Productivity · Tip
Direct Founder Outreach & Application Follow-up Strategy
A LinkedIn cold outreach workflow to follow up directly with startup founders
This is a direct job application follow-up strategy aimed at early-stage startup founders on LinkedIn. By targeting companies with fewer than 50 employees on platforms like Wellfound and sending structured personalized messages, applicants can bypass standard applicant tracking systems and reach decision-makers directly.
How it works
Step-by-step workflow:
1. Apply for the target remote position on Wellfound.
2. Look up the company page on LinkedIn to check its size (ideal for startups with under 50 employees).
3. Find the founder's LinkedIn profile via the Wellfound page or LinkedIn search.
4. Send a connection request with a short personalized note:
"I came across [Company] and loved your mission around [mission topic]. I also applied for the [Role Name] role and would love to connect. Looking forward to learning about your world!"
5. Engage with the founder's recent LinkedIn activity by leaving thoughtful comments and likes on their posts.
6. Once they accept your connection request, send a direct follow-up message:
Subject: [Role Title] Application - [City/Remote]
Hello [Name],
I hope you're having a great [day of the week]!
My name is [Your Name], and I recently submitted my application for the [Role Title] position at [Company]. I wanted to briefly introduce myself and express my strong interest in the role.
I bring [X+] years of international experience across [domain skills] within technology and data-driven companies, with a strong focus on [key strength/impact].
Why I think I'm a great fit:
• [Bullet point 1: High-level metric or executive-facing accomplishment]
• [Bullet point 2: Key tools and technologies mastered]
• [Bullet point 3: Problem-solving approach or methodology]
I've attached my resume and examples of my recent projects for convenience.
Could you please let me know if there is anything else I could provide to support my application?
Thank you very much for your time and consideration!
Best,
[Your Name]
What it's for
- Follow up directly with startup founders after applying to a remote role
- Bypass automated applicant tracking systems at small tech companies
- Engage with hiring decision-makers on LinkedIn to stand out from other candidates
Key points
- Apply to remote job openings on startup platforms like Wellfound
- Verify company headcount on LinkedIn to target startups under 50 employees
- Identify and connect with the founder using a brief personalized note
- Interact with the founder's recent posts to establish rapport
- Send a structured follow-up pitch highlighting key metrics, tools, and experience once connected
Pricing
Free
Details
- Type
- Tip
- Category
- Productivity
- Topic
- Job Search
- Open source
- No
- Platforms
- Web
- For
- Job seekers targeting early-stage startups and remote tech roles
- Tags
- job search, linkedin, outreach, networking, startups, cold messaging
Why it was saved
- @katya.pavlenko.usa: Bypasses standard applicant tracking systems (ATS) and gets your application noticed directly by decision-makers at small companies.
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