How I Got a 21-Year-Old Into Forbes With One Cold Email

By Zach Schleien

She had no PR team, no connections, no budget. One email to the right journalist changed everything.

She was 21 years old. No PR agency. No media connections. No budget. She had built a platform used by 10,000+ people, and nobody outside her community knew about it.

One email changed that.

The Pitch

I didn't send a press release. I didn't use a template. I wrote a specific, targeted email to a Forbes contributor who covered young entrepreneurs.

The subject line: "21-Year-Old Built a Platform Used by 10,000+ People"

The body was three paragraphs:

1. Who she was and what she built (with specific numbers)
2. Why the story was relevant now (timing hook)
3. A clear ask: "Would you be interested in featuring her?"

That's it. No attachments. No media kit. No "I'd love to hop on a call to discuss synergies."

Why It Worked

1. Specificity. "10,000+ people" is more compelling than "a growing platform." Numbers create credibility.

2. The right journalist. I didn't blast 200 reporters. I found ONE person who specifically wrote about young founders. This is the same approach I used to get my dad in the New York Times - targeted outreach beats spray-and-pray every time.

3. The age hook. A 21-year-old with 10,000 users is inherently interesting. The story writes itself. My job was just to put it in front of the right person.

4. Brevity. Journalists are busy. My email took 30 seconds to read. If you can't explain why your story matters in three paragraphs, you don't have a story - you have a pitch deck.

The Result

Forbes ran the feature. From there, she got invited to speak at events, attracted partnerships, and raised her first round of funding. One email → one article → a completely different trajectory.

The Framework Anyone Can Use

Here's how to replicate this:

1. Find your angle. What makes your story interesting to someone who doesn't know you? Age, numbers, contrarian approach, personal story - find the hook.

1. Find the right journalist. Use tools like PressPitch AI to identify reporters who cover your specific niche. Don't pitch a fintech reporter about your food delivery app.

1. Write the email. Three paragraphs max:
2. Who you are + what you built (with numbers)
3. Why it matters now
4. Clear ask

1. Follow up once. If you don't hear back in 5 days, send ONE follow-up with a new angle or data point.

1. Move on. If two emails don't work, that journalist isn't interested. Find another one.

The Bigger Lesson

PR isn't about who you know. It's about what you say and who you say it to. A 21-year-old with no connections got into Forbes because the story was good and the pitch was targeted.

You don't need a PR agency. You need a good story and 30 minutes of research.

Want to land your own press coverage? Try PressPitch AI to find the right journalists and craft pitches that get opened.