DistributionEmerging Pattern

Maintain a dream contact list and work it systematically through your existing network

Q: How many founders have validated "maintain a dream contact list and work it systematically through your existing network"?

2 founders have proven this pattern works. Examples include Chris Fralic (First Round Capital), Karl Hughes (Draft.dev).

Keep an active list of the top people in your industry you want to learn from. Find ways to connect, then ask those contacts to introduce you to others on your list. Work your network like a sales pipeline.

When to use

When building a professional network deliberately rather than leaving it to chance

Don't do this

Networking randomly or only through serendipity, missing opportunities to build strategic relationships

2 Founders Who Did This

First Round Capitalby Chris Fralic

Kept stacks of trade journals listing top industry people, marked those he wanted to learn from, found ways to connect, then asked connections to introduce him to others on his list

Result:Built world-class network through systematic relationship building over decades

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Draft.devby Karl Hughes

Maintained a spreadsheet of 50 professional contacts with weekly reminders to reach out via lunch or email, systematically nurturing relationships over years

Result:First 5-10 customers all came from this existing network when he started Draft.dev

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