Get your first 10 customers

1Pick a narrow first customer

Choose the group where the problem hurts most and you can reach people fastest. Narrow feels risky, but it makes everything easier: one message, one set of communities, one product.

[Role] at [type of company], [size], in [place], who currently [workaround] and loses [time / money] doing it.

2Build a list of 50 by hand

Start with the people from your validation interviews. Then:

• Search LinkedIn by title, company size and location.
• Look through communities and directories for that industry.
• Ask every happy conversation: "Who else should I talk to?"

Keep it in a simple sheet: name, company, how you found them, status, next step and date.

3Reach out like a person

Short, specific and about them. Mention something real. No pitch deck, no attachment.

Hi [name], I saw [specific thing: their post / their company / a mutual]. I'm building
[one line] for [role]s who [problem]. A few [role]s are trying it with me right now.
Worth a 15-minute look this week? If not, no worries at all.

Here's my ideal customer: [paste]. Here are 10 people from my list with one fact
about each: [paste]. Write a first message for each, under 60 words, that opens with
their specific fact, says what I do in plain words, and ends with a low-pressure ask.
No hype words. Don't invent anything about them beyond the fact I gave.

4Run the call to learn, then to close

1. Their world first (5 min): how they handle the problem today.
2. Show only what solves what they just told you (5 to 10 min).
3. Ask for a decision: "Want to start a 30-day pilot?" or "It's $X a month. Want to try it?"
4. Agree on the next step and a date before you hang up.

Charge early, even a little. Paying users behave differently from free ones, and revenue is the proof investors trust most.

5Make them successful, then make them your proof

Over-serve the first ten: onboard them yourself, fix their issues the same day, check in weekly. Then turn their success into proof:

• A number: time saved, revenue added, cost cut, measured with them.
• A quote you have permission to use, with their name and role.
• A reference call they'd take for you during your raise.

What's next

With customers and a number you can defend, you're ready to raise. Start with your pitch deck.