How Founders Are Raising Money via WhatsApp DMs

How founders are skipping decks, data rooms, and raising funds straight from DMs.

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May 31, 2025

Imagine this:

You’re a founder with a validated idea.
You’ve got some traction.
But no deck. No pitch call scheduled. No formal round announced.

Just a crisp message. Sent over WhatsApp.

A few hours later… ₹10 lakhs wired. Round closed.

No data room. No 50-slide pitch. No investor committee call.

Sounds wild? Welcome to the new era of relationship-first fundraising — powered by DMs.

The Backchannel Era: Why DMs Work Now

Fundraising has always had a hidden layer — warm intros, private dinners, the “quick chats.”

But now, founders are owning that informality. WhatsApp and Telegram aren't just messaging apps — they're the new cap tables.

Why it’s working:

Speed beats perfection.
In early stages, investors often back the founder more than the model. A quick, well-structured message > a month-long email thread.
Trust travels in networks.
Friends of friends. Angel groups. Syndicate leads. If you’ve built trust, your DM is the pitch.
Investors are overwhelmed.
Nobody wants another 60-page deck. They want clarity, fast.

How This Founder Raised ₹1.2 Cr in 48 Hours — Over WhatsApp

Let’s talk about Aarav, founder of a B2B SaaS tool for India’s export manufacturers.

He posted a simple milestone update on LinkedIn.
Sent follow-up DMs to 7 angel investors who had interacted before.
Message format:

“Hey [Investor Name], hope you're well! We’ve hit ₹25L in monthly revenue and are growing 20% MoM.
Opening up a ₹1.5 Cr bridge round (SAFE). Would love to have you on board — ₹5L min ticket. Sending you a 1-pager now.”

4 investors replied within 12 hours.
3 wired within 2 days.

No pitch call. No deck. Just speed, clarity, and social capital.

The WhatsApp Fundraising Playbook

Yes, founders are really closing funding rounds over WhatsApp — and it’s not just a trend, it’s a new playbook.

Here’s how you can do it too:

1. Craft a Killer DM Pitch

Think of your first message as a tweet — short, sharp, and impossible to ignore. Use this 4-part formula to craft it:

Who you are – Just 1 line. Keep it humble and clear.
What you’ve achieved – Highlight traction, growth, or a sharp insight.
What you're raising – Mention the amount, valuation/cap, and instrument.
What you want – A quick call, a soft circle, or a ticket.

Example:

“Hey! We’ve hit 10K daily active users with 25% MoM growth.
Raising ₹1 Cr on a ₹7 Cr cap via SAFE. Would love to bring you on board — ₹2L min ticket.”

This message doesn’t scream “pitch.” It feels like a confident update — and that’s the key.

2. Replace the Deck with a Crisp 1-Pager

No, you don’t need a 12-slide deck. What you do need is a well-structured 1-pager or deal memo.

Include:

What your product does (in plain English)
Key traction or milestones
Market size & opportunity
Round terms (amount, valuation, instrument, lead status)
Contact details (email + WhatsApp)

👉 Download the Fundraising 1-Pager Template

3. Target the Right People

WhatsApp is not for cold outreach. Use it with warm leads only — people who:

Already know you or your product
Are 1-degree away via mutual connects
Are former founders/operators in your space
Lead angel syndicates or run micro-VC funds

This approach is built on trust, not spam. Treat it like a conversation, not a campaign.

Xartup is excited to announce its collaboration with India’s premier fundraising platform for startups – The Pitch by VCCircle, now coming to Bangalore on June 28th!

This is your exclusive chance to pitch your startup 1:1 to India’s top investors, including those from Blume Ventures, Lightspeed, 100X.VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, and many more.

Apply now and move one step closer to scaling your startup!