---
title: "How to Ask for a Warm Introduction"
section: "Fundraising"
sectionId: "fundraising"
date: "2026-06"
---

Warm introductions are one of the fastest ways to reach investors, customers, and partners. But asking for one poorly wastes everyone's time. Roy Bahat (Bloomberg Beta) popularised the **forward intro email** — the most efficient way to request an introduction.

## What is a forward intro email?

When an investor or connector says "write me an email I can forward," they mean: write the email *as if you're already writing to the recipient*. The connector literally hits Forward and adds a one-liner of their own endorsement. You do the hard part (context, voice, ask); they do the part only they can do (the relationship and the stamp of approval).

## Why this format works

- You describe your company in your own voice — nobody can do that better than you.
- The connector spends as little time as possible, so the intro happens faster.
- When the recipient replies, the connector just adds you to the thread — no third email needed.

## What a good forward intro email includes

1. **Why you want this specific introduction** — generic asks are easy to ignore.
2. **Enough context about your startup** — what you do, what's special about it, stage, traction. Don't make the connector fill in the gaps (they'll mangle it).
3. **Only as many words as you need** — the recipient will glance at it and decide. Cut everything that doesn't serve that decision.
4. **Your own voice** — formal or casual, the connector has no preference. Authenticity helps.
5. **A fresh email chain with a clear subject line** — not a reply to a long thread. Subject lines like "Forward intro email for Karin" waste the recipient's time; something like "Hipcamp intro to Hunter" is better.
6. **An attachment or link if relevant** — a deck, a one-pager, or a bio link. First emails now routinely include an investor deck.

## Real example (Hipcamp → Hunter Walk / Homebrew)

> Hi Roy,
>
> I think Hunter Walk / Homebrew would be an amazing investor for Hipcamp. I love their emphasis on the bottom up economy. This resonates deeply with our mission and personal goals as well, since parks are engines of local economies.
>
> Here's a bit more about our company:
>
> Hipcamp helps people discover and book campsites and cabins, a $3B market that has remained stagnant and fragmented since the 90's. They are bringing the world's public campgrounds online, unlocking access to private lands for camping, and ultimately, getting more people outside.
>
> Dave Morin's Slow Ventures is leading our seed round, we're oversubscribed but can make room by reducing the allocation on AngelList. I'd love to connect with Hunter soon to explore if this is a good fit.
>
> Thanks Roy!! — Alyssa

The only fix: the subject line. "Intro to Hunter Walk" is meaningless to Hunter when it arrives in his inbox. "Hipcamp intro to Hunter" is better. Everything else is letter-perfect.

Also note: Alyssa doesn't imply Roy has already promised to make the intro. That preserves the recipient's choice.

## What to avoid

| What you might ask for | Why it's worse |
|---|---|
| "Draft an email I can send" | You'd have to guess the connector's voice and relationship — they'll edit it anyway, slowing everything down. |
| "Send me a blurb I can use" | If the blurb is complete, it might as well be a forward intro email. If it isn't, the connector tweaks it. |
| "Intro to X, Y, and Z in one email" | The connector has to split the chain, redact names, and retitle — more work than three separate emails. |
| Replying to a long existing thread | The connector has to edit out your history, retitle the email, etc. Start a fresh chain. |

## One bonus: the ask email *is* the forward intro email

The email you send requesting the intro can double as the forward intro email itself — Roy Bahat notes this explicitly. If you write a good one, the connector can forward it immediately without waiting for a follow-up.

---

*Source: [Introductions and the "Forward Intro Email"](https://also.roybahat.com/introductions-and-the-forward-intro-email-14e2827716a1) — Roy Bahat, Bloomberg Beta*