Short answer: a funding round gives you a dated, public reason to write, but a bare "congratulations" goes nowhere. Write within two to three weeks of the announcement, quote what it says and tie it to a problem the round creates. The closing question matters more than the compliment.
Why is a funding round a good moment to write?
A round announces goals. The company says in public that it will hire, open a market or structure its team. Your message can hang on that sentence, which sets it apart from a cold message.
The limit is real. Having money does not mean having a need for your offer. Funds go first to the priorities of the founder and the investors, rarely to an unknown supplier. A round raises your odds of being heard, not of being chosen.
Where do you spot a funding round?
- The founder's or the company's LinkedIn post, which often comes before the press.
- Press releases from the company and its investors.
- The trade press of your sector.
- A Watchlist of followed profiles: see below.
Always check the amount and the date in the announcement itself. A figure copied from a second-hand article, and wrong, is the quickest way to lose your credibility in one sentence.
Whom do you write to, and when?
Within two to three weeks of the announcement: this is our rule of thumb, not a measurement. Earlier, the founder's inbox overflows with congratulations. Later, priorities are already set.
Write to the founder when the company is small. Write to the relevant manager when the announcement names a field: the head of sales if it talks about speeding up sales, the head of engineering if it talks about product. One contact per company per week, otherwise your message looks like a campaign.
Which message templates should you send?
Square brackets are for you to replace. Each message fits in three or four lines and ends with a question.
1. The announcement mentions hiring
Hi [First name], I read the announcement of your round. You mention building a sales team by the end of the year. How do you plan to onboard the new hires in their first weeks?
2. The announcement mentions a new market
Hi [First name], congratulations on the move into [market] announced with your round. What worries you most about this first step: finding the first customers or structuring the local team?
3. A direct message, for a founder
Hi [First name], I often read founders who raise a round and then find out the hardest part is [problem you solve]. Is that a topic for you?
4. The announcement names an investor
Hi [First name], I saw that [fund] came in. That kind of investor often asks for precise numbers on [topic]. Do you already have a way to track them?
5. No ask: a resource
Hi [First name], congrats on the round. We wrote a short page on [topic tied to the announcement]. Shall I send it over if it can help?
Only send the resource in template 5 if it exists. Our article on the first message built on a specific fact explains why this structure works better than an introduction.
What should you avoid in this message?
- Congratulating and adding nothing. Ten other people did it the same week.
- Quoting an approximate amount. If you are not sure, leave it out.
- Assuming the money is available to you. Write as if the budget still has to be won.
- Writing to five people at the same company. Pick one way in.
- Promising a result. Ask a question, offer a conversation later.
How does Sales Farmer spot these moments?
The Watchlist watches the LinkedIn profiles you point it at and picks up funding rounds, hires, posts and job changes. Every day it ranks the people to contact and suggests a first message that quotes the fact it found. You read and edit before anything is sent.
Two limits: the Watchlist reads people's profiles, not yet the posts of company pages, and a round announced anywhere other than on a followed profile can slip past. The Starter plan watches 10 profiles, the Growth plan has no limit. See the Watchlist page.
FAQ
How long after a funding round should you write?
Aim for the two to three weeks after the announcement. It is a field rule of thumb: adapt it if the announcement names a precise hiring or launch date.
Should you congratulate in the message?
Half a sentence is enough. The compliment opens the message, but what earns a reply is the question that follows on a precise point of the announcement.
Whom should you write to after a round: the founder or a manager?
The founder in a small company. The manager of the field named in the announcement in a bigger one, since that person decides the related purchases.
How do you check the amount of a funding round?
Read the company's announcement or the investor's press release. If sources disagree, do not quote an amount and talk about the stated goal instead.