✉️ The Capital Dispatch | May 2025

👋 Greetings from the Road

I hope this message finds you well. I've recently returned from productive trips to São Paulo and Buenos Aires, where I engaged with dynamic fintech communities and explored emerging market opportunities.

In just 10 days, I'll be attending Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, taking place from June 3–5, 2025.

If you're planning to be there, please feel free to reach out—I would be delighted to connect in person.

🙋‍♂️ Another List of 100 VC Investors Just Dropped on LinkedIn...

Raise your hand if you've saved it.
Commented “interested.”
Maybe even sent your pitch deck to the first GP like it's 2015.

We've all been there. The allure of a viral VC list is hard to resist. But let's be honest: those lists aren't your fundraising strategy. They're your starting point.

If you want to actually get in front of the right investors—and not get ghosted—here's how a professional does it. This isn't about shortcuts; it's about smart, targeted effort that builds genuine connections.

🎯 Step One: Get Focused, Not Desperate

Those 100 investors? Maybe five are right for you.
If you're a Series A fintech, you don't need climate funds or Series C crossovers.

Pick your lane—stage, geography, sector—and qualify accordingly.

🔍 Step Two: Research Like a Pro

Yes, that means reading the website.
No, not just the hero copy.

• Do they lead or follow?

• What check sizes do they write?

• Who's on the investment team for your vertical?

• What did they actually say in that podcast last month?

If you don't know their portfolio or point of view, don't send the email.

💡 Step Three: Map the Humans Behind the Fund

You're not pitching a firm.
You're connecting with a person.

• Associates and Principals do sourcing—start with them.

• Look for domain overlap in their bio.

• Cross-reference with your network. Warm intros change everything.

And yes, tools like Apollo, ContactOut, and your CRM matter. Use them.

📝 Step Four: Craft a Message That's Worth Reading

This isn't a spray template.

This is a short, smart, thesis-aligned note that shows you:

• Know their portfolio

• Understand their stage

• Can articulate your business in a sentence that doesn't sound like ChatGPT wrote it

Then follow up. Once. Twice. Thoughtfully.

Most people quit after one try. Don't be most people.

🧠 Step Five: Stay in Their World

Didn't hear back? Fine.

Add them to your investor update list (with permission).
Send a quick progress note after a milestone.
Comment on their next post with something thoughtful.
Be present—without being clingy.

Fundraising isn't dating, but it's not a cold call either.
It's a long game of relevance, timing, and trust.

💬 Final Thought: Raising Capital is Brutal. So is Doing it Alone.

Finding the right investor isn't just about charisma—it's about fit, framing, and follow-through.

And let's be honest: you're building a company, not a CRM.

That's why investment bankers exist.
We know the funds. We know the mandates.
We know who just raised, who's shifting focus, and who's ghosting everyone this quarter.

More importantly? We bring clarity to a messy process—and accelerate it.

If you're raising this quarter (or prepping for summer), let's connect.

There's still time to get this right. But not if you wait for another list to show up in your feed.

Tom C. Schapira
Founder and CEO
Imagine Capital Group
E: [email protected]
Website http://www.imaginecapitalgroup.com

Securities Offered through Wellesley Hills Securities. Member FINRA/SIPC