[rapht]

CFO's perspective: wanna sell me something, anything? you're out.

However well crafted your email is, you're an unacceptable distraction from the priorities that the company has set, the achievement of which is materialized by projects of varying size and scope. Upon starting any project of any size, people do due diligence: they assess what exactly it is they are looking for, and then research the market for it. For macro-projects, consultants may be hired to help with the process, which may lead to a proper tender.

Either way, the company contacts you, not the other way round.

[blitzar]

You are going to go with IBM because nobody every gets fired for buying IBM.

[rapht]

I don't know what makes you say that. Requiring a bit of market research from project proponents does not mean excluding anything lightweight or just new. What you don't want is some company being contracted because it talked to you first by whatever channel rather than as a result of some reasoned assessment.

[blitzar]

How do you research something you don't know exists?

> wanna sell me something, anything? you're out.

Advertise? you're out. Have a website? you're out. Go on the Shark Tank? you're out. Do a "Show HN"? you're out.

Reply to an open call to tender? you're out.

> I don't know what makes you say that

"CFO". IBM is the classic choice of the CFO class - they dont want to get fired so they a) dont make a decision or b) chose IBM because they were not "selling them something" (except for all the sales and marketting they do)

[TheNewsIsHere]

Is your argument that you could only find out about a product or service if it’s advertised to you?

If so, that has not been my experience. In my business I typically select against products or services that cold email/call me. But that’s never been a problem. When I need to find a third party solution I start educating myself on the topic and search for vendors. It’s not that difficult.