As an early stage investor I want to help startups succeed. If you email me – or anyone, really – your job is to succinctly communicate your situation and how I can help.

Clearly explain what you do.

Avoid any jargon or complex terms. Remember, I’m probably not using 100% of my brain when reading your email so optimize for that. I’m sorry if this sounds like I’m disrespecting your communication. That is not my intention. It’s just that I check my email all the time and I cannot guarantee that I won’t be distracted or that my mind won’t be focused on other things.