Warm Intro Email Templates for Indian Founders (2026)

How a good intro request works

A warm intro has three people in it: you, the connector (someone who knows both sides), and the target (the investor, angel or co-founder you want to meet). The cleanest version is a double opt-in:

1. You ask the connector, privately, whether they'd be comfortable making the intro.
2. The connector checks with the target first, without copying you in.
3. Only if the target says yes does the connector introduce you both.

It feels slower than a quick "cc'ing you both", but it protects everyone. The target never receives a pitch they didn't agree to, and the connector never has to spend their credibility on a long shot. If you want the background on finding a connector in the first place, read how to get a warm intro without a network.

Template 1: The double opt-in ask (to the connector)

Use this when you have one specific person in mind and a connector who knows them. Send it on its own, and attach the blurb from Template 2 below it.

Subject: Would you be open to an intro to [Target]?

Hi [Connector],

Hope [something specific: the launch went well / the new role is treating you well].

I'm raising [round] for [Company] and I think [Target] could be a strong fit, because [one specific reason: they backed X / they've written about Y / they invest at our stage in Z].

Would you be comfortable checking whether they'd be open to an intro? I've put a short blurb below that you can forward as is.

Totally fine if it's not a good moment or not a good fit. I'd rather you said so.

Thanks,

[Your name]

Why it works: it names one person, gives one reason, does the writing for them, and offers an easy way out. Asking for "anyone you know in fintech" puts all the work on the connector.

Template 2: The forwardable blurb

This is the paragraph the connector forwards to the target. Write it in the third person so nobody has to edit it, and keep it under about 120 words.

[Company]: [one-line description]

[Your name] is the founder of [Company], which helps [specific customer] [do specific thing]. Before this, [one relevant credential].

So far: [one or two concrete proof points: paying customers, pilots, usage, a key hire].

They're raising [round size, if you're comfortable sharing] to [what the money unlocks in the next 12–18 months].

Why [Target]: [the specific reason they fit].

Deck available on request.

Rules for the blurb:

•Lead with what the company does, not your life story.

•Use real numbers only. If you don't have traction yet, say what you've learned, not what you hope.

•Don't attach a deck to the first email. Offer it. A short blurb gets read; a 25-slide PDF often doesn't.

Template 3: Asking for an intro to an angel

Angels, especially operator-angels, often decide based on the founder and whether they can genuinely help. Make the "why them" about their experience, not just their cheque.

Subject: Intro to [Angel]? [Company], [sector]

Hi [Connector],

I saw that [Angel] backed [portfolio company] and spent [years] building [relevant experience]. We're working on [problem] for [customer], and their experience with [specific thing: distribution to SMEs / RBI-regulated products / hiring the first sales team] is exactly where we need help.

We're raising a [pre-seed / angel] round and I'd love their view, whether or not they invest.

If you're comfortable, could you check whether they'd be open to a 20-minute call? Blurb below.

[Your name]

Note: "whether or not they invest" is honest, and it lowers the stakes for everyone. Many angels will take an advice call more readily than a pitch.

Template 4: Asking for an intro to a VC

Funds have a thesis, a stage and usually one partner who covers your space. Ask for the right person, and show you've done the homework. Our guide to reading a VC fund thesis covers how to find that fit.

Subject: Intro to [Partner] at [Fund]?

Hi [Connector],

I'm raising a [seed] round for [Company]. [Fund]'s focus on [thesis area] and their investment in [portfolio company] make me think we'd be relevant, and [Partner] seems to lead their work in [sector].

Quick context: [one-line traction or proof point].

Would you be open to checking whether [Partner] would like an intro? Happy for you to forward the blurb below. And if you think there's a better person at the fund, I'd really value that steer.

Thanks,

[Your name]

Before you send it: confirm the fund still invests at your stage and in your sector. A warm intro to a fund that doesn't fit wastes a favour you may need later.

Template 5: Asking for an intro to a potential co-founder

A co-founder intro is closer to a job conversation than a pitch. Be clear about the role, the commitment and what you bring, and don't oversell. Our co-founder playbook covers how to evaluate the conversation once it happens.

Subject: Would [Name] be open to a chat about [role]?

Hi [Connector],

I'm building [Company], which [one-line description]. I'm looking for a [technical / commercial] co-founder, someone who [specific skill or experience].

From what I know of [Name]'s work on [project or role], they might be a great fit, or know someone who is.

Where things stand: [stage, funding status, whether you're full-time]. I'd be offering [co-founder equity, with vesting / to be discussed openly].

Could you ask whether they'd be open to an informal coffee? No pressure on them either way.

[Your name]

Why it works: it's upfront about where the company actually is. Co-founder conversations that start with inflated expectations rarely end well.

Template 6: What the connector sends the target

Many connectors are happy to help but don't want to write anything. Offer them this, so the opt-in step takes them thirty seconds.

Subject: Open to an intro? [Company], [sector]

Hi [Target],

A founder I know, [Your name], is building [Company] and asked if I'd introduce you. Short blurb below. I think it may fit your interest in [area].

Would you like an intro? Completely fine to pass. I'll just let them know it's not a fit right now.

[Connector]

If the target says yes, the connector sends a short introduction email to both of you. Reply within a day, move the connector to BCC with thanks, and suggest two or three specific times.

Template 7: The follow-up (when the connector hasn't replied)

People miss emails. One polite follow-up after about a week is normal; more than two starts to feel like pressure.

Subject: Re: Would you be open to an intro to [Target]?

Hi [Connector],

Just bumping this in case it got buried. No worries at all if you'd rather not, or if now isn't a good time.

One small update since I wrote: [a genuine new proof point, e.g. a new customer or hire].

[Your name]

If there's still no reply, let it go and thank them anyway when you next speak. Silence usually means "not now", not "never".

Template 8: The thank-you and the update

This is the template most founders skip, and the one that makes connectors want to help again. Send it after the meeting, and again when something changes.

Subject: Thank you, and an update on [Target]

Hi [Connector],

Thanks again for the intro to [Target]. We spoke on [day]. [One sentence on the outcome: they're looking at the data room / they passed but suggested [other person] / we're meeting again next week.]

I really appreciate you putting your name behind it. I'll let you know how the round lands.

[Your name]

Keep a tracker with who introduced you to whom, when, and the outcome. When you close the round, send every connector a one-line update. It costs you five minutes and builds a network that keeps working.

What not to do

•Don't cc the target on your first ask. That turns a private question into a public obligation. The connector can't say no gracefully.

•Don't send a mass "do you know any investors?" email. It's hard to act on and easy to ignore.

•Don't ask a connector who barely knows the target. If they'd have to say "I met them once at a conference", the intro won't be warm.

•Don't make the connector rewrite anything. If the blurb needs editing, it won't get forwarded.

•Don't exaggerate. Inflated traction or "in talks with" claims get checked, and they reflect on the connector too.

•Don't attach a large deck to the first email. Offer it instead.

•Don't go around the connector. If they decline, don't then cold-message the target saying "[Connector] suggested I reach out".

•Don't forget to close the loop. A connector who never hears the outcome is less likely to help next time.

When there's no connector to ask

Sometimes nobody on your list knows the person you need, or the people who do are hard to ask. That's where many founders fall back on cold DMs.

Cleya offers a different route. You tell it what you're building and who you need (an investor, a co-founder, a key hire), and it proposes a few people at a time, each with the reason it's a fit. Contact details are shared only when both sides accept, or when a Cleya curator introduces you directly. The templates above still help: a clear one-line description and a forwardable blurb make any introduction easier. For more on intro etiquette, see the art of the warm intro.

The short version

One target, one reason, one forwardable blurb, and an easy way out. Let the connector check with the target before anyone is copied in, follow up once, and always close the loop.

Ready to meet investors, co-founders and operators who fit what you're building? Apply to join Cleya. You're in as soon as you apply — check your email.