How many investors should I talk to for a seed round?

Many founders start with a qualified list of around 50 and expect to hold first meetings with a fraction of them. Quality of fit matters more than volume.

Do cold emails to investors work?

Sometimes, if they are short, specific and sent to investors whose thesis fits. Warm introductions from founders they have backed work better.

Should I approach investors outside my home market?

Yes, if they invest in your sector and stage and back companies in your region. Many Asian funds invest across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

How to Find Seed Investors in Asia: A Founder's Shortlist Method

A practical method for building a qualified list of 50 pre-seed and seed investors in Asia, mapping warm introductions and running a tight process.

Fundraising is a sales process. The investors on your list are the most important input, and most founders build that list badly: too long, too broad, and full of funds that will never back their stage or sector.

Step 1: Define your investor profile

Write one line for each:

Stage: pre-seed, seed or seed-plus
Cheque size: the typical first cheque you need from a lead and from followers
Sector: your category as an investor would describe it
Geography: where investors must be willing to back companies

Step 2: Build a list of 50 that fit

Good sources for Asia-based founders:

Portfolio pages of funds that back companies like yours. If a fund backed a company one step ahead of you in a neighbouring market, it is a likely fit.
Recent funding announcements in regional tech media for your sector and stage.
Accelerators and venture builders active in your market, and the angels who mentor in them.
Founders who raised 6–18 months ago. Ask who led their round and who was helpful.
Databases and LinkedIn to check each investor's recent deals and partners.

For each investor, note the partner most likely to care, two portfolio companies relevant to you, and why your company fits their thesis.

Step 3: Map warm introductions

For each investor, find the people who could introduce you: founders they backed, co-investors, operators and advisors. A short note from a founder they backed carries more weight than a long cold email.

Make the introduction easy. Send a forwardable email: three lines on what you do, one traction metric, what you are raising, and your one-page summary attached.

Step 4: Run the process in a sprint

Batch first meetings into a two-to-three-week window, so interest overlaps.
Track every investor in a pipeline: stage, next step, date.
Have your data room ready before the first meeting, so follow-ups go out the same day.
Send a short update to everyone in the pipeline every two weeks while the round is open.

Step 5: Keep the "not yets"

Most investors will pass or say "not yet". Ask if you can add them to your monthly update. Today's "not yet" is often next round's lead.

Educational content only. Not investment, legal or tax advice. Fundraising rules differ by country; check documents with a qualified lawyer.