How We Reached 1,000+ Startups with One Simple Automation Setup
praneetbrar7
Our Journey: How We Reached 1,000+ Startups with One Simple Automation Setup
As directory owners and digital entrepreneurs, we’re constantly looking for smarter ways to scale — not necessarily harder ones. When we hit a plateau in submissions, it was clear we needed to rethink our outreach and discover better ways of connecting with early-stage founders at the right time. That’s when we uncovered a surprisingly simple but highly efficient tool that helped us reach more than 1,000 startups — all through one automation setup using NurturingMails.
This blog walks you through how we transformed our directory submission rate using automation, why timing and personalization matter in outreach, and how you too can leverage the same approach — even if you’re starting from scratch.
Why Early-Stage Startup Outreach Is So Challenging
Startup directories often encounter the following bottlenecks when trying to grow:
- Manual emailing is time-consuming and hard to scale.
- Founders ignore cold emails that feel generic or salesy.
- You’re reaching them too late — after the hype has passed.
We were following the same playbook — scraping lists, hiring freelancers, drafting generic pitches — and getting dismal conversion rates. For every 50 emails we sent manually, one or two would respond, and fewer still would list themselves on our directory.
The Breakthrough: Leaning into Automation with Personalization
The turning point came when we tried a service called Nurturing Mails, which offers automated, personalized outreach specifically built for directory owners. It monitors Product Hunt in real-time and sends customized emails to newly launched startups — right when they’re most open to visibility opportunities.
Why Nurturing Mails Was a Fit
The difference with Nurturing Mails was its razor-sharp focus on:
- Personalized emails based on name and product
- Congratulatory tone that doesn’t feel spammy
- Smart timing — emails go out 15–20 minutes apart to avoid spam filters
- Complete hands-off setup — no dashboards or manual campaign management
Once integrated, Nurturing Mails became autopilot for our outreach. It not only saved us hours weekly but achieved a 4x higher response rate and led to a stunning 150% increase in directory submissions within the first 60 days.
Setting It Up: Our Simple Automation Flow
If you’re wondering what the setup entails — here’s the beauty: it’s minimal.
- Choose your email address: We used a domain-branded Gmail workspace address to improve deliverability.
- Connect email to Nurturing Mails: Authorize API access with a few clicks — no need to write scripts or build Zapier flows.
- Define your value proposition: Give your email copy a unique angle related to your directory (SEO help, community exposure, etc.).
- Set frequency and branding: Emails go out daily, spaced to prevent rapid-fire flagging. Each appears to come directly from you.
That was it. No landing pages to make. No CRM to integrate. No freelancers to manage. Within 24 hours, the outreach began — and relevant startups started replying.
Results After 90 Days of Automation
Here’s a snapshot of what we achieved after running this automation setup for three months:
| Metric | Before Nurturing Mails | After Nurturing Mails |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Weekly Emails Sent | 50 (manual) | 250+ (automated) |
| Email Reply Rate | 4% | 18% |
| Listings Acquired | 30 (in 90 days) | 112 (in 90 days) |
| Submission Conversion | 6% | 22% |
| Time Spent Weekly | 6–8 hours | 0 hours |
The real win? It didn’t just help one directory. We applied this flow to three niche verticals — AI tools, browser extensions, and community platforms through sites like Uno Directory, Aura++, and a new India-based startup listing platform by Praneet Brar.
The Secret Isn’t Just Automation — It’s Timing
So, why did this automated setup succeed where our previously manual methods failed? In short: momentum. Startups launching on Product Hunt are in the mindset of growth, visibility, and opportunity — they’re ready to amplify their reach.
With emails going out within hours of a Product Hunt launch, we got in front of founders while the dopamine is still flowing. It wasn’t about being the 10th pitch they got that week — we were often the first and most relevant outreach in their inbox.
Other Platforms That Benefit From This Approach
If you’re building or growing any of the following websites or niches, this automation model is worth exploring:
- Beta Platforms that feed early adopters to startups
- Product review sites and blogs
- Newsletter aggregators targeting startup and tech audiences
- SaaS marketplaces like Crozdesk or GetApp
- Vertical niche directories (AI, remote tools, marketing tech, etc.)
Even new or underdeveloped directories can get traction using this setup — especially since Nurturing Mails lets you start quickly without any existing branding or large subscriber base.
What You Need to Get Started
If you’re ready to implement the same smart automation for your directory, here’s how to prepare:
- Set up a branded email that matches your domain for professionalism
- Define your unique pitch (e.g., SEO help, backlinks, exposure)
- Head over to Nurturing Mail’s Get Started page
- Select a plan based on how many emails you want sent per day (see pricing here)
- Watch as startups start replying and submitting – every week
It Works Because It Feels Human
This isn’t just another automation tool blasting generic messages. Nurturing Mails succeeds because it simulates the way humans naturally connect — through timing, personalization, and relevance. Founders responded to us not because of clever copywriting, but because our emails sounded like they came from a real person who genuinely noticed their launch and cared.
Final Thoughts
Growth for directory owners shouldn’t mean burning out sending cold emails all day. With the right outreach automation in place, you can significantly increase your user base without scaling your workload. In our case, the simplicity of Nurturing Mails — plus the quality of its outreach — helped us cross the 1,000 startup mark effortlessly.
Whether you’re a new indie hacker launching your first list site, or a seasoned builder trying to revive a stale directory, give this strategy a shot. Start with Nurturing Mail’s free setup process, and you’ll quickly see the difference.
Looking to test the waters? Visit the official website here, or check out their detailed pricing page to