — it pinpoints the
> right person and ranks connection paths from the founder's own authorized data
> (Gmail, exported LinkedIn connections, contacts) and public sources. This skill
> takes over once a named introducer exists.

Before writing, help the founder figure out *who* can intro them:

- **Direct**: do they already know someone at/near the firm?
- **Second degree**: search LinkedIn for shared connections to the target
  partner; check who in their network knows portfolio founders (a portfolio
  founder's intro is gold — investors trust their founders).
- **Community paths**: accelerator alumni, university/employer networks, angel
  syndicates, founder Slacks, mutual advisors.
- **Best connector ≠ most senior.** The ideal introducer is someone the investor
  *trusts and replies to* and who genuinely rates you. A lukewarm intro from a
  big name is worse than an enthusiastic one from a respected peer.

If no path exists, say so and route to the `cold-email` skill — but suggest
cheap ways to build a path first (engage with the investor's content, get into a
community they're in, ask a portfolio founder for advice rather than an intro).

## Step 2 — Write the ask to the connector

Short, no-pressure, with an easy out. Include the forwardable blurb. See
`references/forwardable-template.md` for full templates. Shape:

- Warm one line to the connector (real, personal).
- The ask: "Would you be open to introducing me to <Name> at <Fund>? Only if
  you're comfortable — no worries at all if not."
- Why this investor (1 line) so the connector can vouch with context.
- "I've written a short blurb below you can forward if it's easy." → blurb.

## Step 3 — Write the forwardable blurb

This is what the investor actually reads, so it follows cold-email discipline
(short, specific, one ask) but warmer because it's vouched-for:

- Who you are + one-liner.
- The 1–2 strongest, truest traction points.
- Why this investor specifically.
- The ask: a 20–30 min call.
- A link (deck/site), no big attachment.

Keep it ~75–110 words. The connector should be able to forward it without
editing.

## Step 4 — After the intro

- **Reply fast** (same day) and **move the connector to bcc** in your first
  reply to the investor — standard etiquette that respects their inbox.
- **Close the loop**: thank the connector and tell them how it went, whether or
  not it converts. They took a reputational risk; gratitude keeps the channel
  open for next time.

## Hard rules

- **Never fabricate a relationship** or imply a closer connection than is real.
- **Always give the connector an easy "no."** Pressure poisons the well.
- **Truthful traction**, same as everywhere.
- **One investor per ask** (unless the connector explicitly offers several) —
  don't hand someone a list to shop you around; it reads as low-conviction.

## Bilingual / China market (中文)

If the founder is raising in the **China market** or asks for **Chinese**
output, use `references/zh-talk-tracks.md` and first read
`shared/references/china-market-playbook.md`. In China, intros usually run over
**WeChat (拉群 / 推名片)** rather than a forwardable email, and closing the loop
with the connector (致谢) is even more important — 人情 is reciprocal. The zh
file gives the connector ask, a forwardable blurb, group-intro etiquette, and the
thank-you/loop-close, all in Chinese.

## Output format

Deliver:
- **Note to the connector** (with the no-pressure ask).
- **Forwardable blurb** (ready to paste).
- **The follow-up reply** to send once the investor responds (connector to bcc).
- A reminder to **close the loop** with the connector afterward.