3 Minutes to reflect

When I received a cold direct message on LinkedIn from Daniele, the CEO of a startup called CleverChain, I was torn between accepting the meeting request and declining it, as I am not familiar with the regtech sector.

At the end, I couldn't resist setting up a meeting after receiving such a well-written and polite email. During the meeting, Daniele was just as smart and gracious as his message had suggested. I was impressed by his background, and it seemed that CleverChain was the natural progression of his life path.

Although the initiative made a positive first impression, I decided not to invest in it. A KYC automation solution is not exactly what I am interested in, and even today, I barely understand the concept.

Fortunately, I have a life rule: after every meeting with a good person, I try to make three introductions that I hope will be useful to them.

When I introduced Daniele to three parties, he only had a pitch deck at the time. To my astonishment, he received a client, an investor, and an acquisition offer from the three introductions. With such positive feedback, investing in him was a no-brainer.

Our agreement marked the beginning of a rewarding partnership. In addition to my investment, I offered Daniele access to my network and a regular weekly slot to discuss anything he felt was relevant. I was fortunate enough to share the joy of a customer won and other great news, as well as to listen when something troubled him.

To me, this story feels like a massive "Sliding Doors" moment. What if Daniele thought cold contacting was a waste of time? What if I didn't accept that meeting despite the graciousness? What if I didn't introduce Daniele to three friends? I would have missed out on a great investment and what feel like sincere relationships.

2 Resources to pro level

To prevent and combat money laundering, regulators require financial institutions, cryptocurrency operators, and mid to large-sized companies to identify their clients through KYC, or "know your client." Unfortunately, a significant amount of money spent annually on this process goes to waste.

CleverChain offers a solution to one of the most problematic sources of inefficiency: false positives. By automating the process end-to-end, CleverChain can help reduce wasted resources and improve overall efficiency by a significant margin.

If you're interested in connecting with Daniele, click here.

Why the 3 introductions rule? These introductions help me keep people in my network close with a small gesture, establish credibility with newly met individuals, and, in case of potential startup investments, gain insights into the co-founding teams I'm dealing with.

If you want to play the "3 Introductions Challenge", here are the rules:

• Start by writing down 3 names while taking meeting notes during the meeting.

• Finish the meeting by suggesting that you have 3 relevant introductions.

• If possible, make the introductions immediately after the meeting.

By giving first, you will see how much more you will get back. Promise!

1 Reason to be happy

😂 They took video games away from Sam Bankman-Fried! Read more

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Have a great weekend,

Simone

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