Matchmaking for Idea-Stage Founders and Early Investors
The post reveals a pain point for idea-stage founders: connecting with relevant early-stage investors (angels, solo GPs, syndicates) who are open to pre-MVP, pre-product companies. A SaaS opportunity exists for a curated platform that acts as a matchmaking service. This platform could provide a highly filtered database of investors with their specific idea-stage investment theses, along with tools for founders to create compelling idea-stage profiles. Features might include AI-powered matching, secure pitch sharing, and resources for early-stage pitch preparation. Revenue could be generated through tiered subscription plans for founders seeking access to the investor network and premium matchmaking services. Investors might get free access to attract deal flow, or pay for highly vetted, relevant opportunities.
Origin Reddit Post
r/startups
Anyone has any VC/investor lists for idea-stage companies? [I will not promote]
Posted by u/Samonji•07/20/2025
Looking to connect with VCs, solo GPs, angel investors, or syndicates who specialize in backing founders at the absolute earliest stages, I'm talking idea-stage, pre-MVP, pre-product, pre-tra
Top Comments
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Sure
u/Effective_Will_1801
>And those dudes don't need my money and won't even take the call.
The siren song of the investor.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
I exclusively do climate-centric deep tech. There's often a software element, but not as the core business.
Even with super-early academia spinouts, which I've done 3 deals, am looking f
u/mmacvicarprett
Curious on why you need money? It seems you already have everything you need.
u/IntenselySwedish
Do you invest in strictly software tech? Ik the sentiment you reflect on here is different in like deep tech or hard tech where they're very willing to invest in what is essentially a napkin
u/Effective_Will_1801
>And those dudes don't need my money and won't even take the call.
The siren song of the investor.
u/muglahesh
if you have a big audience, I might try Park Ranger Cap
u/lukbul
Just ask llm. It will give you a curated list that match your idea.
u/andupotorac
You can take the idea stage and do something with codegen and then have these conversations with investors.
u/Plastic_Nail8040
That many followers surely something like kickstarter would benefit you?
u/muglahesh
if you have a big audience, I might try Park Ranger Cap
u/Joyking3
Genuine question, what size deals checks do you issue and what level of dilution do you adk for in return?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Tough to be super helpful without a bunch more information, but...
With those user numbers, guessing you have a B2C app? The only system I've found for this is is 1. Build a feature / featu
u/Joyking3
Genuine question, what size deals checks do you issue and what level of dilution do you adk for in return?
u/muglahesh
if you have a big audience, I might try Park Ranger Cap
u/PitchingFish
We use [tracxn](https://tracxn.com) and [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com)
u/Double_Dog208
Any tips for a solo founder pushing 100k annual users?
I feel like id be at millions of users if I ran ads/had a team to build. But stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Never got funding
u/Plastic_Nail8040
That many followers surely something like kickstarter would benefit you?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Tough to be super helpful without a bunch more information, but...
With those user numbers, guessing you have a B2C app? The only system I've found for this is is 1. Build a feature / featu
u/Temporary_Low2353
thank you for this post. Im looking for VCs/investors as well for my Saas/B2C startup in the fitness industry. Would look to converse and share my startup with individuals that have experienc
u/Tim-Sylvester
If you need to ask, you won't get it. If you can get it, you don't need to ask.
u/Double_Dog208
Marketplace, c2c. Thanks.
u/Double_Dog208
Any tips for a solo founder pushing 100k annual users?
I feel like id be at millions of users if I ran ads/had a team to build. But stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Never got funding
u/Plastic_Nail8040
That many followers surely something like kickstarter would benefit you?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Sure
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
I exclusively do climate-centric deep tech. There's often a software element, but not as the core business.
Even with super-early academia spinouts, which I've done 3 deals, am looking f
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Always lol. It's not a big deal for me, as I'm a very quiet, picky investor and mostly play outside of hot spaces. But, if investing is the main revenue stream or you're using other people's
u/mmacvicarprett
Curious on why you need money? It seems you already have everything you need.
u/Groganog
Makes complete sense - if you want to chat about the UK I’m going through a raise there currently (no obligation to get involved, obviously) but I can share how we’ve found the space?
Irela
u/ArmadilloSea7248
I used [caladan](https://www.joincaladan.com) to raise my pre-seed before we were generating revenue. It takes a lot of persistence but with your network and the right story, it’s totally pos
u/mmacvicarprett
Curious on why you need money? It seems you already have everything you need.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Early stage angel investor here.
I'm comfortable with a ton of risk in my investments; It's all my money, and I never bet what I can't afford to lose. I go into every process knowing there'
u/Motor_Ad_1090
If you have had a previous exit with significant multiple returns or have a team with extremely impressive background/experience (I’m talking top 1-5% at FAANG companies or history making bre
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Tough to be super helpful without a bunch more information, but...
With those user numbers, guessing you have a B2C app? The only system I've found for this is is 1. Build a feature / featu
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Early stage angel investor here.
I'm comfortable with a ton of risk in my investments; It's all my money, and I never bet what I can't afford to lose. I go into every process knowing there'
u/YodelingVeterinarian
Very few will invest before company formation by the way. At best you may get like a $10k one time grant or something.
u/Samonji
Thanks will try!
u/Groganog
I presume you’re investing exclusively in the US or is the UK somewhere you would consider?
u/mosy_CodeArt
Find investors 10x faster. [TheWeb3DB](https://web3.apptodesign.com) gives you 6500+ searchable Twitter profiles of active investors. No more cold DMs. Just connect, pitch, and grow.
u/YodelingVeterinarian
Very few will invest before company formation by the way. At best you may get like a $10k one time grant or something.
u/andupotorac
You can take the idea stage and do something with codegen and then have these conversations with investors.
u/Samonji
True! So far the meetings that I have gotten were pretty good, asides from that, there is another path, which is to join accelerator programs with guaranteed funding upon acceptance.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Always lol. It's not a big deal for me, as I'm a very quiet, picky investor and mostly play outside of hot spaces. But, if investing is the main revenue stream or you're using other people's
u/Tim-Sylvester
If you need to ask, you won't get it. If you can get it, you don't need to ask.
u/Joyking3
Genuine question, what size deals checks do you issue and what level of dilution do you adk for in return?
u/[deleted]
[deleted]
u/starkrampf
Unless you’ve already made other investors money, you’re going to have to start with your own money, family & friends, a small check angel, government grant, or win a pitch competition. V
u/PitchingFish
We use [tracxn](https://tracxn.com) and [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com)
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
No, outside US is fine. I haven't done UK so would want to look into some regulatory stuff first, but have deals in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. Everything has flattened.
u/apfejes
I completely agree. Just to give a sense of where the bar lies for early investors:
For my second company, I put together a friends and family round of one investor who loves early deals in
u/apfejes
I completely agree. Just to give a sense of where the bar lies for early investors:
For my second company, I put together a friends and family round of one investor who loves early deals in
u/Double_Dog208
Marketplace, c2c. Thanks.
u/Temporary_Low2353
thank you for this post. Im looking for VCs/investors as well for my Saas/B2C startup in the fitness industry. Would look to converse and share my startup with individuals that have experienc
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Tough to be super helpful without a bunch more information, but...
With those user numbers, guessing you have a B2C app? The only system I've found for this is is 1. Build a feature / featu
u/muglahesh
if you have a big audience, I might try Park Ranger Cap
u/YodelingVeterinarian
Very few will invest before company formation by the way. At best you may get like a $10k one time grant or something.
u/Double_Dog208
Marketplace, c2c. Thanks.
u/Effective_Will_1801
>And those dudes don't need my money and won't even take the call.
The siren song of the investor.
u/lukbul
Just ask llm. It will give you a curated list that match your idea.
u/starkrampf
Unless you’ve already made other investors money, you’re going to have to start with your own money, family & friends, a small check angel, government grant, or win a pitch competition. V
u/Samonji
True! So far the meetings that I have gotten were pretty good, asides from that, there is another path, which is to join accelerator programs with guaranteed funding upon acceptance.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Always lol. It's not a big deal for me, as I'm a very quiet, picky investor and mostly play outside of hot spaces. But, if investing is the main revenue stream or you're using other people's
u/IntenselySwedish
Im actually currently developing a deep tech/hard tech system with climate tech functionality. I'm about to have my first PoC done.
Could i dm you some questions about GTM, funding strats an
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
No, outside US is fine. I haven't done UK so would want to look into some regulatory stuff first, but have deals in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. Everything has flattened.
u/ArmadilloSea7248
I used [caladan](https://www.joincaladan.com) to raise my pre-seed before we were generating revenue. It takes a lot of persistence but with your network and the right story, it’s totally pos
u/YodelingVeterinarian
Very few will invest before company formation by the way. At best you may get like a $10k one time grant or something.
u/theredhype
If you have access to that large of an audience, you could probably do some really interesting discovery and validation experiments at low cost.
u/apfejes
I completely agree. Just to give a sense of where the bar lies for early investors:
For my second company, I put together a friends and family round of one investor who loves early deals in
u/Groganog
Makes complete sense - if you want to chat about the UK I’m going through a raise there currently (no obligation to get involved, obviously) but I can share how we’ve found the space?
Irela
u/starkrampf
Unless you’ve already made other investors money, you’re going to have to start with your own money, family & friends, a small check angel, government grant, or win a pitch competition. V
u/lukbul
Just ask llm. It will give you a curated list that match your idea.
u/Temporary_Low2353
thank you for this post. Im looking for VCs/investors as well for my Saas/B2C startup in the fitness industry. Would look to converse and share my startup with individuals that have experienc
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
No, outside US is fine. I haven't done UK so would want to look into some regulatory stuff first, but have deals in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. Everything has flattened.
u/Tim-Sylvester
If you need to ask, you won't get it. If you can get it, you don't need to ask.
u/mosy_CodeArt
Find investors 10x faster. [TheWeb3DB](https://web3.apptodesign.com) gives you 6500+ searchable Twitter profiles of active investors. No more cold DMs. Just connect, pitch, and grow.
u/Samonji
True! So far the meetings that I have gotten were pretty good, asides from that, there is another path, which is to join accelerator programs with guaranteed funding upon acceptance.
u/Motor_Ad_1090
If you have had a previous exit with significant multiple returns or have a team with extremely impressive background/experience (I’m talking top 1-5% at FAANG companies or history making bre
u/Temporary_Low2353
thank you for this post. Im looking for VCs/investors as well for my Saas/B2C startup in the fitness industry. Would look to converse and share my startup with individuals that have experienc
u/mmacvicarprett
Curious on why you need money? It seems you already have everything you need.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Sure
u/PitchingFish
We use [tracxn](https://tracxn.com) and [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com)
u/IntenselySwedish
Im actually currently developing a deep tech/hard tech system with climate tech functionality. I'm about to have my first PoC done.
Could i dm you some questions about GTM, funding strats an
u/starkrampf
Unless you’ve already made other investors money, you’re going to have to start with your own money, family & friends, a small check angel, government grant, or win a pitch competition. V
u/Joyking3
Genuine question, what size deals checks do you issue and what level of dilution do you adk for in return?
u/Groganog
Makes complete sense - if you want to chat about the UK I’m going through a raise there currently (no obligation to get involved, obviously) but I can share how we’ve found the space?
Irela
u/Groganog
I presume you’re investing exclusively in the US or is the UK somewhere you would consider?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
No, outside US is fine. I haven't done UK so would want to look into some regulatory stuff first, but have deals in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. Everything has flattened.
u/Motor_Ad_1090
If you have had a previous exit with significant multiple returns or have a team with extremely impressive background/experience (I’m talking top 1-5% at FAANG companies or history making bre
u/apfejes
I completely agree. Just to give a sense of where the bar lies for early investors:
For my second company, I put together a friends and family round of one investor who loves early deals in
u/Samonji
Thanks will try!
u/theredhype
If you have access to that large of an audience, you could probably do some really interesting discovery and validation experiments at low cost.
u/theredhype
If you have access to that large of an audience, you could probably do some really interesting discovery and validation experiments at low cost.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
I exclusively do climate-centric deep tech. There's often a software element, but not as the core business.
Even with super-early academia spinouts, which I've done 3 deals, am looking f
u/Samonji
True! So far the meetings that I have gotten were pretty good, asides from that, there is another path, which is to join accelerator programs with guaranteed funding upon acceptance.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Early stage angel investor here.
I'm comfortable with a ton of risk in my investments; It's all my money, and I never bet what I can't afford to lose. I go into every process knowing there'
u/IntenselySwedish
Do you invest in strictly software tech? Ik the sentiment you reflect on here is different in like deep tech or hard tech where they're very willing to invest in what is essentially a napkin
u/Groganog
I presume you’re investing exclusively in the US or is the UK somewhere you would consider?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Early stage angel investor here.
I'm comfortable with a ton of risk in my investments; It's all my money, and I never bet what I can't afford to lose. I go into every process knowing there'
u/Motor_Ad_1090
If you have had a previous exit with significant multiple returns or have a team with extremely impressive background/experience (I’m talking top 1-5% at FAANG companies or history making bre
u/YodelingVeterinarian
Very few will invest before company formation by the way. At best you may get like a $10k one time grant or something.
u/Plastic_Nail8040
That many followers surely something like kickstarter would benefit you?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Always lol. It's not a big deal for me, as I'm a very quiet, picky investor and mostly play outside of hot spaces. But, if investing is the main revenue stream or you're using other people's
u/IntenselySwedish
Do you invest in strictly software tech? Ik the sentiment you reflect on here is different in like deep tech or hard tech where they're very willing to invest in what is essentially a napkin
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
I exclusively do climate-centric deep tech. There's often a software element, but not as the core business.
Even with super-early academia spinouts, which I've done 3 deals, am looking f
u/starkrampf
Unless you’ve already made other investors money, you’re going to have to start with your own money, family & friends, a small check angel, government grant, or win a pitch competition. V
u/Groganog
Makes complete sense - if you want to chat about the UK I’m going through a raise there currently (no obligation to get involved, obviously) but I can share how we’ve found the space?
Irela
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Always lol. It's not a big deal for me, as I'm a very quiet, picky investor and mostly play outside of hot spaces. But, if investing is the main revenue stream or you're using other people's
u/Tim-Sylvester
If you need to ask, you won't get it. If you can get it, you don't need to ask.
u/IntenselySwedish
Im actually currently developing a deep tech/hard tech system with climate tech functionality. I'm about to have my first PoC done.
Could i dm you some questions about GTM, funding strats an
u/Tim-Sylvester
If you need to ask, you won't get it. If you can get it, you don't need to ask.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
No, outside US is fine. I haven't done UK so would want to look into some regulatory stuff first, but have deals in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. Everything has flattened.
u/mmacvicarprett
Curious on why you need money? It seems you already have everything you need.
u/Samonji
Thanks will try!
u/Groganog
I presume you’re investing exclusively in the US or is the UK somewhere you would consider?
u/theredhype
If you have access to that large of an audience, you could probably do some really interesting discovery and validation experiments at low cost.
u/mosy_CodeArt
Find investors 10x faster. [TheWeb3DB](https://web3.apptodesign.com) gives you 6500+ searchable Twitter profiles of active investors. No more cold DMs. Just connect, pitch, and grow.
u/lukbul
Just ask llm. It will give you a curated list that match your idea.
u/ArmadilloSea7248
I used [caladan](https://www.joincaladan.com) to raise my pre-seed before we were generating revenue. It takes a lot of persistence but with your network and the right story, it’s totally pos
u/andupotorac
You can take the idea stage and do something with codegen and then have these conversations with investors.
u/IntenselySwedish
Im actually currently developing a deep tech/hard tech system with climate tech functionality. I'm about to have my first PoC done.
Could i dm you some questions about GTM, funding strats an
u/PitchingFish
We use [tracxn](https://tracxn.com) and [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com)
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
I exclusively do climate-centric deep tech. There's often a software element, but not as the core business.
Even with super-early academia spinouts, which I've done 3 deals, am looking f
u/Joyking3
Genuine question, what size deals checks do you issue and what level of dilution do you adk for in return?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Tough to be super helpful without a bunch more information, but...
With those user numbers, guessing you have a B2C app? The only system I've found for this is is 1. Build a feature / featu
u/IntenselySwedish
Do you invest in strictly software tech? Ik the sentiment you reflect on here is different in like deep tech or hard tech where they're very willing to invest in what is essentially a napkin
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Early stage angel investor here.
I'm comfortable with a ton of risk in my investments; It's all my money, and I never bet what I can't afford to lose. I go into every process knowing there'
u/Effective_Will_1801
>And those dudes don't need my money and won't even take the call.
The siren song of the investor.
u/theredhype
If you have access to that large of an audience, you could probably do some really interesting discovery and validation experiments at low cost.
u/Double_Dog208
Marketplace, c2c. Thanks.
u/Double_Dog208
Any tips for a solo founder pushing 100k annual users?
I feel like id be at millions of users if I ran ads/had a team to build. But stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Never got funding
u/YodelingVeterinarian
Very few will invest before company formation by the way. At best you may get like a $10k one time grant or something.
u/Groganog
Makes complete sense - if you want to chat about the UK I’m going through a raise there currently (no obligation to get involved, obviously) but I can share how we’ve found the space?
Irela
u/muglahesh
if you have a big audience, I might try Park Ranger Cap
u/apfejes
I completely agree. Just to give a sense of where the bar lies for early investors:
For my second company, I put together a friends and family round of one investor who loves early deals in
u/IntenselySwedish
Im actually currently developing a deep tech/hard tech system with climate tech functionality. I'm about to have my first PoC done.
Could i dm you some questions about GTM, funding strats an
u/PitchingFish
We use [tracxn](https://tracxn.com) and [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com)
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Sure
u/andupotorac
You can take the idea stage and do something with codegen and then have these conversations with investors.
u/Double_Dog208
Marketplace, c2c. Thanks.
u/ArmadilloSea7248
I used [caladan](https://www.joincaladan.com) to raise my pre-seed before we were generating revenue. It takes a lot of persistence but with your network and the right story, it’s totally pos
u/Double_Dog208
Any tips for a solo founder pushing 100k annual users?
I feel like id be at millions of users if I ran ads/had a team to build. But stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Never got funding
u/IntenselySwedish
Do you invest in strictly software tech? Ik the sentiment you reflect on here is different in like deep tech or hard tech where they're very willing to invest in what is essentially a napkin
u/Groganog
I presume you’re investing exclusively in the US or is the UK somewhere you would consider?
u/Samonji
Thanks will try!
u/Double_Dog208
Any tips for a solo founder pushing 100k annual users?
I feel like id be at millions of users if I ran ads/had a team to build. But stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Never got funding
u/andupotorac
You can take the idea stage and do something with codegen and then have these conversations with investors.
u/Effective_Will_1801
>And those dudes don't need my money and won't even take the call.
The siren song of the investor.
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Sure
u/Plastic_Nail8040
That many followers surely something like kickstarter would benefit you?
u/Lopsided-Yam-3748
Early stage angel investor here.
I'm comfortable with a ton of risk in my investments; It's all my money, and I never bet what I can't afford to lose. I go into every process knowing there'