Should I Move to San Francisco to Raise Money?

Ivan Burazin says a founder does not have to move to San Francisco, but does have to spend real time there. Cold email can still open a door: one family office wrote back after seven emails and took the call, and his own note, sent once or twice, drew replies to the first email. The stronger lever is showing up where investors already are.

San Francisco puts you one degree from the people you want. If five of them vouch for you, the investor gets on the call. Three years ago, still post-Covid, remote meetings were easier. Now the work is in person, so a founder based in Croatia has to get here.

He tells people to measure the trip the way they see closest friends: about four times a year. An acquaintance who might invest will expect to see you even less often than that. A few visits can cover it. Moving is optional. Spending time is not.