How I Built My Startup With Zero Industry Connections
No connections, no problem (sort of).
When I started my business, I didn’t know a single investor. No mentors. No family friends from a golf club. No fancy introductions. Just me, a shaky pitch, and a dream I wasn’t sure would land.
And honestly? It was brutal.
But I want to be really clear: having no industry connections doesn’t mean you’re out of the game. It just means the game is a bit harder, and you have to play it differently.
Here’s what worked for me—and what I believe anyone can do, regardless of where you start.
When I started my business, I didn’t know a single investor. No mentors. No family friends from a golf club. No fancy introductions. Just me, a shaky pitch, and a dream I wasn’t sure would land.
And honestly? It was brutal.
But I want to be really clear: having no industry connections doesn’t mean you’re out of the game. It just means the game is a bit harder, and you have to play it differently.
Here’s what worked for me—and what I believe anyone can do, regardless of where you start.
1. Get over the fear of networking.
I used to hate networking. Walking into a room of strangers made me want to evaporate.
But if you don’t talk to people, nothing moves. The reality is, the people who stay quiet at events, who hover by the tea table hoping someone approaches them—they get nowhere.
I had to force myself to speak up. I remember this one event in Sheffield, a journalist meet-up, shortly after I started my company. They asked, "Who wants to pitch?"
My heart was racing. But I put my hand up.
That moment changed something in me. Because if I didn’t raise my hand, nothing was going to happen. Networking is a skill. And like any skill, you get better by doing it—even when it’s uncomfortable.
But if you don’t talk to people, nothing moves. The reality is, the people who stay quiet at events, who hover by the tea table hoping someone approaches them—they get nowhere.
I had to force myself to speak up. I remember this one event in Sheffield, a journalist meet-up, shortly after I started my company. They asked, "Who wants to pitch?"
My heart was racing. But I put my hand up.
That moment changed something in me. Because if I didn’t raise my hand, nothing was going to happen. Networking is a skill. And like any skill, you get better by doing it—even when it’s uncomfortable.
2. Learn to pitch. Even when your voice shakes.
Public speaking is terrifying at first. But again, it’s a skill.
Whether you’re in front of a crowd or just meeting someone 1:1, your ability to explain your startup clearly and passionately is everything.
That Sheffield pitch? It wasn’t perfect. But it opened doors. People remembered me. Someone introduced me to someone else. And that’s how it starts.
Whether you’re in front of a crowd or just meeting someone 1:1, your ability to explain your startup clearly and passionately is everything.
That Sheffield pitch? It wasn’t perfect. But it opened doors. People remembered me. Someone introduced me to someone else. And that’s how it starts.
3. Ask. Ask. Ask.
There’s a Scottish phrase: Shy bairns get nowt.
Translation? If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
That means:
I started dropping messages on LinkedIn. Not spamming, just genuine, polite messages. A compliment. A question. A small ask. That’s how relationships get built.
And those connections start to compound. One person leads to another, and suddenly, you’re not starting from zero anymore.
Translation? If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
That means:
- Ask someone to be your mentor
- Ask someone for an intro
- Ask if they’d consider investing
I started dropping messages on LinkedIn. Not spamming, just genuine, polite messages. A compliment. A question. A small ask. That’s how relationships get built.
And those connections start to compound. One person leads to another, and suddenly, you’re not starting from zero anymore.
4. Own your background.
I didn’t go to a fancy private school. I didn’t come from money or have investors in my family.
But I had grit. And a willingness to learn.
It’s harder, yes. But it’s possible. And in many ways, it makes you sharper—because you have to be.
But I had grit. And a willingness to learn.
It’s harder, yes. But it’s possible. And in many ways, it makes you sharper—because you have to be.
Final Thought:
If you’re starting your business without a single contact, welcome to the club.
You don’t need to be the loudest, richest, most connected person in the room. You just need to keep showing up. Keep asking. Keep speaking up.
Your network is something you build—not something you’re handed.
And if you're feeling stuck, remember: every successful founder you admire once walked into a room where they knew no one, too.
You don’t need to be the loudest, richest, most connected person in the room. You just need to keep showing up. Keep asking. Keep speaking up.
Your network is something you build—not something you’re handed.
And if you're feeling stuck, remember: every successful founder you admire once walked into a room where they knew no one, too.