Superhuman

Michael Seibel explains how founders can write cold emails to investors that are short, clear, and easy to answer. He recommends stating the problem, solution, traction, market, co-founders, and relevant expertise in plain language, using a company email address with the sender’s name, and following a familiar startup deck format if attaching a deck. The goal is to start a conversation, not immediately secure a meeting or investment. He also advises against long emails, rapid follow-ups, and messages that fail to explain what the company does.

Kat Mañalac argues that launching should be a continuous process throughout a startup’s life, rather than a single high stakes event. She describes ways to test ideas and reach users, from landing pages and friends and family to strangers, online communities, waitlists, bloggers, and preorders. Examples such as Lugg, Magic, and Joy show how founders can learn from early users and find traction through different channels. She also recommends building a community over time, speaking plainly, and repeating launches as products and features evolve.

Eric Migicovsky explains why founders should keep direct contact with users and how to conduct interviews that produce useful evidence. He recommends asking about specific past problems, listening more than talking, and avoiding pitches, hypotheticals, and vague compliments. He outlines five interview questions and practical ways to find early users, then offers a framework for evaluating potential first customers by problem cost, frequency, and budget. For teams iterating toward product-market fit, he discusses measuring user attachment and using interviews to guide product decisions.