Looking for a remote job but tired of applying through job boards and waiting for a response?
Cold emailing is another strategy you can try. Instead of waiting for a company to advertise a vacancy, you can proactively reach out to companies you would love to work for, introduce yourself, and ask whether they have any relevant opportunities.
But first, you need to know which companies to contact and where to find them.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours searching Google for random companies. There are websites where founders launch products, startups showcase their businesses, and entrepreneurs share what they’re building.
I’ve compiled 12 websites you can use to discover companies and founders to contact during your remote job search.
Let’s get into it!
1. Arrfounder – https://arrfounder.com/
Arrfounder is a directory featuring founders, their products, and information about their businesses. You can explore founder profiles and discover companies across different revenue stages.
How to use it: Browse the founder directory, identify companies in industries that interest you, and research their websites. If a company looks like a good fit, consider reaching out to ask about potential opportunities.
2. TrustMRR – https://trustmrr.com/
TrustMRR is a directory and marketplace featuring SaaS businesses, mobile applications, and other digital businesses, with revenue information available for listed startups.
It’s particularly useful if you’re interested in working with software companies, online businesses, and growing startups.
How to use it: Explore the startup listings, filter by industry or category where relevant, and identify businesses whose products interest you. Visit their websites to learn about their teams and whether they have roles that match your skills.
3. Product Hunt – https://www.producthunt.com/
Product Hunt is a platform where makers launch and showcase new technology products, applications, and digital tools.
It’s one of the places I’d recommend exploring if you’re looking for early-stage tech companies.
How to use it: Browse recently launched products, find tools in industries you understand, and visit the companies’ websites. You can also research the founders behind interesting products and look for opportunities in customer support, marketing, community management, sales, and other functions.
Tip: A newly launched product may have a small team that is still growing. That doesn’t mean it is hiring, but it can be worth researching.
4. AppSumo – https://appsumo.com/
AppSumo is a marketplace known for featuring software deals, particularly tools for entrepreneurs, creators, and small businesses.
It’s a useful place to discover software companies you might not encounter on traditional job boards.
How to use it: Explore the software products featured on the platform. When you find something interesting, visit the product’s official website and research the company behind it. Consider whether your skills could support its customers, community, or business operations.
5. Indie Hackers – https://www.indiehackers.com/
Indie Hackers is a community where entrepreneurs and independent founders share their experiences building online businesses.
It’s especially useful if you want to discover founders who are actively building products and sharing their journeys publicly.
How to use it: Explore founder discussions and the product directory. Look for businesses that interest you, research their websites, and identify the people behind them.
You can also participate in relevant conversations and build relationships before reaching out about potential opportunities.
6. Y Combinator’s Startup Directory – https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/
Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that has backed thousands of companies.
Its startup directory allows you to explore companies by industry, batch, location, and other criteria.
How to use it: Search for companies in industries that interest you. You can also explore companies with international teams or use the available filters to narrow your search.
Once you identify a company, visit its website and check its careers page. You can also explore its team and identify the appropriate person to contact about potential opportunities.
Bonus: Y Combinator also operates Work at a Startup, a platform specifically designed to connect job seekers with startup opportunities.
7. Techstars Portfolio – https://www.techstars.com/portfolio
Techstars is a global startup accelerator and investor. Its portfolio includes companies across multiple industries and stages of growth.
How to use it: Browse the portfolio and identify companies whose products or services interest you. Visit their websites to learn more about their teams, customers, and operations.
If you have skills in customer support, customer success, marketing, sales, operations, or software development, you can use the directory to discover companies worth researching.
8. BetaList – https://betalist.com/
BetaList helps people discover early-stage startups before they become widely known.
This makes it useful for finding newer companies and products that may not yet have a large online presence.
How to use it: Browse the latest startup listings, explore products that interest you, and visit their official websites. Research the team and look for opportunities to contribute your skills as the business grows.
9. Launching Next – https://www.launchingnext.com/
Launching Next features startup and product listings across different industries.
You can use it to discover businesses and digital products that may not appear in your usual job searches.
How to use it: Browse the startup directory, identify companies that align with your interests, and research their websites. Look for a careers page, contact information, or details about the founder and team.
10. Wellfound – https://wellfound.com/
Wellfound is a platform focused on startup jobs and connecting candidates with startup companies.
Although it’s primarily a job-search platform, it’s also useful for discovering startups that are actively recruiting.
How to use it: Search for remote roles in your target field and pay attention to the companies advertising them. Visit their websites and explore whether there are other relevant roles you could apply for or ask about.
You can also use the company information you find to build a list of startups you’d like to contact directly.
11. Crunchbase – https://www.crunchbase.com/discover/organization.companies
Crunchbase provides information about companies, founders, investors, and funding activity.
It’s particularly useful when you want to research a company beyond its website or discover businesses in a particular industry.
How to use it: Search for companies by industry, location, or other available filters. Research businesses that fit your interests, then visit their official websites to learn more about their teams and potential opportunities.
Some information and search features may require a paid plan.
12. G2 – https://www.g2.com/categories/marketplace
G2 is a software marketplace where users discover and review business software.
It’s a useful resource if you’re interested in working for SaaS companies, particularly businesses offering software to other companies.
How to use it: Explore software categories such as customer service, project management, CRM, marketing, and productivity. When you discover a tool you like, visit the company’s website and research its available roles.
For example, if you want to work in customer support, exploring customer service software companies can help you build a targeted list of potential employers.
How to Find Contact Details and Cold Email These Companies
Now that you have a list of places to discover companies, what should you do next?
Here’s a simple process you can follow.
Step 1: Visit the company’s official website
Once you find an interesting startup, visit its website and learn about its product or service.
Don’t just collect company names. You want to understand what the business does, who its customers are, and how your skills could be useful to its team.
Step 2: Look for contact information
Check the following pages on the company’s website:
- Careers: Look for advertised vacancies and application instructions.
- Contact Us: Find the company’s general contact details.
- About Us or Team: Learn more about the founders and leadership team.
- Partnerships: Find the appropriate contact if the company has a dedicated partnerships page.
You can also research the company on LinkedIn to identify its founders, recruiters, hiring managers, or department leads.
Step 3: Find the appropriate person to contact
If you’re looking for a Customer Support role, for example, you could try to identify the Head of Customer Support, Customer Experience Manager, or another relevant team lead.
If it’s a small startup without a dedicated support department, contacting a founder may be reasonable.
Your goal is to reach someone who is relevant to the type of work you want to do.
Step 4: Write a personalized cold email
Don’t send the same generic message to every company.
Introduce yourself, explain why you’re contacting that particular business, briefly highlight your relevant skills, and ask whether there may be a suitable opportunity.
If you can’t find a recruitment contact, you can email the company’s general contact address and politely ask whether they can direct you to the appropriate person for career enquiries.
Keep your email concise and professional.
Step 5: Follow up professionally
If you don’t receive a response, you can send a polite follow-up after a reasonable interval, such as five to seven business days.
Avoid repeatedly messaging people who haven’t responded or contacting multiple employees with the same message. A thoughtful, relevant email is more likely to make a good impression than a high volume of generic outreach.
Important: Cold emailing doesn’t guarantee a job or a response. Treat it as one part of your job-search strategy, alongside applying for advertised vacancies and building your professional network.
Need Examples of Cold Emails You Can Send?
Knowing where to find companies is only half the process. You also need to know how to introduce yourself and communicate your value.
I’ve put together a separate guide containing cold email examples and templates you can adapt for your own job search.
[Read our guide to cold email templates for finding remote job opportunities → https://sheworksremotely.com/cold-email-dm-templates-to-help-you-gain-remote-work-experience/ ]
Use the examples as a starting point, then personalize each message to the company and the role you’re interested in.
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