👋 Hi, I’m Andre and welcome to my newsletter Data-Driven VC which is all about becoming a better investor with Data & AI. Join 33,140 thought leaders from VCs like a16z, Accel, Index, Sequoia, and more to understand how startup investing becomes more data-driven, why it matters, and what it means for you.

Happy Eastern & welcome to the second edition of our new Sunday “Resources” stream where we share our most valuable data & resources across four rotating formats:

For 1. and 3., we collaborate with best-in-class partners to ensure you get the highest quality data. For 2. and 4., we leverage our ever-growing product portfolio and share selective snapshots of the most sought-after resources from The Lab.

In our quest for more productivity, we keep exploring new tools at the cutting edge of AI in VC. Make sure to check out our recent post on the state of AI co-pilots and agents for VC here.

Yet, what we too often tend to forget is the power of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & others, if prompted really well. Thankfully, some great minds in our community keep creating and refining prompts for investors, all which cover time consuming tasks across the value chain.

In the past, we’ve shared selective ones via the newsletter with you, for example the most powerful prompt for startup evaluation here or how to extract names from startup landscapes here.

To keep track of the most valuable prompts (no matter for ad-hoc copy & paste or for Custom GPTs - check out our step-by-step guide here), we’ve created and keep updating the DDVC Prompt Database.

We’ll put the database into a Notion page and share it with our The Lab members soon. It’ll be structured based on steps across the value chain, from sourcing, screening, due diligence, closing & announcement, portfolio value creation, exit, and various back office tasks.

Today, we’re excited to share the first batch of top 10 startup sourcing prompts with you, including ones to:

Let’s jump in👇

Identify great companies, craft thoughtful outreach, and establish meaningful connections.

"List 15 digital watering holes where high-quality early-stage founders hang out (e.g., niche Slack groups, Discords, private Subreddits, Twitter Spaces, Github projects, etc.). For each, summarize who the community attracts, what topics they discuss, how active it is, and whether we could participate or observe early-stage project emergence. Suggest a playbook for how we as investors can add value there authentically without being extractive or salesy."

"We’re building conviction in a thesis around [e.g., 'AI-native vertical SaaS tools for SMBs in healthcare and logistics']. Can you generate a list of 10 promising Seed to Series A startups across the US and Europe that align with this theme? For each startup, include: name, what they do, location, year founded, founders with LinkedIn links, total funding, lead investors, notable customers or GTM approach, and a short paragraph on why it aligns with our thesis. Highlight which ones are fundraising now or recently raised (and how much). Bonus points if they’re under the radar."

"I’d like to reach out to [Founder Name], who is building [Startup Name] in the [industry] space. Based on our thesis around [relevant thesis area], can you draft a highly personalized email that starts with a compelling subject line and a strong emotional/intellectual hook in the first line? Reference their recent [launch/funding/post/product milestone], show that we understand their product and vision deeply, and explain why our fund is well-aligned in terms of values, expertise, and support (e.g., relevant portfolio companies, track record, or sector-specific networks). Include a clear CTA to meet — suggest two options: a 15-min intro or an async exchange if they prefer. Keep it human and founder-first."

"A founder just posted their MVP or launch announcement on Twitter. Write a short, casual DM that replies directly to their tweet — reference something specific from their launch thread (e.g., product angle, GTM, or personal story), introduce who we are in 1 line (include social proof or relevant portfolio), and offer genuine support or interest in learning more. Avoid pitching immediately — focus on authenticity, insight, and shared curiosity. Keep it under 4 tweets/lines."

"Write a mobile-friendly, high-signal LinkedIn message to [Founder Name], whose company [Startup Name] we’re interested in. Reference their recent post/tweet or a unique aspect of their background (e.g., their previous role, alma mater, or co-founder). Keep it under 600 characters, yet insightful and thoughtful — show we’ve done our homework. Include a soft CTA to connect for a brief intro chat or to share more asynchronously. Make it friendly and informal, but credible — avoid generic VC lingo."

"Three months ago, we had a promising first call with [Founder Name] of [Startup Name], but we didn’t pursue the opportunity then. The company has since made headlines for [e.g., raising a new round, hitting a revenue milestone, launching a major product update]. Can you draft a professional yet warm follow-up email that: (1) references our previous interaction, (2) compliments their recent milestone sincerely, (3) acknowledges why we didn't invest initially, and (4) expresses genuine interest in reconnecting. Include a forward-looking note on how we could now be valuable to them, and propose next steps."

"Compile a list of 20 founder or startup-specific trigger events that indicate a company might be primed for VC engagement (e.g., leaving a unicorn, launching on Product Hunt, hiring VP Sales, winning a public tender, being awarded a patent, etc.). For each trigger, explain: why it matters, what platforms or tools can detect it (e.g., LinkedIn, OpenCorporates, Twitter, Github), and how to approach the founder in a personalized way that references this signal. Organize them by stage of company (Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A)."

"We want to build a thought leadership post or short guide that will attract founders building in [space, e.g. B2B AI infrastructure]. Based on the founder journey in this category, suggest a topic for a post or guide that (1) speaks to their current pain points, (2) showcases our expertise or value-add as investors, (3) invites them to reach out or subscribe. Then, write a detailed outline and draft of that content, including where/how we should publish it (LinkedIn, Substack, Medium, etc.)."

"We’re interested in early-stage companies that are successfully attracting high-caliber talent from places like FAANG, unicorns, or top-tier startups. Can you surface 10 startups (Seed to Series A) where we can see hiring of multiple former [Google/Stripe/Airbnb] employees within the last 6–12 months? For each, include the startup name, founder(s), team LinkedIn links, roles hired, total funding, and what that team composition may imply about culture or product ambition."

"I want to send a monthly email to LPs, angels, scouts, and founder friends to ask for referrals to exceptional founders raising in our focus areas. Can you draft an engaging message that (1) updates them briefly on our recent activity (e.g., last deal, market trends), (2) outlines what types of companies/founders we’re most excited to meet (with examples), (3) explains how to refer or intro someone, and (4) adds subtle social proof and gratitude? Make it easy to forward or copy/paste."

Stay driven,
Andre

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