In a recent LinkedIn post, Max Pog discusses strategic approaches for startups seeking to build their investor lists for future funding rounds. Pog highlights the potential advantages of targeting emerging venture capital (VC) funds over more established, well-known firms.
Pog’s core argument centers on the idea that emerging funds, due to lower email volume, may offer a more receptive audience for startup pitches. He emphasizes the challenges startups face when trying to capture the attention of highly sought-after, famous VCs whose inboxes are often inundated with proposals.
“We put 40+ hours of research into gathering this data”
The Case for Emerging VC Funds
Max Pog argues that focusing on newer, smaller VC funds can significantly increase a startup’s chances of securing a response and, potentially, investment. According to Pog, these emerging funds are “much more likely to respond to a startup pitch than famous VCs, because their inboxes don’t get thousands of emails each week.” This suggests a strategic shift from quantity of outreach to quality of targeting.
Data-Driven Approach to Investor Identification
The value proposition offered by Max Pog is rooted in extensive research. He details that his team invested over 40 hours into compiling a database of more than 115 emerging VC funds that are actively investing and targeting opportunities in 2026. This meticulous research covers key decision-making factors for investors.
Key Data Points for Emerging VCs
Pog’s database includes crucial information designed to help startups identify the most suitable investors. As Max Pog notes, the data points gathered are comprehensive and actionable:
- Stage/sector/region focus
- Fund size
- Website
- LinkedIn page
This level of detail, Pog implies, allows founders to tailor their pitches more effectively, aligning their startup’s profile with the specific investment thesis of each emerging fund. The emphasis is on precision and relevance, moving away from a scattergun approach to fundraising.
“Building your investor list for the next round?”
Call to Action for Founders
To access this curated directory, Max Pog provides a clear call to action within his LinkedIn post. Founders interested in leveraging this resource are instructed to comment “EMERGING VC” on his post and send a connection request. Pog states that he will then personally message the directory to those who complete these steps.
“I can share a database of 115+ emerging VC funds actively investing in 2026”
This initiative by Max Pog aims to streamline the often arduous process of investor identification for early-stage and growth-stage companies. By sharing meticulously researched data on emerging VCs, Pog positions himself as a resource for the startup ecosystem, offering a practical solution to a common fundraising challenge.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Max Pog on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on July 31, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →