Stop Applying to Jobs: How to Find Founders Who Need You in 10 Minutes
Part 1: Why This Matters
You've been told to "network on LinkedIn." You've been told to "apply on Upwork."
But here's what nobody tells you:
The best opportunities aren't posted on job boards. They're sitting in the inboxes of founders who haven't even realized they need help yet.
And the best part? You can find those founders—and their email addresses—in less than 10 minutes using a simple Google search.
Let me show you how.
Part 2: The Method (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Choose Your Industry + Location
What kind of work do you want to do? Who do you want to help?
Examples:
Social impact founders in Toronto
Tech startups in San Francisco
Education companies in Nairobi
Wellness brands in London
Pick ONE to start. Don't try to search everything at once.
Step 2: Use This Exact Google Search String
This is the magic formula. Copy it exactly:
site:SITE-URL "PROFESSION" "@gmail.com" OR "@yahoo.com" OR "@hotmail.com" OR "@outlook.com" OR "@aol.com" OR "@icloud.com"
What this does:
site:tells Google to only search a specific website"PROFESSION"is the job title you're looking for (e.g., "founder", "CEO", "operations manager")The email domains tell Google to show you pages that contain email addresses
Step 3: Real Examples You Can Use Right Now
Example 1: Finding Life Coaches on Instagram
site:instagram.com "life coaches" "@gmail.com" OR "@yahoo.com" OR
"@hotmail.com" OR "@outlook.com" OR "@aol.com" OR "@icloud.com"
Example 2: Finding Tech Founders on LinkedIn
site:linkedin.com "tech founder" "@gmail.com" OR "@yahoo.com" OR "@hotmail.com" OR
"@outlook.com" OR "@aol.com" OR "@icloud.com"
Example 3: Finding Social Impact Founders in Toronto
site:linkedin.com "social impact founder" "@gmail.com" OR "@yahoo.com"
Example 4: Finding Education Entrepreneurs in Nairobi
site:linkedin.com "education founder" "@gmail.com"
(Replace SITE-URL with: instagram.com, linkedin.com, twitter.com, medium.com)
(Replace PROFESSION with: "founder", "CEO", "creative director", "operations manager", "startup")
Step 4: What to Do With the Results
When Google shows you results, you'll see:
Names
Profiles (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
Sometimes email addresses directly in the search results
Sometimes you'll need to click through to their profile or website to find contact info
Your job: Create a simple spreadsheet with these columns:
Full name
Company name
Website URL
Email (if you found it)
LinkedIn profile
Recent post/project they're working on
What problem they might need help with
Date you plan to reach out
Goal for Week 1: Find 30-40 people. Not 5. Not 10. 30-40.
Why so many? Because by the end of the month, only 2-5 of those 30 will respond. That's the reality. This is a numbers game, but it's a numbers game where you're playing smart.
Step 5: Research BEFORE You Reach Out (The Step Most People Skip)
This is where most people fail.
They find a founder. They send a generic message: "Hi, I'd love to work with you. Let me know if you need help!"
And they wonder why they get ignored.
Here's what to do instead:
For each person on your list, spend 10 minutes researching:
1. Look at their recent LinkedIn posts
What are they celebrating? (new product launch, milestone, hiring)
What are they stressed about? (scaling challenges, time management, overwhelm)
What problem keeps coming up in their posts?
2. Visit their company website
What problem are they solving?
Who are they trying to help?
What's their mission?
What services do they offer?
3. Find a podcast, blog, or recent interview
Search: "[their name] + podcast" or "[their name] + interview"
What do they care about?
What language do they use?
What excites them?
What challenges did they mention?
Why this matters: Because when you reach out, you need to show you actually PAID ATTENTION. Not "I think you're cool" but "I saw your post about [specific problem] and I have an idea for how to solve it."
Step 6: Get Clear on What You're Offering (And What You Want in Exchange)
Real talk: Nobody is going to randomly hire you from a cold message.
So don't ask them to.
Instead, offer something specific and valuable that takes less than 2 weeks to deliver.
Examples of What to Offer:
✅ Content Creation
"I can create 10 LinkedIn carousel posts for you over the next 2 weeks based on your recent blog posts"
"I can edit 5 short-form videos from your podcast episodes for Instagram Reels"
"I can write 3 email newsletters for your upcoming launch"
✅ Lead Generation
"I can find 100 warm leads interested in [your product] and deliver them in a spreadsheet with contact info"
"I can scrape 50 potential podcast guests in your niche with their email addresses"
"I can research 20 companies in [industry] that would be perfect partners for you"
✅ Systems & Organization
"I can organize your inbox using a system I built for 3 other founders—it saves 10 hours/week"
"I can create a Notion workspace to track your content pipeline from idea to publish"
"I can set up an onboarding system for your new clients using Notion and Slack"
✅ Research & Analysis
"I can analyze your top 10 competitors and give you a breakdown of their content strategy"
"I can research 20 speaking opportunities in [your city] and create an outreach template"
"I can audit your LinkedIn profile and give you specific recommendations to increase engagement"
Notice: These are all:
Specific (not "I can help with marketing")
Time-bound (2 weeks or less)
Deliverable (they get something tangible)
Low-risk for them (doesn't require them to onboard you, train you, or pay you upfront)
Step 7: Decide What You Want in Exchange
You're offering free work. But you're not doing it for nothing.
Here's what you can ask for in exchange:
Option 1: Testimonial "If you're happy with the work, I'd love a written testimonial I can use when reaching out to other founders."
Why this matters: Testimonials are social proof. After you have 2-3 good testimonials, your conversion rate on outreach goes up significantly.
Option 2: Introduction "If this is helpful, would you be open to introducing me to 2-3 other founders in your network who might need similar support?"
Why this matters: Warm introductions convert 10x better than cold outreach. One good intro can lead to paid work faster than 50 cold messages.
Option 3: Mentorship "I'd love 15-30 minutes of your time to get feedback on how I can position myself better for remote work opportunities."
Why this matters: Founders know other founders. A 15-minute conversation can give you insights that would take months to figure out on your own.
Option 4: Paid Trial "After this 2-week trial, if you want to continue, I'd love to discuss a monthly retainer of $[amount] for ongoing support."
Why this matters: Some founders will say yes to paid work immediately after seeing your quality. Don't assume they won't pay you.
Important: If you've never worked with someone abroad before, don't ask for payment upfront on your first project. Get the testimonial. Get the experience. Get the confidence. Build your proof of work. Then start charging.
Part 3: The Real Example (What I Actually Did)
Let me show you how I used this method—and what happened when I reached out.
What I Searched:
site:linkedin.com "social impact founder" "@gmail.com" OR "@yahoo.com"
What I Found:
15 founders in Toronto working on social impact projects
8 of them had email addresses visible on their profiles or websites
3 of them had recently posted about needing operations support
What I Did Next:
Step 1: I researched each founder (10 minutes each)
Founder #1: Posted about feeling overwhelmed by email and administrative tasks
Visited their website—they're building a platform to connect NGOs with volunteers
Found a podcast interview—they talked about struggling to scale without a full team
Step 2: I got specific about what I could offer
I didn't say "I can help with whatever you need."
I said:
"I can set up an email management system for you using Gmail filters, labels, and Notion. I've done this for 3 other founders and it saves them 10 hours a week on average. I'll build it for you over the next 2 weeks at no cost. If it works well for you, I'd love a written testimonial and an introduction to 2 other founders in your network who might need similar help."
Step 3: I sent a VIDEO message (not just text)
This is critical. I didn't send a generic LinkedIn message or email.
I recorded a 60-second Loom video where:
I was screen-sharing their LinkedIn post about email overwhelm
I explained what I noticed: "I saw your post about drowning in email and it reminded me of 3 other founders I've worked with who had the exact same problem"
I showed my LinkedIn profile on screen so they could see who I am and what I've done
I explained my specific offer and what I wanted in exchange (testimonial + 2 intros)
I ended with a clear next step: "If this sounds helpful, let's jump on a quick 15-minute coffee chat. I'll send you my Calendly link. No pressure—just want to see if I can help."
Part 3.5: Video OR Voice Note (Why This Matters Even More for African Women)
Let's be real about something most people won't say out loud.
As African women, we're working against biases we didn't create but have to navigate anyway.
When you send a text message on LinkedIn or email that just says "Hi, I'd love to work with you"—you have maybe a 3-5% chance of getting a response.
But when you send a video or voice note?
That number jumps to 20-30%.
Why?
Because people have biases (conscious or not) about:
Your accent
Your ability to communicate clearly in English
Whether you can "deliver" to Western standards
Whether you're "professional enough"
Whether you understand their business context
I'm not saying these biases are fair. I'm saying they exist.
A video or voice note breaks through all of that in 60 seconds.
They hear your voice. They see your face (if video). They realize: "Oh, this is a real person who did real research on me, speaks clearly, understands my problem, and has a concrete offer."
It humanizes you immediately.
The bias melts. The assumptions disappear. You become a peer, not a stereotype.
Voice Note vs. Video: Which One Should You Use?
Both work. Here's when to use each:
Use a VOICE NOTE when:
You're reaching out via LinkedIn DM and want to keep it quick
You're sending an email and want to attach an audio file
You want to keep it casual and conversational
You're more comfortable speaking than being on camera
The founder seems more audio-oriented (e.g., they have a podcast)
Use a VIDEO when:
You want to screen-share their website, LinkedIn post, or portfolio
You want to show your face (adds extra personal touch and trust)
You want to show your own LinkedIn profile or work samples
The founder is very visual (e.g., they work in design, marketing, content, branding)
Both are 10x better than text. Pick whichever feels more natural to you.
What to Say in Your Voice Note/Video (60 Seconds Max)
Structure:
First 10 seconds: Reference something specific "Hi [Name], I saw your recent post about [specific thing] and it really resonated with me because..."
Next 20 seconds: Connect it to your experience "I've worked with 3 other founders who had the same challenge, and here's how we solved it..."
Next 20 seconds: Make your specific offer "I'd love to do [specific deliverable] for you over the next 2 weeks. In exchange, if you're happy with it, I'd love a testimonial or an intro to 2 other founders in your network."
Last 10 seconds: Clear call to action "Let's jump on a quick 15-minute coffee chat to see if this makes sense. I'll send you a Calendly link. No pressure—just want to see if I can help."
Example Voice Note Script:
"Hi Sarah, this is Jayne from Nairobi. I saw your LinkedIn post last week about feeling overwhelmed by email and it reminded me of 3 other social impact founders I've worked with who had the same problem. I built an email management system for them using Gmail filters and Notion—it saves them about 10 hours a week on average. I'd love to set this up for you over the next 2 weeks at no cost. If it works well, I'd just love a written testimonial and maybe an introduction to 2 other founders in your network who might need similar help. Let's jump on a quick 15-minute call to chat about it—I'll send you a Calendly link. Looking forward to connecting!"
That's it. 60 seconds. Personal. Specific. Low-pressure.
Example Video Script (If Screen-Sharing):
[Screen is on their LinkedIn post]
"Hi David, this is Jayne. I've been following your work with [Company Name] and I saw this post you made about struggling to keep up with content creation while managing everything else."
[Switch screen to show your LinkedIn profile]
"I help founders like you create consistent LinkedIn content without it taking hours. I've worked with 3 other social impact founders to set up content systems—here's my LinkedIn where you can see some of my work."
[Switch back to their profile or website]
"I'd love to create 10 LinkedIn carousels for you over the next 2 weeks based on your recent blog posts. If you're happy with them, I'd just love a testimonial and an intro to a couple other founders in your space."
[Back to your face if on camera, or keep screen-sharing]
"Let's jump on a quick 15-minute call to see if this makes sense. I'll send you a Calendly link. No pressure—just want to see if I can help. Talk soon!"
Why This Works (Especially for Us)
Here's the truth:
People aren't going to give us the benefit of the doubt just because we applied.
There are assumptions (fair or not) about:
Can she communicate clearly?
Will she understand our business context?
Is she reliable?
Can she deliver Western-quality work?
But when they hear you speak—when they hear your intelligence, your warmth, your clarity, your professionalism—those biases start to melt.
You sound approachable. You sound confident. You sound like someone they'd want on their team.
The voice note or video does half the work for you.
It's not fair that you have to work harder to prove yourself. But this is the reality. And this method works.
What Happened When I Reached Out:
Founder #1: Responded within 24 hours. We jumped on a 15-minute call that turned into 30 minutes. I delivered the email system over 2 weeks. Got a glowing testimonial. Got introduced to 2 other founders. One of them became a paid client ($1500/month retainer) 2 months later.
Founder #2: Responded 3 days later with: "This is amazing timing. Not ready for this exact project, but I love this approach. Let's stay in touch." I added them to my monthly check-in list and send a quick update every 4-6 weeks.
Founder #3: Didn't respond. That's fine. This is a numbers game.
The Math That Actually Works:
Here's the reality check:
If you do this consistently:
Week 1: Find 30-40 people using the Google method
Week 2-4: Reach out to 1 person per day with a personalized video or voice note (not text)
By end of month: 2-5 people will respond
By end of 3 months: 1-2 will turn into paid work, strong referrals, or valuable mentorship relationships
That's the truth. Not overnight. Not magic. Just consistent, strategic effort.
Most people give up after 10 messages because they don't get immediate results.
You're not most people.
Part 4: Why This Works Better Than Job Boards
Let me break down the math:
On Upwork/Fiverr/LinkedIn Easy Apply:
❌ 200+ people apply to the same job
❌ You're competing purely on price ("I'll do it for $5/hour")
❌ The client is looking for the cheapest option, not the best fit
❌ Your profile is buried under dozens of others
❌ You're positioned as desperate ("please hire me")
❌ Response rate: 2-5%
With the Google Search Method + Voice Note/Video:
✅ You're the ONLY person reaching out about this specific problem
✅ You're solving a problem they haven't even posted about yet
✅ You're positioned as a peer who understands their work (not a desperate applicant)
✅ You stand out because 99% of people won't put in this effort
✅ You're building a relationship, not sending an application
✅ Response rate: 20-30%
The difference? You're not waiting to be chosen. You're creating opportunities.
Part 5: Your Action Plan for This Month
Here's exactly what to do:
Week 1: Find 30-40 People
Time commitment: 3-4 hours total
Pick your industry + location
Run 5-10 Google searches using the formulas in Part 2
Build your spreadsheet with:
Full name
Company name
Website URL
Email (if found)
LinkedIn profile
Recent post/pain point
Specific offer you could make
Date you'll reach out
Goal: 30-40 people in your spreadsheet by end of Week 1
Week 2-4: Reach Out to 1 Person Per Day
Time commitment: 30 minutes per day
Daily routine:
Pick 1 person from your list (10 minutes research)
Read their last 3 LinkedIn posts
Visit their website
Note what problem they're dealing with
Get clear on your offer (5 minutes)
What specific thing will you do?
How long will it take?
What do you want in exchange?
Record your voice note or video (10 minutes)
Reference something specific about them
Make your offer clear
Keep it to 60 seconds
End with call to action
Send it and move on (5 minutes)
Don't overthink it
Don't wait for a response before reaching out to the next person
Track that you sent it in your spreadsheet
Don't batch send. Don't copy-paste. One person. One day. Personalized.
Track Your Results in a Simple Spreadsheet:
Add these columns:
Date reached out
Response? (Yes/No)
Response date
What they said
Next step
Outcome (testimonial, intro, paid work, no response)
Why track? You'll start to see patterns:
What offers get the best response?
What industries respond more?
What time of day/week gets faster replies?
What pain points resonate most?
By End of Month: Expect 2-5 Responses
That's the reality.
Out of 30 messages:
2-5 will respond positively
3-5 will say "not now, but let's stay in touch"
20-25 won't respond at all
That's not failure. That's progress.
Those 2-5 responses turn into:
Testimonials you can use in future outreach
Introductions to other founders
Mentorship conversations that give you insights
Portfolio pieces you can show
And eventually—paid work
But you have to stay consistent.
One month isn't enough. Three months is where you start seeing momentum.
Part 6: Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Mistake #1: Sending Generic Messages
❌ "Hi, I'm a virtual assistant looking for work. Let me know if you need help!"
✅ "Hi Sarah, I saw your post about email overwhelm. I built an email system for 3 founders that saves 10 hours/week. I'd love to do this for you over the next 2 weeks. If it works, I'd just love a testimonial."
The fix: Be specific about what you saw, what you can do, and what you want.
Mistake #2: Not Doing Research
❌ Reaching out to 30 people without looking at their profiles
✅ Spending 10 minutes per person understanding their work, pain points, and recent activity
The fix: Quality over quantity in the research phase. One great personalized message beats 10 generic ones.
Mistake #3: Asking for Payment Upfront (Before You Have Proof)
❌ "My rate is $30/hour. Let me know if you want to hire me."
✅ "I'll do this project for free. If you're happy, I'd love a testimonial and 2 intros."
The fix: If you have no testimonials, no portfolio, and no experience working with international clients—don't charge for your first 2-3 projects. Get proof first. Then charge.
Mistake #4: Giving Up After 10 Messages
❌ Sending 10 messages, getting 1 response, deciding "this doesn't work"
✅ Sending 30 messages, getting 2-5 responses, building from there
The fix: Commit to 30 messages minimum. Track your results. Adjust your approach based on what you learn.
Mistake #5: Sending Text When You Should Send Voice/Video
❌ Typing out a long LinkedIn message explaining your offer
✅ Recording a 60-second voice note or video doing the same thing
The fix: If you want a response rate above 5%, use voice or video. Text doesn't cut through the noise.
Final Thoughts
This method isn't a hack. It's not a shortcut.
It's a system that works if you do the work.
Most people won't do this. They'll keep applying to jobs on Upwork and wondering why they don't get responses.
You're not most people.
You're someone who:
Does the research
Makes personalized offers
Uses voice/video to stand out
Plays the long game
Stays consistent even when it's hard
And that's exactly why this will work for you.
Your homework this week:
Pick your industry + location
Run 3 Google searches
Find 10 people whose work you care about
Save them in a spreadsheet
Don't reach out yet. Just find them.
Next week, you'll send your first voice note.
