Step-by-step setup and management guide for all Phellos email and LinkedIn outreach campaigns. VA-executable, screen-recording friendly.
Follow this playbook to set up, launch, and manage all Phellos outreach campaigns across Instantly (email) and HeyReach (LinkedIn) - keeping all 18 accounts healthy and hitting 8-15% combined reply rates.
Download the Claude Code skill file for campaign operations. Load it into any Claude Code session to get an AI co-pilot that knows every campaign, account allocation, sequence, and deliverability rule.
The skill file includes: full campaign architecture, all 13 campaigns with account assignments, email and LinkedIn sequences, spam-safe rules, reply handling, cross-channel dedup process, and 12 deviation detectors.
How to use: Open terminal, type claude, then drag the downloaded .md file into the Claude Code window. It loads automatically.
Phellos runs 18 sending accounts across 6 domains with 3 prefixes each. All accounts are fully warmed and active (status=1, warmup=1).
| Domain | leo@ | leo.k@ | leokuyumciyan@ |
|---|---|---|---|
| phellosconsultants.com | Active | Active | Active |
| choosephellos.com | Active | Active | Active |
| phellosconsulting.com | Active | Active | Active |
| withphellos.com | Active | Active | Active |
| phellospartners.com | Active | Active | Active |
| consultphellos.com | Active | Active | Active |
| Metric | Value | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Total accounts | 18 | 6 domains x 3 prefixes |
| Daily email cap | 540 | 18 accounts x 30 per account |
| New leads per day | 270 | 540 / 2 (50% rule) |
Before launching new campaigns, audit and clean up existing ones. 13 campaigns currently exist in the Phellos Instantly workspace.
| Campaign | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| March 12 USA SofDev/FinSer/Tech | Active (1) | REVIEW - may overlap with new founder campaigns |
| Crunchbase Apollo Jan 13 | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| List 1 USA Financial Services | Completed (3) | ARCHIVE |
| Test Jordan Jan 7th | Paused (2) | DELETE - test campaign |
| Feb 5 UK Financial Services | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| Jan 8th USA Unperso | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| Crunchbase Expandi Jan 13 | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| Seed/Series A/B USA/UK B2B Tech | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| USA Perso | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| USA Unperso | Completed (3) | ARCHIVE |
| Feb 5 UK ICP Brain Dump | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| Jan 28th USA/UK Financial Services | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
| March 2 UK-USA Venture Capital | Paused (2) | ARCHIVE |
Go to app.instantly.ai. Make sure you are in the Phellos workspace (check the workspace name in the top-left dropdown). Click Campaigns in the left sidebar. List ALL campaigns in the workspace.
For each campaign marked ARCHIVE above: click the campaign name to open it, then click the Settings tab (top navigation inside the campaign, not the main sidebar). Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page and click "Archive Campaign". Confirm the prompt. The campaign will disappear from the active list.
For the Test Jordan Jan 7th campaign: same path as above, but click "Delete Campaign" instead of Archive.
For the March 12 active campaign: check which accounts are assigned. Note them down. Then decide: (Option A) Pause the March 12 campaign now - go to its Settings tab and click Pause. This frees all its accounts immediately for use in new campaigns. Do this if the March 12 campaign has been running long enough and you are ready to start fresh. (Option B) Let March 12 finish - do NOT assign its accounts to any new campaign. Instead, use only the accounts NOT in March 12 for the new campaigns, and reduce those new campaign daily limits accordingly. Adjust the Total Allocation Check table below to reflect the actual available accounts. NEVER assign the same account to two active campaigns regardless of which option you choose.
Verify: after cleanup, note exactly how many accounts are free. If fewer than 18, the account allocation tables in Track A and Track B below will need adjustment before launch.
The founder track uses a podcast invitation as the entry point. Founders are tiered by personalization level and lead quality.
| Tier | Leads | Channel | Personalization |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0 (VIP) | 10-20, hand-picked | Manual only | Full Sherlock dossier, manual email by Leo |
| T1 Personalized | ~210 (SaaS UK ~80, SaaS US ~100, Fintech ~30) | Email + LinkedIn | subject_hook (Sherlock/Haiku) + personalization_line - split into 3 campaigns by vertical |
| T1 Standard | ~370 (SaaS ~320, Fintech ~50) | Email + LinkedIn | subject_hook (rule-based) only - no personalization_line - split into SaaS T1 and Fintech T1 |
| T2 | ~1,300 | Email + LinkedIn (standard) | companyName only |
| T3 (Volume) | ~500 | Email only | companyName only |
| Campaign Name | Tier | Est Leads | Accounts | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phellos - SaaS UK T1 Pers - [Mon Year] | T1 | ~80 | leo@choosephellos.com | 30 |
| Phellos - SaaS US T1 Pers - [Mon Year] | T1 | ~100 | leo.k@choosephellos.com | 30 |
| Phellos - Fintech T1 Pers - [Mon Year] | T1 | ~30 | leokuyumciyan@phellosconsultants.com (sequential - see note) | 30 |
| Phellos - SaaS T1 - [Mon Year] | T1 | ~320 | leo@phellosconsultants.com, leo.k@phellosconsultants.com | 60 |
| Phellos - Fintech T1 - [Mon Year] | T1 | ~50 | leokuyumciyan@phellosconsultants.com (sequential - see note) | 30 |
| Phellos - SaaS UK T2 - [Mon Year] | T2 | ~400 | leo@phellosconsulting.com, leo.k@phellosconsulting.com | 60 |
| Phellos - SaaS US T2 - [Mon Year] | T2 | ~600 | leokuyumciyan@choosephellos.com, leokuyumciyan@phellosconsulting.com, leo@withphellos.com | 90 |
| Phellos - Fintech T2 - [Mon Year] | T2 | ~300 | leo.k@withphellos.com, leokuyumciyan@withphellos.com | 60 |
| Phellos - Volume T3 - [Mon Year] | T3 | ~500 | leo@phellospartners.com, leo.k@phellospartners.com | 60 |
[Mon Year] with the current month and year (e.g., "Mar 2026").
The VC track positions Phellos as a financial resource for portfolio companies. Shorter sequence (3 steps), different messaging angle.
| Campaign Name | Tier | Est Leads | Accounts | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phellos - Venture Capital - [Mon Year] | Mixed | ~500 | leokuyumciyan@phellospartners.com | 30 |
| Phellos - Investment Management - [Mon Year] | Mixed | ~400 | leo@consultphellos.com | 30 |
| Phellos - Capital Markets - [Mon Year] LOWEST PRIORITY | Mixed | ~500 | leo.k@consultphellos.com | 30 |
| Phellos - M&A Advisory - [Mon Year] | Mixed | ~300 | leokuyumciyan@consultphellos.com | 30 |
| Track | Campaigns | Accounts | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track A: Founders | 9 (Fintech T1 Pers + Fintech T1 share 1 account sequentially) | 14 | 420 |
| Track B: VC/PE | 4 | 4 | 120 |
| TOTAL | 13 campaigns, 14 unique accounts | 18 | 540 |
Go to app.instantly.ai. Confirm you are in the Phellos workspace (top-left dropdown).
Click Campaigns in the left sidebar > + New Campaign.
Enter the campaign name exactly as shown in the tables above (e.g., Phellos - SaaS UK T1 Pers - Mar 2026).
In the Accounts tab: add only the accounts listed for that campaign in the table above. Do NOT add accounts assigned to other active campaigns.
Set Daily Limit to the value from the table (e.g., 30 for a single-account campaign). Instantly shows the limit per account - if you add 2 accounts and set it to 60, each account sends 30.
In the Sequence tab (at the top of the campaign page, next to Leads, Accounts, Schedule, Settings): click + Add Step for each step. For multi-variant steps, click + Add Variant (appears after a step exists). Paste the email body from the templates in the Email Sequences section below into the body field. Paste the subject line into the subject field. The body field accepts HTML - paste the full <div>-formatted template exactly as written.
Set the delay for each step (shown in the sequence structure tables below).
In the Schedule tab: set timezone per the table above (UK campaigns = Europe/London, US campaigns = America/Chicago, Mixed = America/New_York). Set days to Mon-Fri, hours 08:00-18:00.
In the Settings tab: apply settings from the Instantly Configuration table below (stop on reply, first email text-only, etc.).
Upload the matching CSV from ~/Downloads/Phellos-Lead-Gen/8-Campaign-CSVs/final/ in the Leads tab. Click "Import Leads" > "Upload CSV." After upload, Instantly shows a column mapping screen - it asks which CSV column maps to which field. The mapping should auto-detect since the CSV columns use Instantly's naming (email, firstName, companyName, etc.). Verify the mapping looks correct (email maps to Email, firstName maps to First Name) then click "Import." Before uploading, confirm the CSV passed all quality gates in the Lead Playbook - DNC re-check (existing Phellos clients removed), Turkey filter (no Turkish companies), and cross-file email dedup. See the Lead Playbook's Quality Gates Checklist for the full validation prompt.
Set Max New Leads/Day to daily_limit / 2 (e.g., 15 for a 30/day campaign). Click Launch.
Used for T1 Personalized campaigns only. Requires subject_hook and personalization_line fields in the CSV.
{{subject_hook}}<div>Hey {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{personalization_line}}</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>That's why I'm reaching out - I'm putting together a podcast about the financial side of scaling - how founders navigate their numbers through growth and fundraising - and would love to have you on to share your story of growing {{companyName}}.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>There's no cost involved, it's just a good way for us both to create shareable content.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Can I send you more details?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Thanks, | Cheers, | Best,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Phellos Consultancy | Founder, Phellos}}</div>
[DAY BEFORE LAUNCH DATE] in the forwarded message header. You MUST replace this with the actual date (e.g., "Mon, Mar 10, 2026") before activating or cloning any campaign that uses this variant. Forgetting this makes the forwarded message look fake and breaks deliverability trust. This is a known recurring mistake - double-check before every launch.
{{firstName}} <> podcast?<div>Hi {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>My colleague Jordan found you on LinkedIn while looking for key voices in the tech space.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>And thought you'd make a good guest for a podcast we're producing about the financial challenges founders face as they scale.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Aside from being positive exposure, we will also create highlight clips that you can share on LinkedIn.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Can I send you some more details?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Best, | Regards, | Cheers, | Thanks,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Founder @ Phellos | Phellos Consultancy}}</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>------- Forwarded Message -------</div>
<div>From: Jordan Rafealov</div>
<div>Sent: [DAY BEFORE LAUNCH DATE] {{RANDOM |8:21:20 AM|9:28:30 AM|10:49:50 AM}}</div>
<div>To: Leo Kuyumciyan</div>
<div>Subject: Reach out to {{firstName}} - podcast</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo, I was searching for possible guests for the podcast and came across {{firstName}}. This looks like someone who'd add real value.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Definitely worth reaching out.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Jordan</div>
heads up {{firstName}}...<div>Hey {{firstName}}, found your LinkedIn and just thought you'd be a good guest for a podcast we're producing about the financial side of scaling for tech founders.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Can I send you more details?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Best, | Regards, | Cheers, | Thanks,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Founder @ Phellos | Phellos Consultancy}}</div>
biggest_client field is populated (from Lead Playbook Step 7A), use this variant instead of the standard subject. Reference the prospect's CLIENT in the subject line. Their brain short-circuits - "how does this stranger know about our relationship with [client]?" They HAVE to open it because they're afraid something has gone wrong. Only use when biggest_client is filled - otherwise fall back to standard {{subject_hook}}.is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?<div>Hey {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{personalization_line}}</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>That's why I'm reaching out - I'm putting together a podcast about the financial side of scaling - how founders navigate their numbers through growth and fundraising - and would love to have you on to share your story of growing {{companyName}}.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>There's no cost involved, it's just a good way for us both to create shareable content.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Can I send you more details?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Thanks, | Cheers, | Best,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Phellos Consultancy | Founder, Phellos}}</div>
Re: {{subject_hook}}<div>Hey {{firstName}}, would love to have you on the podcast.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Are you against me sending you some more details?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Best, | Cheers, | Thanks,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo K.}}</div>
<div>Hey {{firstName}}, just bumping this up in case it got buried. Would love to have you on the show to talk about what you're building at {{companyName}}.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Can I send you a quick overview?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
Re: {{firstName}} <> podcast?<div>{{firstName}}, so the podcast is 20 mins, we handle all the editing, and you walk away with captioned clips to share on LinkedIn. No cost, no pitch.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Worth a look?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
<div>Just making sure this didn't fall between the cracks. Are you against me sending you details about the podcast to see if there's a fit?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
<div>{{firstName}} - totally get it if the timing isn't right. Just wanted to make sure you saw this before I move on. We've had some good conversations with founders in your space recently and the clips have done well on LinkedIn.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Open to hearing more, or should I close this out?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
<div>Hi {{firstName}}, as you haven't replied, can I assume this is something you don't want to do, or have you missed my previous emails?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Could you let me know please?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
last one<div>Last one from me {{firstName}}. Would love to have you on the pod at some stage, let me know if you change your mind... or if someone else in your network would be a better fit.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
bad news<div>I guess the bad news is that you haven't seen my emails. Would still love to have you on the pod at some stage. Let me know if you change your mind... or if someone else in your network would be a better fit.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Best, Leo</div>
T1 Standard (SaaS T1, Fintech T1) uses {{subject_hook}} from rule-based hooks but NO {{personalization_line}}. T2 and T3 use the generic quick question subject with no variables. Differences from T1 Personalized:
| Step | T1 Personalized | T1 Standard | T2/T3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1A subject | {{subject_hook}} (Sherlock) | {{subject_hook}} (rule-based) | quick question |
| Step 1A body | Includes {{personalization_line}} | No personalization line - starts with podcast pitch | No personalization line - starts with podcast pitch |
| Step 2A subject | Re: {{subject_hook}} | Re: {{subject_hook}} | Re: quick question |
| Steps 3-5 | Identical across all tiers | ||
quick question | T1 Standard: replace subject with {{subject_hook}}<div>Hey {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I'm putting together a podcast about the financial side of scaling - how founders navigate their numbers through growth and fundraising - and would love to have you on to share your story of growing {{companyName}}.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>There's no cost involved, it's just a good way for us both to create shareable content.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Can I send you more details?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Thanks, | Cheers, | Best,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Phellos Consultancy | Founder, Phellos}}</div>
The VC track uses a shorter 3-step sequence. VCs are busier and less tolerant of long sequences. Positions Phellos as a resource for portfolio companies.
resource for portfolio companies<div>Hi {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Quick question - do any of your portfolio companies struggle with their financials ahead of a raise?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I run Phellos - we help VC-backed startups get their financial house in order before due diligence. Reconciled management accounts, IPEV-compliant models, data rooms that don't fall apart under scrutiny.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Most founders only realize their finances aren't investor-ready during due diligence - usually too late. We fix that before it becomes a problem.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>If you ever need someone to recommend to a portfolio company, happy to share our approach.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Best, | Regards, | Cheers,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>Founder, Phellos Consultancy</div>
{{firstName}} - quick one<div>Hi {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I keep seeing the same pattern with VC-backed startups - strong product, growing fast, but the financials are a mess when it's time to raise.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>We work with founders to get their numbers investor-ready before due diligence starts. We've closed two of the three largest rounds in our market last year because the models were audit-ready from day one.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Would it be useful to have someone like us in your network for portfolio companies that need financial cleanup?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
biggest_client field is populated (from Lead Playbook Step 7A), use this variant instead. Reference one of the VC's PORTFOLIO COMPANIES in the subject - their brain short-circuits because a stranger mentioned their top bet. They HAVE to open it. Only use when biggest_client is filled.is {{biggest_client}} still your top portfolio bet?<div>Hi {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Quick question - do any of your portfolio companies struggle with their financials ahead of a raise?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I run Phellos - we help VC-backed startups get their financial house in order before due diligence. Reconciled management accounts, IPEV-compliant models, data rooms that don't fall apart under scrutiny.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Most founders only realize their finances aren't investor-ready during due diligence - usually too late. We fix that before it becomes a problem.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>If you ever need someone to recommend to a portfolio company, happy to share our approach.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Best, | Regards, | Cheers,}}</div>
<div>{{RANDOM | Leo | Leo Kuyumciyan}}</div>
<div>Founder, Phellos Consultancy</div>
<div>Hi {{firstName}}, bumping this. We recently helped a portfolio company add 80M to their valuation by reclassifying their revenue recognition model before due diligence.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Happy to be a resource if any of your companies need help getting their numbers right.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
<div>{{firstName}} - last one from me. We also run a podcast where we interview founders and investors about the financial side of scaling. Would love to have you on to share your perspective on what you look for in portfolio company financials.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Either way, here if you need a finance partner for your portfolio.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
pre-transaction financials<div>Hi {{firstName}},</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Quick question - do you ever see deals where the seller's financials slow down or complicate the transaction?</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I run Phellos - we help companies get their financial house in order before they go to market. Reconciled accounts, clean models, data rooms that hold up under scrutiny.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>If you ever need someone to recommend to a company preparing for a transaction, happy to connect.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
<div>Hi {{firstName}}, bumping this. We recently helped a company add significant value to their transaction by reclassifying their revenue recognition model before the sell-side process started.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Happy to be a resource if any of your clients need financial cleanup before going to market.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
<div>{{firstName}} - last one from me. We also run a podcast about the financial side of scaling. Would love to get your take on what makes company financials stand out during M&A due diligence.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Either way, here if you need a finance partner for pre-transaction work.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>Leo</div>
Before writing any email, research each T1 lead and tag them with a primary struggle signal. This determines which email variant they receive.
| Signal | Where to Find | What It Means | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| No CFO/finance hire | LinkedIn team page - no finance title in first 20 employees | Founder doing the books, financials are a mess | NO_CFO |
| Stalled raise | Crunchbase - 18+ months since last round | Numbers are not ready, pressure building | STALLED_RAISE |
| Revenue recognition risk | Company website - multiple product lines, SaaS + services mix, usage-based pricing | Almost certainly recognizing revenue wrong | REVENUE_RECOGNITION |
| Multi-entity complexity | Crunchbase/website - offices in multiple countries, acquired companies | Consolidation nightmare during due diligence | MULTI_ENTITY |
| Rapid headcount growth | LinkedIn - team doubled in last 12 months | Burn rate climbing, financials getting complicated fast | RAPID_GROWTH |
| No data room signals | Website/LinkedIn - no mention of board, no investor updates, no financial governance | Not investor-ready, would fail due diligence tomorrow | NO_DATA_ROOM |
Each lead gets the email that matches their struggle_signal tag. The subject line is always the same: is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account? The body changes based on what Leo found.
is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?Hi {{firstName}},
If {{biggest_client}} pulled out tomorrow because your numbers didn't add up, what would that do to your round?
I noticed {{companyName}} doesn't have a finance lead on the team yet. At your stage that is normal - but it means someone without a finance background is managing your books, your forecasts, and your investor reporting. That is usually where things start to break during due diligence.
I have helped 40+ founders at exactly this stage get their numbers investor-ready. One recently added 80M to their valuation just by reclassifying how they recognized revenue.
I recorded a short video showing what I would fix first for {{companyName}}. About 3 minutes.
Are you against me sending it over?
Leo
is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?Hi {{firstName}},
If {{biggest_client}} pulled out tomorrow because your numbers didn't add up, what would that do to your round?
I noticed {{companyName}} raised your last round about {{signal_evidence}} ago. At your stage most founders are feeling the pressure to show growth that justifies the next raise - but the financials from 18 months ago are not going to cut it. Investors will dig deeper this time.
I have seen this pattern with dozens of founders. The fix is almost never more revenue - it is getting the numbers to tell the right story.
I recorded a short video showing what investors would likely flag in {{companyName}}'s financials. Specific to your stage and structure.
Are you against me sending it over?
Leo
is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?Hi {{firstName}},
If {{biggest_client}} pulled out tomorrow because your numbers didn't add up, what would that do to your round?
I took a look at how {{companyName}} is structured and I think there is a problem with how your revenue is being recognized. It is the same issue I see with 8 out of 10 companies at your stage and it typically costs 20-30% of the valuation during due diligence.
I recorded a short video breaking down what I found. Specific to {{companyName}}.
Are you against me sending it over?
Leo
is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?Hi {{firstName}},
If {{biggest_client}} pulled out tomorrow because your numbers didn't add up, what would that do to your round?
I noticed {{companyName}} has operations in {{signal_evidence}}. Multi-entity consolidation is one of the most common things that blows up during due diligence - different accounting standards, intercompany transactions, currency mismatches. Most founders do not realize how messy this looks to investors until they are sitting across the table.
I recorded a short video showing the specific risks I would flag for {{companyName}}'s structure. About 3 minutes.
Are you against me sending it over?
Leo
is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?Hi {{firstName}},
If {{biggest_client}} pulled out tomorrow because your numbers didn't add up, what would that do to your round?
I noticed {{companyName}} has grown from {{signal_evidence}} in the last year. That kind of growth is exciting but it also means your burn rate, your unit economics, and your financial model have probably changed faster than your books have kept up.
That gap is exactly what investors find during due diligence. I have helped 40+ founders close it before the raise starts.
I recorded a short video showing what I would tighten up for {{companyName}} before your next round. About 3 minutes.
Are you against me sending it over?
Leo
is {{biggest_client}} still your biggest account?Hi {{firstName}},
If {{biggest_client}} pulled out tomorrow because your numbers didn't add up, what would that do to your round?
I looked at {{companyName}} and I could not find any public signals of financial governance - no board updates, no investor comms, no financial press. That is not unusual at your stage but it usually means the data room is not ready either.
If an investor asked you for reconciled management accounts, an IPEV-compliant forecast, and a clean data room tomorrow - how long would it take?
I recorded a short video showing what a ready data room looks like for companies at your stage. Specific to {{companyName}}.
Are you against me sending it over?
Leo
These follow-ups thread on the original signal email. Same sequence regardless of which signal variant was sent.
{{firstName}}, just following up.
The video is specific to {{companyName}} - I looked at your structure, your stage, and what investors would likely push back on. Not a generic template.
3 minutes. One thing I would fix first and why.
Happy to send it if you are open to it.
Leo
Last one from me {{firstName}}.
If your finances are already investor-ready, ignore this. But if you have any doubt, the video is 3 minutes and might save you months of back-and-forth during due diligence.
Just say the word.
Leo
struggle_signal column determines which campaign/variant the lead goes into. The signal_evidence column gets passed to Instantly via the CSV. Use Instantly's conditional merge or create separate campaigns per signal type.Log in to app.heyreach.io. Make sure you are in the Phellos workspace (check the top-left dropdown).
Click Campaigns in the left sidebar > + Create Campaign. Enter the campaign name from the "LinkedIn Campaign Names" table below.
In the Sequence section: click + Add Step. Step 1 is always a Connection Request with no note (leave the message field blank). For Step 2+, select Message and paste the template text. Set the delay for each step (e.g., "1 day after accepted" for Step 2).
In the Leads section: click + Add Leads > From Lead List > select the matching HeyReach lead list built in Step 2. Alternatively, upload the HeyReach CSV from ~/Downloads/Phellos-Lead-Gen/8-Campaign-CSVs/final/ using Upload CSV. When uploading a CSV to HeyReach, it will ask you to map columns - map linkedin_url to LinkedIn URL and personalization_line to the custom variable field.
In the Schedule tab: set the timezone to match the lead geography (UK campaigns = Europe/London, US = America/New_York). Set days to Mon-Fri, hours 08:00-18:00.
CRITICAL: After saving any part of a HeyReach campaign, always re-check the Schedule tab - HeyReach has a known bug that silently resets the timezone to GMT on every save. Fix it and save again before activating.
Click Activate to launch the campaign.
| Step | Type | Delay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connection Request - No note | - |
| 2 | Message (after accepted) | 1 day |
| 3 | Follow-up | 1 day, no reply |
| 4 | Follow-up | 1 day, no reply |
| 5 | Final message | 1 day, no reply |
Hey {FIRST_NAME}, {PERSONALIZATION_LINE}
That's actually why I'm reaching out - just thought you would make a good guest for a podcast I run about the financial side of scaling - how founders navigate their numbers through growth and fundraising - to share your story of growing {COMPANY}.
There's no cost, it's just a good way to create shareable content for us both.
Against me sending you more details?
Just making sure this doesn't fall between the cracks :)
Let me know if you're against me sending you some more details about the podcast (or a link to a previous episode)
in case you're wondering, the podcast takes 20mins. Then we cut it up and send you all the captioned clips to share on LinkedIn. No pitch, just looking to have an interesting conversation that boosts both our visibility. Open?
Last one from me {FIRST_NAME}. Would love to have you on the pod at some stage, let me know if you change your mind... or if someone else in your network would be a better fit
Same 5-step structure as personalized but with generic Step 2 message (no personalization line):
Hey {FIRST_NAME}, saw your LinkedIn and thought you'd make a good guest on my podcast about the financial side of scaling - how founders handle their numbers through fundraising and growth.
There's no cost, just a good way to make shareable content.
Can I send you more details?
Steps 3-5 are identical to the personalized versions above.
| Step | Type | Delay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connection Request - No note | - |
| 2 | Message | 1 day after accepted |
| 3 | Follow-up with podcast pivot | 3 days, no reply |
Hey {FIRST_NAME}, thanks for connecting. I run Phellos - we help VC-backed startups get their financials investor-ready before due diligence. Reconciled accounts, IPEV models, data rooms.
If any of your portfolio companies need help getting their numbers right before a raise, happy to be a resource.
{FIRST_NAME} - also running a podcast interviewing founders and investors about the financial side of scaling. Would love to get your perspective on what makes portfolio company financials stand out during due diligence. Open to a quick conversation?
| Campaign Name | Track | Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Phellos - Founders T1 Personalized LinkedIn - [Mon Year] | Founders | 5-step personalized |
| Phellos - Founders T1 Standard LinkedIn - [Mon Year] | Founders | 5-step standard |
| Phellos - Founders T2 LinkedIn - [Mon Year] | Founders | 5-step standard |
| Phellos - VC T1 LinkedIn - [Mon Year] | VC/PE | 3-step VC |
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| API Base URL (v2) | https://api.instantly.ai/api/v2 |
| Auth method | Bearer token - Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY |
| Required header | User-Agent: DopamineDigital/1.0 - Cloudflare blocks requests without this |
| Content-Type | application/json |
| Key endpoints | POST /campaigns | GET /campaigns | POST /campaigns/{id}/leads |
User-Agent: DopamineDigital/1.0 will return a 403 error. This header must be included in every request.
| Setting | Value | API Field |
|---|---|---|
| Daily limit | accounts x 30 | daily_limit |
| Email gap | 15 min + random | email_gap: 15 |
| Max new leads/day | daily_limit / 2 | daily_max_leads |
| Text-only mode | Off | text_only: false |
| First email text-only | Yes | first_email_text_only: true |
| Stop on reply | Yes | stop_on_reply: true |
| Stop on auto-reply | No | stop_on_auto_reply: false |
| Link tracking | No | link_tracking: false |
| Open tracking | Yes | open_tracking: true |
| Match lead ESP | Yes | match_lead_esp: true |
| Schedule | Mon-Fri 8am-6pm | campaign_schedule |
| Campaign Type | Timezone |
|---|---|
| US campaigns | America/Chicago (Central) |
| UK campaigns | Europe/London |
| Mixed US/UK | America/New_York (covers both during overlap) |
{"schedules": [{"name": "Business Hours", "timing": {"from": "08:00", "to": "18:00"}, "days": {"1": true, "2": true, "3": true, "4": true, "5": true}, "timezone": "America/New_York"}]}
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Connection requests per day | 20 |
| Messages per day | 30 |
| Weekly connection cap | 100-200 |
| Target acceptance rate | Above 30-40% |
How to respond to different reply types. Leo's offers for discovery: Haircut Audit (complimentary), 30-Day Sprint (3K), Monthly Retainer (3-6K/month).
[CALENDLY LINK] with Leo's actual booking link. Get this from Leo directly - it should be his personal Calendly URL (e.g., calendly.com/leo-phellos/...). Do not send any reply without a real link in place.stop_on_reply: true) - but this only stops Instantly. It does NOT stop HeyReach. There is no automatic cross-platform sync.
This applies to EVERY reply type - positive, negative, and out-of-office:
stop_on_auto_reply: false). The sequence will continue when they return.Process for email reply - remove from HeyReach: Open HeyReach, go to the active campaign the lead is in, search by name or LinkedIn URL, find the lead, and mark them as Completed or Exclude. Do this within the same day the reply arrives - HeyReach messages go out on their scheduled day regardless of what Instantly does.
If HeyReach already sent a message before you could remove them (the most likely scenario for "not interested" replies): Check when HeyReach last sent a message to that lead. If the LinkedIn message was sent AFTER the email rejection: do not panic, do not send a follow-up apology unless the lead complains. Simply remove them from HeyReach now to stop any further messages. If Leo receives a complaint via LinkedIn ("I already said no via email"), acknowledge it briefly and apologize for the overlap - the system is not fully synced. Do not over-explain.
Proactive check (weekly): Every Monday, export the Instantly "Replied" list for the past 7 days. Cross-reference it against the active HeyReach lead list. Remove any matches. This catches cases where the same-day removal was missed. This takes 5-10 minutes and prevents the bulk of cross-channel awkwardness.
Hey [Name], thanks for getting back to me.
Here's a quick overview - the podcast is about 20 minutes, we handle all the editing, and you'll walk away with captioned clips to share on LinkedIn.
Here's my calendar if you'd like to pick a time that works: [CALENDLY LINK]
Looking forward to it.
Leo
Good question, [Name].
The podcast is casual - about 20 minutes, no prep needed. We'll talk about your journey building [Company] and the challenges you're tackling. We handle editing and send you clips for LinkedIn.
No cost, no pitch. Just a good conversation.
Here's my calendar: [CALENDLY LINK]
Leo
No worries at all, [Name]. Appreciate you letting me know.
If you change your mind or know someone who'd be a good fit, send them my way.
All the best with [Company].
Leo
Thanks [Name], really appreciate that.
Happy to share more about what we do. In short - we get startups' financials investor-ready before due diligence starts. Reconciled management accounts, IPEV models, clean data rooms.
If any of your portfolio companies are gearing up for a raise and need help getting their numbers right, I'd love to chat.
Here's my calendar: [CALENDLY LINK]
Leo
| Week | Action | Campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | Launch founder T1 campaigns | SaaS UK T1 Pers, SaaS US T1 Pers, Fintech T1 Pers (first), then SaaS T1, Fintech T1 (after Fintech T1 Pers exhausts) |
| Week 2-3 | Launch founder T2 campaigns | SaaS UK T2, SaaS US T2, Fintech T2 |
| Week 3-4 | Launch VC track campaigns | Venture Capital, Investment Management, M&A Advisory (Capital Markets last - lowest priority) |
| Week 4+ | Launch T3 volume campaigns | Volume T3 |
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Connections per day | 20 | LinkedIn limit |
| Connections per week | ~100 | Mon-Fri only |
| T1 founders (180 leads) | ~9 days | Launch first |
| T2 founders (1,300 leads) | ~65 days | Start after T1 is loaded |
| VC track | Parallel | Runs in separate LinkedIn campaigns simultaneously |
T0 leads are NOT in any Instantly or HeyReach campaign. Manual outreach only by Leo.
Startup at growth inflection, about to raise or mid-raise
Financials are clearly a mess (public signals: no CFO, rapid headcount growth, multiple product lines)
Founder has NO finance background (tech/product/sales founder)
Company in Leo's sweet spot: 10-30 employees, SaaS/Fintech/hardware, UK/US
High potential for sprint (3K) or retainer (3-6K/month)
Subject: [company] financials before the raise
[Name],
I was looking at [Company] and noticed [specific signal - e.g., "you've grown from 8 to 25 people in the last year without bringing on a finance lead"].
That's exactly the stage where the numbers start getting complicated. Multiple revenue streams, deferred revenue recognition, unit economics that investors will pick apart during due diligence.
I help founders at your stage get their financials investor-ready before the raise starts. We recently helped a similar company add 80M to their valuation just by reclassifying how they recognized revenue.
Worth a 15-minute conversation to see if there's anything we can tighten up before your next round?
Leo
| Variable | Platform | Source |
|---|---|---|
{{firstName}} | Instantly | CSV firstName column |
{FIRST_NAME} | HeyReach | Built-in from LinkedIn |
{{companyName}} | Instantly | CSV companyName column |
{COMPANY} | HeyReach | Built-in from LinkedIn |
{{subject_hook}} | Instantly (T1 only) | CSV - 3-5 lowercase words |
{{personalization_line}} | Instantly (T1 only) | CSV - one sentence under 25 words |
{PERSONALIZATION_LINE} | HeyReach (T1 only) | Custom CSV field |
{{biggest_client}} | Instantly (when populated) | CSV - prospect's client, investor, or portfolio company name |
{{RANDOM | opt1 | opt2}} | Instantly | Built-in spintax |
| Platform | Convention | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Instantly | camelCase | firstName, companyName, subject_hook |
| HeyReach | snake_case | first_name, company_name, personalization_line |
Follow these rules for every email in every campaign. Violations will damage deliverability.
| Rule | Do | Do NOT |
|---|---|---|
| Dollar signs | Write "three thousand" | Write "$3K" |
| Word "free" | Use "complimentary" | Use "free" |
| Word "great" | Use "good" | Use "great" |
| Exclamation marks | Use periods | Use "!" anywhere |
| ALL CAPS | Normal case | ALL CAPS in subject or body |
| Links in Email 1 | Add Calendly in follow-up 2+ | Put links in the first email |
| Subject length | Under 50 characters | Long subject lines |
| Body length | Under 100 words | Long emails |
| Em dashes | Use single hyphen (-) | Em dash (—) or double hyphen (--) |
| Smart quotes | Use straight quotes (' ") | Smart/curly quotes (' ' " ") |
| HTML entities in body | Use & as literal character in email | Use & - it sends as literal text |
| CTAs | One CTA per email | Multiple CTAs |
| HTML format | Separate <div> per line, <div><br /></div> for spacing | Paragraphs or plain text formatting |