- Image by Tywak via Flickr
Rule #6396: “Immediately PASS on any deals in which the founder starts their introductory email with the phrase, ‘You may recognize my name…’”
We have seen plenty of deals cross our desk with well-known founders – former startup successes that we know, technology heroes, even one from THE Ashton Kutcher (I didn’t really know who he was, but my daughter told me he was someone) – but even those select founders realized it wasn’t flattering to start an email with this sort of a tone-deaf introduction.
Especially when you have to read the founder’s name twice, you are certain you have never heard of them, and then when you Google them, they STILL are a nobody. Even on Google.
Moral: Arrogance is rarely married to success.