Unit 11People, outreach and purpose

The big idea

AI can write the email. It can't build trust. Relationships, sponsors and the confidence to ask are still human work, and they decide whether a good project ever reaches the people who could help it.

Why it matters

Most good ideas die because nobody outside the builder's head ever hears about them. The fix is simple, but it takes nerve.

The outreach order

From strongest to weakest:

1. In person
2. Phone call
3. Warm introduction by email from someone who knows you both
4. Cold email

Go as high up that list as you can.

Do this

1. Write down what you need. A mentor? Judges for an event? Data? Feedback?
2. Start with the room. Who do you already know: classmates, teachers, family friends? Then your school. Then further out.
3. If you're under 18, get an adult to back you. A teacher or parent who vouches for you closes the gap of being a minor.
4. Start with professors before companies. Their office hours and contact details are usually public. After they help, ask them who in industry you should talk to.
5. Ask one person at a time. A personal message beats a general post every time.
6. Use a short message:

Hi [name]. I'm [who you are]. I'm working on [what you're doing]. I'd like to involve you because [why them]. Here's how I think you could help: [specific ask]. Would you be interested?

7. Follow up. If you ask for help enough times, people will help you.

Presenting

Most people hate presenting, including experienced executives. The secret is that everybody hates it. You just do it anyway and lean in. Find chances to present, ask for feedback even when it stings, and lead wherever you already are: at home, in clubs, at school.

Purpose and money

Every idea has to answer four questions:

• Why is it important?
• Who does it affect?
• How does it help them?
• How does it make money, or how does it keep going?

One more tip: if you can sell a premium version to a few people first, you can figure out how to make it cheaper for many people later.

Use your time

You have more free time now than you ever will again. Try a wide range of things first. Go deep once you find your thing. My first company came out of about 1,500 hours I spent in one year building a university event. Nobody asked me to.

Questions to ask yourself

• Who's one person I could talk to this week about my project?
• Which adult could back me?
• Can I answer all four purpose questions in one sentence each?

In my words

"If you ask for help enough times, people will give you help."

"Find opportunities, throw yourself into the fire, and just see if you can swim."

"There are no ceilings on you. It's only you and how much time you want to put in."

Worksheet

Use Worksheet 11: Outreach planner in the PDF kit.