The practice of reaching out to people in your network feels increasingly artificial in our hyperconnected world. Every interaction seems calculated, every message crafted for maximum professional gain. Yet there remains something fundamentally human about the simple act of writing to someone whose work or journey intrigues you. Today I had a thirty-minute conversation with Ankit Agarwal that reminded me why cold outreach, done with genuine intent, still holds tremendous value.
I had written to Ankit to discuss his experiences building Crejo, seeking advice from someone who had navigated the complex terrain of edtech entrepreneurship. Being from the same college certainly helped break the initial ice, but this was our first real conversation. What struck me most was the warmth and candidness he brought to our discussion. There was no pretense, no guarded responses typical of formal networking interactions. Instead, we had the kind of conversation that happens when two people with similar backgrounds and genuine curiosity about each other's work decide to share their experiences openly.
The edtech ecosystem brings together people from diverse backgrounds, yet there exists a shared understanding among those who have chosen to work in this space. Speaking with Ankit reinforced this sense of community. His insights about building Crejo were not just professional advice but reflections on the broader challenges of creating meaningful educational experiences. We discussed the tension between scalability and personalization, the difficulty of measuring true learning outcomes, and the constant need to balance business sustainability with educational impact. These conversations matter because they happen between people who understand the context without lengthy explanations.
Cold writing works best when it stems from genuine interest rather than transactional intent. My message to Ankit was not about seeking immediate opportunities or trying to impress him with my credentials. Instead, I was curious about his journey, his decision-making processes, and the lessons he had learned while building something meaningful in the education space. This approach transforms what could be an awkward professional interaction into a natural exchange of ideas and experiences. The best cold outreach messages feel like they could have been written by someone who already knows you, even when they are reaching out for the first time.
The structure of effective cold writing requires thoughtful consideration of timing, context, and genuine value proposition. People respond to messages that demonstrate understanding of their work and respect for their time. A message that begins with specific observations about their recent projects or achievements signals that you have invested time in understanding their perspective. Following this with a clear, concise request that offers mutual benefit creates the foundation for meaningful dialogue. The goal is not to extract information or connections but to initiate a conversation that could benefit both parties. My conversation with Ankit exemplified this principle.
The real value of cold writing lies not in the immediate outcomes but in the relationships that develop over time. Today's conversation with Ankit may lead to future collaborations, but more importantly, it added another connection to my network of people thinking seriously about education and technology. These relationships compound over time, creating a web of mutual support and shared knowledge that extends far beyond any single interaction. The key is approaching each outreach with authentic curiosity and respect for the other person's expertise and time. When done thoughtfully, cold writing becomes less about networking and more about building genuine connections with people whose work and perspectives you genuinely respect.