[klohto]

Thank you, spot on :)

Networking is a king, and depending on what kind of exit OP envisions, they will need those contacts.

One way to get them is definitely going through an accelerator (YC), but this process is time-consuming and might not be worth it unless the startup is in early stages (just my opinion!). The other one is just reaching out to other founders who went through similar situation or are planning to.

Again, all is subjective and deeply personal to what kind of startup do you want to run and what is your dream scenario. No advice will answer your question, as they require context and dialog.

A Good VC will listen and connect you with other founders, even before raising, but especially after.