Opener template

An opener template is the reusable first-sentence structure you use to start a conversation with someone you researched. The mistake most people make is improvising the opener on the spot - which usually produces "so, what do you do?" or other low-information openings that waste the first 30 seconds and signal you haven't prepared.

The template that consistently works in event networking:

I saw you [specific recent thing they did]. I've been thinking about [related problem] because [your context]. [Open question]?

Worked examples:

• I saw you shipped a usage-based pricing migration last quarter. We're six weeks from doing the same thing at a slightly smaller scale. What would you wish you'd known going in?
• I saw you led the seed at Replicate. We're raising in a similar shape - infra, dev tooling, $5M target. How did you think about partner-vs-portfolio fit at that stage?
• I saw you joined Cohere last month. We're thinking about a similar move from a US infra company to a Canadian AI lab. What made you decide?

What makes this work:

1. The specific signal proves you researched. No generic "love what you're doing."
2. Your context anchors the conversation in something real you care about. They're not being asked to perform - they're being asked for input on a real problem.
3. The open question lets them choose where to go. Senior people answer open questions far more generously than "will you do X for me" questions.

Three openers to avoid:

• "So, what do you do?" Filler. They've said it 30 times tonight.
• "Can I pick your brain?" Means nothing. Takes their time. Signals you haven't prepared a specific question.
• "I love what you're building." Empty. They hear it constantly. Trades zero information.