📍 Part 1: How to Do Research Before Cold Emailing

🧭 1.1 How to Find Recently Funded Startups

Why it matters:

Finding clients and startups that recently raised funding means they’re actively hiring, scaling, and open to new contributors. These are the most “warm” leads to cold-email, as they often need help but haven’t formalized every role yet.

Approach 1: Startup Accelerators & Directories

• Use curated lists like Y Combinator Startup Directory, Techstars Portfolio, and 500 Global to discover startups with recent mentorship and funding.
• Filter by batch (e.g., Winter 2024) to find the newest launches.

Approach 2: Hacker News

• Browse Show HN threads to discover indie hackers and bootstrapped MVPs.
• Check the Who's Hiring Threads posted monthly — startups post there before hiring pages are even built.

Approach 3: Venture Capital Monitoring Tools

• Tools like Crunchbase and Tracxn let you filter startups by recent funding (within 1–3 months).
• This helps you target companies just entering their growth phase.

Approach 4: Twitter + LinkedIn VC Tracking

• Follow influential VCs (e.g., Elad Gil, Garry Tan, Naval) who tweet about portfolio companies.
• Use social listening (search "just raised" or "seed funding") to spot stealth-mode startups.