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What would be the best way for a startup to approach a large company like Airbnb or CouchSurfing about working together?

We own a startup and we believe our service fits really well with Airbnb or CouchSurfing. Are they too big to do business with a startup? If not, what do you think the best way to approach them would be?

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Nishith Gupta

Co-Founder,UXHack.co | Product & Growth Consultant

I myself run a startup and recently started tying up with big co-working companies and online educational providers in India.

So yes, I don't think you should feel anyway less or intimidated by the brands you try to reach out. Based on the patterns I had observed in my conversions -
a. Email to right person is the best way or second best use of LinkedIn inmail
b. Use of introductions

And the most important - you should be able to really articulate well on how they benefit with your partnership.

Answered over 7 years ago

Allen Witters

I am a booster rocket to get you into Orbit!

You need to know you have something that will be of value to them. So, do your homework, read the annual report and look for things in their strategy that you solve. Listen to earnings calls, and correlate you business to needs you hear on those. Pull a strategy together that is a direct use case from their position on how they make money with your help. Then reach out to the CEO, CMO, Strategy leads on LinkedIn and make the connection with the items you KNOW are of interest to them. Expect this to take 9-18 months, and a lot of meetings, cost, and time. You should also have exactly what you want "The Ask" in the deal, and present that earlier than later, because a "NO" answer can be more valuable than a "Maybe".

Answered over 7 years ago

Vigil Viswanathan

Clarity Expert

Businesses are in the game of making money. Big or small doesn't matter.

If your services are going to either make their lives easier or make them more money. The best way would be to, reach out to a decision maker.

The following 2 worked best for me, when I sold to companies like OLX, Quikr, TVS among others

Cold Emails
Send 5 emails ( 1 every 7 days) per person. Also, when you are reaching out make sure you reach out to at least a 150 of them every month. You would have a better chance of generating a meeting.

References
The best way though would be if some one can connect you directly to the said decision maker.

Answered over 7 years ago