Strategies for Networking in Financial Technology

5 essential daily habits for founders to turn small talk into big investments. 90% of founders focus on the pitch. But the real magic happens before you ever enter the room. 1) Schedule Regular Follow-Ups Persistence pays, but there's a fine line between persistent and pest. Use the 3-7-14 method. • Follow up after 3 days • Then 7 days • Then 14 days Each time, add new value. Share an insight, a milestone, or relevant news. "Just saw this article on AI in finance. Reminded me of our conversation last week. Thought you'd find it interesting. Here are my 3 top takeaways” 2) Take Notes On Each Interaction Details win deals. VCs meet hundreds of founders. Stand out by remembering everything. Use a CRM (Notion works great) to track: • Personal details (kids' names, hobbies, vacations) • Key concerns they raised • Next steps agreed upon Review notes before every new interaction. Reference past conversations to show you value the relationship. 3) Identify And Connect With New Prospects A wider network means more opportunities. But quality trumps quantity. Try the "2nd degree" strategy • Identify good-fit investors • Is anyone in your network’s connected to them? • Ask for warm intros to 1 new investor weekly "I noticed you're connected to Sarah at XYZ Ventures. Our AI platform aligns with their recent investments. Would you be open to an intro?" 4) Stay Updated With Industry Trends VCs invest in founders who understand their market deeply. Use the "5-5-5" method • Read 5 industry articles daily • Listen to 5 relevant podcast episodes weekly • Attend 5 industry events/ webinars quarterly Share your insights: "Just published a breakdown of recent fintech IPOs and what it means for startups and investors. Thought you'd find it valuable." 5) Send Personalized 'Thank-You' Notes Genuine gratitude is rare. It makes you memorable. The "3S" thank-you note blueprint. • Specific: Reference a detail from your interaction • Short: Keep it under 5 sentences • Sincere: Be genuine in your appreciation Building a strong investor network is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency is key. Implement these habits daily, and watch your network (and opportunities) grow. Turn chance encounters into game-changing opportunities. ____________________________ Hi, I’m Richard Stroupe, a 3x Entrepreneur, and VC Investor I help early-stage tech founders turn their startups into VC magnets Send me a DM to see if you qualify for hands-on guidance to nail your niche and wow investors.

I was talking with a college-age friend of the family yesterday about the hiring process for graduates in finance in 2024. One thing that was immediately clear is that the traditional model of replying to job postings is laughable broken. Then again, it always has been. I once called a New York bank to verify that they had received my resume and the HR representative acidly replied, “Well, we got about 25,000 of them. What color paper was yours on, again?” That was in 1993. A 2019 CNBC article claimed that “70% of all jobs are not published publicly on jobs sites and as much as 80% of jobs are filled through personal and professional connections.” The best resources to any job search candidate are the social media platforms they are already using daily. The critical distinction is to understand the need to change from a passive consumer of content to an active participant in trending topics within your areas of interest and, whenever possible, relevant content creation. I know people who have gotten trading jobs because of their subject matter expertise on Twitter. I have personally gotten several professional opportunities at institutions who had seen one of my LinkedIn posts. The process is relatively straightforward: 1. Research the thought leaders in your area of interest and follow them. 2. Note who the thought leaders follow and engage with and follow them. 3. Start to respond to recent posts on areas where you have something relevant to contribute. An insightful early response to a post by an account with 200k followers may be seen by a few thousand people, some of whom will like your reply and follow your account. 4. Post and re-post interesting industry-relevant content with your thoughts attached. 5. Engage with anyone who comments on your posts, if they are contributing to productive discussion. 6. If you have original content, share it, but be prepared for opposing viewpoints and criticism. The goal is to slowly build up a productive online presence within your area of interest. It takes time, but leveraging a social network is one of the easiest ways a student or recent graduate can demonstrate to an audience of potential hiring managers subject-matter expertise and real interest in a career in finance.

This guy built a fintech audience from scratch. Just by showing up on LinkedIn every week. Arthur Bedel is not a marketer. He’s a GTM operator who picked one topic: → Payments. For three years straight, he posted insights. - Shared infographics. - Explained fintech concepts with clarity. - And gave away everything he knew. No hacks. No personal brand tricks. → Just education. Today, he runs one of the most followed newsletters in the space (30k subscribers). He’s trusted. Visible. Here’s my advice based on his story: → start sharing your expertise. Most GTM employees post about sales. Arthur posted about the industry he sells into. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to commit. (no need to hold a PhD to post about a topic you enjoy) Pick a niche. Post consistently. Teach your market.