Have you ever cold emailed the CEO of a big company? originally appeared on Quora – the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Jason M. Lemkin, Partner at SaaStr Ventures, on Quora:
This is how I made my first start-up worth a $50,000,000 exit in 12.5 months.
I had no money to make the next payroll. The VCs had all pulled out. I had one Big Elephant Customer, but I needed another. I had signed a $750,000 full-recourse promissory note to the VCs that pulled out and pledged my (ok, our) house and all my savings and it was all going to go down the tubes.
I cold emailed and called the CEO of a Huge Fortune 100 Company.
I told him crisply and cleanly why I could completely change the trajectory of his largest business segment — and exactly why.
We got the meeting.
We closed them, at least for a small first deal. The VCs came back.
We closed the VC money in 2 weeks.
I did not believe it was possible.
But I was desperate. I had one payroll cycle to make it happen. My life savings were pledged away. And our house.
12.5 months later, we were acquired for $50,000,000.
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