Here’s the founder’s shortcut to building your pipeline without VCs

Cold emails and endless rejections are the inevitable hardships of building your investor pipeline, right? Wrong. There’s a way to unlock the capital already hiding in your network. 

That’s the approach Rob Cossins and Ekky Manoilenko of Scribe are championing. They’re helping founders transform fundraising from a daunting mystery into a structured, repeatable process.

Dive into the best-kept secrets behind the journey of getting investor-ready. From creating a simple CRM that keeps you on track, to writing intro emails that actually open doors, to tapping into overlooked sources of capital. 

It’s time to reframe fundraising as a sales process and discover where the best angel investors are hiding. So tune in now and fill your pipeline with real opportunities, not dead ends.

Key takeaways

Preparing before you fundraise

• Treat fundraising like a sales process. Discipline and organization matter just as much as a great idea.
• Start with a simple investor CRM (even just a spreadsheet) to track names, stages, check sizes, and warm connections.
• Pre-write your intro emails so contacts can easily forward them to potential investors.
• Gather feedback on your pitch and materials early from junior VCs, advisors, or fellow founders before approaching angels.

Where to actually find angel investors

• Most UK funding rounds are still angel-led, not VC-backed, so founders should widen their search beyond big funds.
• Angels come from five main sources: personal networks, introductions, clients, events and data platforms.
• Think beyond family. Ex-colleagues, alumni groups, and even hobby communities can be strong starting points.
  
• Founders often underestimate how much investor access can come through other founders’ networks.

Making the most of introductions and networks

• Every founder you meet is a potential bridge to dozens of investors already on their cap table.
• Build genuine relationships with peers in your sector. Advice calls often lead to intros.
• Ask existing investors for connections; they’re already bought in and want you to succeed.
• Even later-stage VCs who won’t invest in you directly may point you toward angels if you make it easy with a pre-written intro email.

Using clients and events as investor channels

• Loyal customers, strategic partners, and even early prospects can become angel investors. They already understand your product and problem space.
• Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Crowdcube allow consumer brands to turn fans into backers.
• Not every event is created equal, but founder-led gatherings can unlock hundreds of ‘one-step-away’ investor connections.
• Approach events as networking opportunities, not instant deal-making. Remember, investors often hide in plain sight.

Data, outreach, and follow-up

• Cold outreach is the hardest route but can still work when hyper-targeted to your sector.
• Tools like Scribe’s database can help identify 800k+ investors and automate outreach at scale.
• Keep it simple: track every conversation, even just with a line or two, to avoid losing momentum.
• Fundraising takes persistence. Expect rejection, but treat every ‘no’ as part of building your pipeline for future raises.