Title: Increasing Surface Area for Luck to Strike, with Startmate CEO Michael Batko
Session context
- Format: Interactive talk + live Q&A; screenshare with demos (LinkedIn, email intros)
- Host/Speaker: Michael Batko (CEO, Startmate; ex-Expert360, Mad Paws; Austrian/Polish background; 11 years in AU)
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/batkomichael/
- Audience: Founders in Startmate universe (accelerator, Launch Club, First Believers)
- Goal: Grow and leverage your network to create serendipity; get in the best rooms for customers/investors/opportunities
Why increase your “surface area for luck”
- Serendipity is people-driven: more high-quality touchpoints → more inbound/outbound opportunities
- Community arbitrage: you’re already in a 6,500+ member network (Slack, mentors, alumni) predisposed to help you
- Do what others won’t: small contrarian actions (phone calls, authentic updates) break through noise
Core principles
| Principle | Why it matters | Example |
|---|
| Be specific and relevant | Busy people reply to crisp asks that benefit them/their network | “Can you intro me to Joanne re: X? Draft below + why it helps her students” |
| Short + clear CTA | TL;DR wins; put the ask at the top | “Could you intro? 3 lines of context. 20-min call next Tue/Wed?” |
| Multi-channel, polite persistence | 7–8 touchpoints across channels outperform one-and-done | LinkedIn DM → email → comment → event hello → value add follow-up |
| Warm intros > cold outreach | Transfer of trust increases response rates | Mutual contact tee-up with double opt-in |
| Make it easy to help | Provide intro blurb, one-liner, links, scheduling | “Here’s a 5-line intro, my Calendly, and the specific value for them” |
| Relationship bank account | Add value before withdrawals; don’t spam | Share notes, wins, intros; close loops; say thanks |
Startmate context you can leverage
- Network: 300+ portfolio companies; mentors, First Believers, alumni founders/investors
- Programs: Accelerator checks (~$120k) + continuity fund (up to ~$500k) for alumni follow-ons
- Channels: Slack DMs to 6.5k members; Demo Days (next: Thu 23 Oct, Melbourne, 6pm)
Tactics that work (stories)
| Tactic | Story/Proof | Takeaway |
|---|
| Pick up the phone | Called PwC HR instead of only submitting CV → surfaced app → got the job | Do the unconventional, simple thing others fear |
| Post publicly (even if small reach) | Facebook post → soccer invite → maternity cover → first AU job | Weak ties create strong outcomes |
| Join communities, show up | Mad Paws/Expert360 early roles → hypergrowth exposure | Proximity compounds; be in the room |
| Ask “who do I want to meet and why” first | Clarity drives targeted outreach | Define ICP stakeholders and specific asks |
Practical outreach playbook
| Situation | Steps | Template cues |
|---|
| Warm intro request | Identify mutual; send double opt-in blurb; keep it short; clear value for target | Subject: Intro request to {Name} re {specific}; 3-line ask; 3-line bio; 1 link; 2 timeslots |
| Cold DM/email | Relevance hook; ask first; why them; proof; CTA | “Could we do 15 min on {topic} next Tue/Wed? 2 reasons this is relevant to you: …” |
| Follow-up cadence | 7–8 touches across 2–3 channels; vary medium; add value; space politely | Comment on their post; share resource; short bump; event hello |
| Close the loop | After intro/call, thank both; share outcome; note next steps | “Quick update: great chat with X; next step Y; thanks again!” |
High-quality intro mechanics (the “dance”)
- Asker (you) → Introducer: specific ask + draft intro + why relevant
- Introducer → Target: double opt-in (“Interested?”)
- If yes: Introducer sends intro thread
- You reply-all with thanks + BCC introducer + propose times
- After meeting: update both; add value back; keep notes
- LinkedIn Contact Info: many list emails/phones; check first
- CRM: Track every relationship; tasks for follow-ups (don’t leak leads)
- VA leverage: Inbox triage and CRM tasking 1–2h/day
- Short video when useful: product walkthroughs post-pitch; avoid AI-generic spam
- LOIs/MOUs and preorders: validate demand if product not live (especially B2B/high-ticket)
Benchmarks and pacing
| Stage | Practical bar |
|---|
| Outreach volume | 25 targeted connects/day or 50/week; 5–10 thoughtful DMs/day |
| Touchpoints per target | 5–8 over 3–6 weeks, multi-channel |
| Response rates | Warm intros 50%+; high-quality cold 15–25% |
| Meetings | 10+ per week while building early pipeline |
Selected Q&A highlights
| Topic | Takeaway |
|---|
| Reaching notable people | Be hyper-specific; value-first; use mutuals; double opt-in intros |
| Video in outreach | Works post-interest for demos; avoid generic AI-personalized videos |
| Older demographics (60–70) | Use letters/phone/community orgs; LOIs/MOUs for intent; preorders/deposits for commitment |
| African market focus | OK if AU/NZ founder link; customers can be global |
| Follow-up anxiety | Assume low attention, not rejection; keep it short, helpful, spaced; change channel |
8-week networking sprint template (fill this in)
| Track | Baseline (now) | 2-week goal | Weekly target | Success criteria |
|---|
| Mapping | ICP + 50 target contacts | 150 targets + 30 mutuals identified | +50 targets/week | Segmented list with notes |
| Outreach | Ad hoc DMs | 50 warm intros + 50 cold DMs | 25 connects/day; 5 DMs/day | 10 meetings/week |
| Multi-touch | Irregular | 3-value touches per priority contact | Comment/share/resource per contact weekly | 5–8 total touches per priority |
| CRM hygiene | Partial | Zero lead leakage | Daily tasking; VA support 1–2h/day | 100% contacts have next action + date |
| Conversion | — | Book 20 meetings; 5 pilots/LOIs | 10–15 meetings/week | ≥25% meeting-to-next-step rate |
Practical metrics you can choose
- Top-of-funnel: connection accept rate; reply rate (warm vs cold); meetings booked
- Mid-funnel: meeting-to-next-step; intros generated per meeting; LOIs/preorders
- Relationship quality: number of meaningful contributors; closed-loop % after intros
- Hygiene: % contacts with next task; follow-up SLA; touches per priority lead
Workshop logistics and follow-ups
| Item | Details |
|---|
| Startmate network | Use Slack to DM mentors/alumni; ask for double opt-in intros |
| Upcoming event | Accelerator Demo Day: Thu 23 Oct, Melbourne, 6pm (save the date) |
| Slides/recording | Session recorded; links to be shared to cohort |
| Recommended practice | Draft 3 intro requests today; send with blurb; book 5 meetings this week |
- Define who and why: draft a 150-person target list; tag mutuals
- Write 3 intro requests with double opt-in blurbs; send today
- Ship 10 cold DMs with a one-sentence ask and 2 reasons it helps them
- Stand up CRM + VA workflow to prevent lead leakage
- Close the loop on every intro within 24–72 hours; log outcomes and next steps