VC rankings always focus on money - who returned the most, who invested the most, who has the most. But founders care about something else entirely, something supremely simple: can you help them build a billion dollar business? Introducing the Whisper List, the world's first ranking of VCs by the strength of their network. Discover which investors are connected where it counts - so you can see who can actually help you win.
When investors say “We’ll introduce you to our whole network,” we founders all nod politely - but we have no idea if that’s true. (Do they even have a strong network? Is it relevant to you?)
In the process of building our core Draftboard product (a warm intro mapping agent) we were continually reminded of how much network strength varies by individual - some people are just bursting with connections, while others are…not.
So we decided to run a test.
Using Draftboard’s network graphing engine, we scored and ranked hundreds of the world’s top VCs to see if they truly are connected to decision makers across metros and functions - like Heads of Finance in NYC or Heads of Product in SF.
And the data was fascinating - so we’ve decided to share it with the world.
That’s how the Whisper List was born: it’s the world’s first ranking of VCs by network strength - not by returns or deal count, but by how directly they’re connected to the real decision-makers - i.e. the people who buy things.
A few things you can do: 🥇 Search any VC - check out their network strength and ranks. 🏙️ Browse metro × function lists - see who tops “NYC × Marketing,” “SF × Engineering,” etc. 📊 View detailed profiles - breakdowns by function, seniority, etc. 🎯 Claim your spot - if you’re a VC, you can verify your profile and see how you compare to your peers.
We built this because real access - not pitch decks or vibes - drives outcomes. And because we believe the future of fundraising (and even more importantly: sales) will be powered by human relationships, not AI-generated cold emails by the millions.
If you’re a founder: check out which VCs actually know your buyers. If you’re an investor: claim your profile, show your strengths, and maybe discover some new ones!
Cool idea. How large is your contact database? Or do you dynamically search using AI tools based on the client’s request?
Super interesting approach! Does the ranking also factor in engagement quality like active vs. passive connections?
This is a huge moment for the @draftboard team and for @zachary roseman! I remember early conversations about how frustrating it was for founders to guess which VCs truly had the connections to help them, beyond just writing a check. To see Whisper List now live, providing such clear and actionable insights into network strength, is incredibly validating. It's a reflection of countless hours of hard work, innovative thinking, and a shared belief in empowering founders with real transparency. So thrilled to celebrate this milestone with everyone who poured their heart into it.
Congratz on the launching. Warm intro is definitely important for fund raising. Are the ranking for whisper list base on Linkedin connections or is it something else?
Super interesting, definitely useful for newer teams like Floqer. Do you guys have a product roadmap public? Would love to check it out and I'm gonna sign up!
This is actually valuable and motivating!! Working with VCs should be like love, both sides need to know about the other. Pushing our products hard to use this asap ;)
This actually solves one of the most tedious parts of networking Scrolling through connections and figuring out intro paths is exhausting Draftboard’s approach of mapping and scoring paths sounds like a real time-saver I’m curious though, how does it handle nuanced relationships or less obvious connections where context and trust matter most Could it factor in relationship strength and history to suggest the best approach
Nice work @zach_roseman, @benln, and @tedgonder! 🎉 Loved discovering Whisper List—your metro × function filtering (like "NYC × Marketing" or "SF × Engineering") is a real game changer for founders who need intros to specific decision-makers, not just generic VC connections. That Draftboard network graphing engine powering the scoring system is incredibly thoughtful—ranking by actual network strength rather than AUM. How do you see this evolving over the next 6 months? Wishing you great momentum!
Love it! Can’t wait to use this actually find the right intro to connect with someone.
Looks great! Thanks for building this @zach_roseman !
Oh wow this looks really solid. Yeah, I probably have thousands of connections, and I don't even remember who does what, haha. So this could be really helpful
Hey Product Hunt! 👋
When investors say “We’ll introduce you to our whole network,” we founders all nod politely - but we have no idea if that’s true. (Do they even have a strong network? Is it relevant to you?)
In the process of building our core Draftboard product (a warm intro mapping agent) we were continually reminded of how much network strength varies by individual - some people are just bursting with connections, while others are…not.
So we decided to run a test.
Using Draftboard’s network graphing engine, we scored and ranked hundreds of the world’s top VCs to see if they truly are connected to decision makers across metros and functions - like Heads of Finance in NYC or Heads of Product in SF.
And the data was fascinating - so we’ve decided to share it with the world.
That’s how the Whisper List was born: it’s the world’s first ranking of VCs by network strength - not by returns or deal count, but by how directly they’re connected to the real decision-makers - i.e. the people who buy things.
A few things you can do:
🥇 Search any VC - check out their network strength and ranks.
🏙️ Browse metro × function lists - see who tops “NYC × Marketing,” “SF × Engineering,” etc.
📊 View detailed profiles - breakdowns by function, seniority, etc.
🎯 Claim your spot - if you’re a VC, you can verify your profile and see how you compare to your peers.
We built this because real access - not pitch decks or vibes - drives outcomes. And because we believe the future of fundraising (and even more importantly: sales) will be powered by human relationships, not AI-generated cold emails by the millions.
If you’re a founder: check out which VCs actually know your buyers. If you’re an investor: claim your profile, show your strengths, and maybe discover some new ones!
Would love your feedback -
Zach & the Draftboard team