When a startup raises funding, one thing becomes immediately clear: they’re in buying mode. Whether it’s tools, talent, or services, newly funded companies have capital, urgency, and clear growth intent.
The challenge for sales teams and service businesses is knowing how to generate leads from recently funded startups before everyone else does, efficiently and effectively.
And yet, despite all the available tools, many B2B teams still struggle to build a predictable system.
Many teams struggle with “spray and pray” outreach and lack the systems to scale what works. After a year of working with SaaS founders and small business owners, the pattern is clear: most teams aren’t failing because of bad channels, but because they have no systems behind the scenes and focus on features instead of outcomes. This mirrors a widespread issue in B2B lead generation: teams trying multiple tactics (LinkedIn outreach, cold emails, content marketing) without the operational structure to measure, refine, and scale what actually works.
This guide shows you how to set up a repeatable system that actually drives replies and meetings.
You’ll follow a step-by-step system that combines PhantomBuster automations with LinkedIn Sales Navigator to implement smart strategies for lead generation. From finding recently funded startups and monitoring funding announcements on an automated schedule, to connecting with key decision-makers and co-founders’ teams, this system helps you build a continuous lead generation engine. You’ll discover how to target potential clients, qualify leads, and send outreach campaigns, whether through LinkedIn outreach or cold emailing, at the right moment to improve response rates and shorten sales cycles.
Whether you’re reaching out to seed-round startups, companies that raised angel rounds, or startups at any funding phase, this guide equips you with real examples, free tools, and repeatable methods to surface qualified leads and turn recent funding momentum into relevant, timely outreach.
Why recently funded startups are prime leads
Funding is one of the strongest buying signals a company can give. Startups that have recently raised money are under pressure to execute fast, which means they’re actively hiring, building, and spending on tools and services. For sales teams, service businesses, and anyone looking for qualified potential customers, these newly funded startups represent a unique chance to reach them while priorities and budgets are being set.
The challenge lies in identifying them efficiently. Searching manually across LinkedIn, funding databases, and news sources for companies that raised funding is slow, repetitive, and often misses crucial opportunities. That’s where automation transforms the lead generation process. With PhantomBuster, you automate the steps from finding startups that recently raised funding, enriching data for startup founders and decision-makers, to integrating your findings with customer relationship management systems, so outreach happens on time and to the right people.
By targeting startups at different funding stages, whether pre-product, seed, or early growth, you can connect with the right people who are actively turning new capital into growth and revenue. This approach helps you keep your pipeline filled with qualified leads and positions your outreach to capture opportunities with startups that are truly in buying mode.
Build your automated funded-startup lead generation system
Rather than manually hunting for funding news or spending hours on research, you can create an automated systemRather than manually hunting for funding news or spending hours on research, you can create an automated system that continuously identifies recently funded startups and connects you with their decision-makers. Here’s the funded-startup workflow in PhantomBuster, built from four automations working together:
This is one integrated workflow in PhantomBuster composed of four steps: find companies, enrich accounts, find decision-makers, and start outreach. Here’s how each step works:
- PhantomBuster’s Sales Navigator Search Export automation to find recently funded startups
- PhantomBuster’s Sales Navigator Account Scraper automation to collect detailed company information
- PhantomBuster’s Sales Navigator Search Export automation (for decision-makers) to identify founders and senior leaders
- PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Outreach automation to connect and start conversations
Each automation can run on its own, but together they form a continuous, scheduled lead-generation workflow.
Want to see the process in action? Check out the video “Find Recently Funded Startups & Connect with Decision-Makers Using Phantombuster”
Step 1: Find recently funded startups using Sales Navigator
Start by setting up PhantomBuster’s Sales Navigator Search Export automation. This will extract targeted results directly from LinkedIn Sales Navigator based on specific funding criteria.
First, create a Sales Navigator search using these filters:
- Company → Funding raised → Last 6-12 months (start with 3-6 for highest intent)
- Company → Size → 1-50 employees (startups with small teams)
- Industry → Select your target industry
- Geography → Your target market
For best results, focus on companies that have raised a seed round or Series A in the last 3-6 months. These early-stage startups are actively building their stack and have fewer established vendor relationships.
Once your search is configured, copy the URL and feed it into the Sales Navigator Search Export automation. Enable “Watcher Mode” to automatically detect new companies that match your criteria over time.
Step 2: Enrich your startup data
Now that you have a list of recently funded startups, the next step is to gather deeper insights about each company. Use PhantomBuster’s Sales Navigator Account Scraper automation to collect comprehensive company profiles.
This automation visits each startup’s profile to collect valuable data points:
- Website and LinkedIn URL
- Company size and recent headcount changes (when visible)
- Headquarters location
- Year founded
- Funding details (when available)
- Recent company updates
This enriched data helps you prioritize opportunities based on funding amount, company maturity, and growth trajectory. A startup that just raised $5M with a rapidly growing team signals stronger buying potential than one with minimal growth after funding.
Step 3: Identify the right decision-makers
Now that you have a list of enriched startups, use a Sales Navigator “People” search filtered by job titles (Founder, CEO, Head of [Function]) for each company from Step 2 as inputs for another PhantomBuster’s Sales Navigator Search Export Automation.
This Automation focuses on extracting profiles of founders, CEOs, or senior department heads within those funded startups.
You’ll now have a ready-to-use list of decision-makers with buying authority.
Step 4: Connect and nurture relationships
Finally, pass your list of decision-makers into PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Outreach Automation. This automation sends connection requests and scheduled follow-ups. Keep volumes within LinkedIn guidelines and personalize each step.
You can include dynamic variables like {firstName} or {companyName} for natural, context-aware messages. You can also schedule up to three follow-up messages after a connection request is accepted, each spaced days or weeks apart.
For optimal results, start with a low daily limit aligned with your account tier and gradually increase while staying within LinkedIn’s guidelines. Stick to business hours to mimic natural human behavior.
The result is a continuous system that not only finds startups but also connects and nurtures the exact people leading them, with minimal ongoing manual work after setup.
Here’s an example of messaging that specifically references their recent funding:
Hi {firstName}, congrats on the recent {fundingRound} funding! I’ve been following {companyName}’s growth and would love to connect.
We help recently funded startups with [specific value proposition] during their scale-up phase.
After connections are accepted, schedule 2-3 follow-up messages with valuable content specifically relevant to startups in their growth stage:
- A congratulatory note with a useful resource (e.g., a headcount planning checklist or a post-funding tech stack template) with no pitch
- A case study of how you’ve helped similar funded companies
- A soft invitation to discuss their post-funding priorities
Next-level automation ideas
Once your core flow is live, you can expand it further without leaving PhantomBuster:
- Add segments to your funded-startup workflow (by region or funding phase) so messages stay relevant
- Combine Watcher Mode with LinkedIn Outreach so new startups automatically enter your sequence, reducing time-to-first-touch
- Automate lead refreshing weekly so your list reflects the latest funding events and your reps always work the newest accounts
- Monitor performance in PhantomBuster’s activity logs to see connection rates by segment and double down on responsive verticals
This turns a one-time setup into a repeatable workflow that keeps adding new opportunities.
Make your system sustainable and scalable
The real power of this workflow is that it continuously identifies new opportunities without ongoing manual effort. Here’s how to optimize it for long-term success:
- Run on a consistent schedule: Set your search exports to run weekly to keep your list updated with fresh funding announcements. The automation will identify new startups as they appear.
- Create multiple targeted segments: Develop separate workflows for different stages (seed, Series A, B) or industries to tailor your messaging to each segment’s specific needs.
- Monitor response rates: Track which messaging templates perform best with recently funded startups and continually refine your approach based on real data.
- Sync with your CRM: Export your PhantomBuster data to HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive to maintain a complete record of your funded-startup pipeline and track deals through your sales process.
- Measure conversion by funding stage: Track which funding rounds convert best for your particular product or service and double down on those high-performing segments.
Integrating customer relationship management (CRM) for a complete lead generation process
Once your PhantomBuster workflow is producing qualified leads, the next critical step is managing them effectively. A solid customer relationship management system ensures no opportunity falls through the cracks.
Syncing your automation output with a CRM platform like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive allows your sales team to:
- Track every funded startup’s journey from initial contact to conversion
- Record interactions and notes from your LinkedIn or cold email campaigns
- Automatically assign leads to the right team members based on region, funding stage, or target industry
- Measure long-term ROI by connecting outreach data with actual revenue generated
This connection between PhantomBuster and your CRM transforms your lead generation process into a structured, measurable system. You’re not just finding startups that recently raised money. You’re setting up a system that helps convert them into revenue.
Tip: Use automated CRM workflows to trigger follow-ups or reminders after each LinkedIn connection or email reply. Consistent engagement builds trust and helps you close more deals over time.
Mastering cold and LinkedIn outreach
Automating is only half the battle. The real results come from how effectively you reach out. A successful cold outreach or LinkedIn outreach campaign requires precision, personalization, and timing.
Best practices for LinkedIn outreach
- Personalize every message: Mention the funding round or specific investors to show genuine awareness.
- Add value before selling: Share a useful resource (e.g., a headcount planning checklist or a post-funding tech stack template) related to scaling post-funding.
- Use automation carefully: Use PhantomBuster’s pacing and follow-up options to maintain authenticity and avoid spam detection.
- Track response data: Monitor which types of messages generate the best response rates for recently funded startups in your target industry.
FAQs
How soon after a funding announcement should I reach out?
Ideally within 4-8 weeks. This gives the company time to organize their priorities but ensures you connect before they’ve committed to competitors.
Which funding rounds typically yield the best response rates?
Seed and Series A usually generate the highest response rates for most B2B products. Series B and beyond work better for enterprise solutions with higher price points.
Should I target founders or departmental leaders?
For companies with fewer than 50 employees that have raised angel rounds or seed funding, go straight to founders. For larger funded startups, target the department head most relevant to your solution.
How much should I personalize my outreach to funded companies?
At minimum, reference their specific funding round and amount. For follow-ups, mention industry-specific challenges that companies face after raising capital.
What if a startup raised funding more than 6 months ago?
They can still be excellent prospects, but adjust your messaging away from “congratulations” to more specific insights about their current growth phase and how you can help them maximize their capital efficiency.
How accurate is the data PhantomBuster collects?
Data is collected from LinkedIn via Sales Navigator, so you’re targeting information visible on company and profile pages.
Can I run these PhantomBuster automations globally?
Yes. You can duplicate your automation for any country or region by adjusting your Sales Navigator filters.
Is there a risk of hitting LinkedIn limits?
PhantomBuster includes authentication controls, usage limits, and pacing to help you stay within safe boundaries.
We actively encourage users to respect LinkedIn rate limits when setting up these automations, as we are aligned with LinkedIn’s commitment to fight against spam.
Can I use this with my existing CRM?
Yes. You can export the results from your PhantomBuster automations into HubSpot or a CSV, or connect via Zapier, Make, and n8n for other CRM syncing.
Start your funded-startup prospecting automation today
This workflow automates the most time-consuming part of B2B prospecting: finding and qualifying new opportunities. With PhantomBuster, you’re not just extracting data, you’re building a living lead engine that keeps uncovering high-intent opportunities while you focus on closing them.
Ready to start targeting high-intent, recently funded startups? PhantomBuster’s 14-day free trial includes all the automations mentioned in this guide, with no credit card required.
Set up your first automated workflow today and start connecting with funded startups in your target market quickly.