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Day 6 of The Startup Mafia Series: How Top Founders Get Investors Before Everyone Else Most people think raising money is about having a great idea. But if that were true, why do some founders raise millions before even launching, while others struggle for years? Because fundraising isn’t about ideas. It’s about access. How Top Founders Get Investors First 1. They Don’t Beg for Meetings—They Get Introduced The best founders don’t send random emails to investors. They get warm introductions. A famous founder introduces them. A top accelerator (like YC or Sequoia Surge) puts them in front of investors. A well-known ex-VC connects them. Most investors ignore cold emails. But when someone they trust makes the intro, they listen. 2. They Create Buzz Before They Even Ask for Money Before pitching, smart founders make sure investors already know who they are. They get featured in podcasts, startup blogs, and Twitter threads. They hire advisors with strong investor connections. They show early traction and social proof. By the time they meet investors, they don’t need to prove themselves—they are already on the radar. 3. They Make Investors Feel Like They’re Missing Out Instead of chasing investors, they create urgency. They say, "We’re closing this round fast. Are you in?" They show big names backing them, making VCs want to invest. This makes investors feel like they have to act fast or they’ll lose the deal. The Harsh Truth Raising money isn’t just about who has the best startup. It’s about who gets into the right rooms first. That’s why YC founders, IIT/IIM grads, and startup mafias keep winning. They have the network, the access, and the investor trust. But what if you don’t have these connections? Tomorrow: The Secret Deals That Happen Before Startups Even Launch Follow Vishu Bheda now. The next post will expose what happens behind closed doors.