How to Build Relationships With Founders Using Cold Email
praneetbrar7
Why Building Relationships With Founders via Cold Email Works
Sending cold emails to founders might sound counterintuitive in a world where people value warm introductions and in-person networking. But when done thoughtfully, cold emails can open the door to meaningful relationships, partnerships, and growth opportunities — especially for directory owners, SaaS builders, and indie hackers.
Early-stage founders, particularly those launching products on Product Hunt, are frequently searching for visibility, collaboration, and platforms to list their projects. With the right approach, your outreach won’t come across as spammy — it’ll feel like timely support from someone who understands their journey.
When personalized correctly, cold emails can cut through the noise and build lasting rapport. Whether you’re a directory owner, agency founder, or operator of a SaaS ecosystem, the opportunity to establish a win-win comes down to how genuine and strategic your outreach is.
Understanding the Mindset of Product Hunt Founders
Why Timing Matters
Most founders launching on Product Hunt are operating on adrenaline and hope. They’ve hustled for weeks or months to get their MVP out the door, and now they need eyeballs, feedback, SEO, and users — fast. This makes the aftermath of a Product Hunt launch the perfect time to get on their radar.
The Catch: They’re Inundated With Emails
The flip side is — their inbox explodes on launch day. So your emails must be:
- Personalized with their name and product
- Timely
- Helpful, not pushy
And that’s exactly why tools like NurturingMail work. They automate reaching out with congrats-oriented cold emails designed to build rapport, sent at staggered intervals to avoid spam folders.
Step-by-Step Guide to Build Relationships With Founders Using Cold Email
1. Use Data to Discover Recently Launched Startups
Start by sourcing leads — specifically founders who’ve just launched. You can use tools like:
- NurturingMail – automatically scrapes Product Hunt daily and personalizes cold outreach
- Product Hunt – manually browse daily launches
- Twitter/X – monitor trending products using keywords like “just launched”
With NurturingMail’s pricing plans, even indie hackers and solopreneurs can get started affordably, scaling outreach without writing a single cold email manually.
2. Personalize With Genuine Congratulatory Messaging
Instead of a hard pitch, begin with a congratulatory tone. Acknowledge their launch, the effort behind it, and use their first name and product name.
Example:
“Hey Sarah, just saw your launch of NotedAI on Product Hunt — congrats! It looks like a super useful tool for content creators. I know how intense launch week can be, so huge props for getting it out there.”
3. Position Your Offer as a Mutually Beneficial Opportunity
Rather than asking for something, offer something first — like a free directory listing, visibility, or support.
Example:
“I run a niche AI tools directory (https://auraplusplus.com), and I’d love to offer a spot for NotedAI. It’s completely free and helps with visibility and backlinks. Let me know if you’re interested — should take just 2 mins to submit.”
Notice how the tone is helpful, casual, and non-salesy. If you’re not comfortable writing personalized emails at scale, you can automate the whole process using NurturingMail’s onboarding service.
4. Optimize Your Sending Strategy
Sending 100 cold emails back-to-back will land you in spam. Good practices include:
- Spacing emails 15–20 minutes apart
- Sending from a branded domain (avoid Gmail/Yahoo addresses)
- Using verified email infrastructures — SPF, DKIM, and warm-up tools
NurturingMail handles all of this without needing you to login to dashboards or fiddle with settings — it’s fully managed and optimized for inbox delivery.
Case Studies: Real-World Success With Cold Email
Boosting Submissions to a Design Directory
Uno Directory saw a 172% increase in new product listings in just 60 days using automated personalized outreach to new founders. This improved their SEO footprint and helped them rank for high-intent queries like “submit SaaS to directory.”
Growing an AI Tools Portfolio Site
Aura++, a fast-growing directory of AI tools, leveraged NurturingMail to reach out to every AI-related product launched on Product Hunt. By automating the outreach, the founder saved 40+ hours per month and gained dozens of quality backlinks through legit submissions.
Marketing Consultant Opening Conversations
Praneet Brar, a strategist helping founders grow their first 1,000 users, used personalized outreach to build warm leads from Product Hunt founders. These founders were more receptive right after launch and turned into consulting prospects down the line.
Tools & Services to Accelerate Cold Outreach
Here are some no-code and low-effort tools you can use alongside or in place of manual effort:
| Tool | Function | Great For |
|---|---|---|
| NurturingMail | Automated daily cold outreach to Product Hunt founders | Directory owners, indie makers |
| Mailreach | Email warm-up automation | Ensuring deliverability |
| Clearbit | Lead enrichment & segmentation | Customizing outreach per role or company info |
| Hunter | Email finding & verification | Building cold email lists |
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Cold Emailing Founders
While tools can automate execution, the quality of your messaging decides results. Avoid these rookie mistakes:
- Mass blasts with no personalization
- Generic intros like “To whom it may concern”
- No value proposition or unclear CTA
- Overselling or being too pushy
- Failure to follow up (a thoughtful follow-up boosts conversion 2x–3x)
Follow-Up Like a Human: Not a Bot
If the founder doesn’t reply — don’t panic. A gentle follow-up 3–5 days later mentioning your original message often jogs their memory.
Something simple like:
“Hey Sarah, just bubbling this up in case you missed it during your launch day madness. Would be happy to include NotedAI on our AI tools directory (it’s free + good SEO boost). Let me know!”
Set follow-ups using tools like Lemlist, Mailshake, or better yet, let NurturingMail handle recurrent outreach for you.
Final Thoughts: Build Relationships, Not Just Links
Cold emailing founders after their Product Hunt launch is one of the most effective strategies to create genuine connections, grow your own directory or SaaS, and give value where it’s needed most. When positioned correctly, you’re not interrupting — you’re helping.
Whether you’re just starting