Morning from Moonlight Beach
Ohad and I recorded a podcast at Moonlight Beach last week. We did the most San Diego thing we could think of and walked the shore, watching the waves.
I promise I only got distracted once. Maybe twice.
We noticed a pattern in our DMs lately: people reaching out and, in the same intro, asking for something.
We put ourselves out there because we want to help. But here's what we both agreed on: you can't really help a stranger. Not as easily, anyway. And you can't introduce one well, either. It's the same problem.
The messages that make me want to drop everything are the ones that open with "how can I help you?" It's rare, which is probably why it stands out.
Quick clarification: I'm not asking everyone to DM the Howl Guy offering help. Just pointing at an angle I don't see much.
When you look at the math, it makes sense. Say I'm connecting someone I just met. The best I've got is "my new friend Dave," or "this guy I met."
But if we've talked for a bit, it becomes "Dave grew up surfing the East Coast," or "Dave's on a lifelong hunt for the perfect artisan bagel." Wrong city for that, probably, but I'm no bagel expert.
Same thing at an event. Once I'm actually curious about you, my brain starts working: who else lights up about that, and who should you meet?
Then the intro isn't "you two should talk business." It's "you'll connect on the business thing, and you both love to take your dogs surfing!"
Everyone's got their own style, and there are plenty of ways to be good at this.
But that's the one that's worked for me. Get curious first, and the helping and the introductions become much easier to make.
What we’re howling about this week: |
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Tuesday, September 22
PITCH NIGHT with The Latino Startup at 4:30 PM - Escondido
Wednesday, September 23
Summer Bash 2026 at 5:30 PM - UTC
Thursday, September 24
Margaritas & Mingle - Founders & Entrepreneurs Networking Event at 5:00 PM - Pacific Beach
GenAI, LLMs, and Agents at 5:00 PM - Sorrento Valley
🐾 AI Happy Hour September - Beyond the Guardrails at 6:30 PM - North Park
Ambition 2026: A Curated Startup Summit at 9:00 AM - Santa Monica … coyote code applied: COYOTE100
Friday, September 25
CULEX: Bow Capital x UC San Diego Horizon at 10:30 AM - UCSD
The Howlpha |
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One of my favorite San Diego companies right now is a tax business. Deeply unsexy. Absolutely crushing it.
That's the Howlpha, the San Diego companies, raises, and people I keep finding out in the canyons. One email, every Thursday.
It's my paid one, and honestly, it's what keeps the Social Coyote free. If you're just here for the events, you're always welcome right where you are.
What we’re howling about next week: |
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Wednesday, September 30
Defense Tech Meetup: End of FY 2026 Happy Hour at 5:00 PM - Kearny Mesa
San Diego Cyber Group Meetup at 6:00 PM - Mission Valley
Thursday, October 1
SD Climate Week - 8-day event
Friday, October 2
Founder Fridays at 7:30 AM - Solana Beach
First Friday Founders Hike at 8:00 AM - Torrey Pines Gliderport
Mark Your Calendars |
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Wednesday, October 21
($) Connect: Founders Forum at 8:00 AM - Mission Valley
Thursday, October 29
Monday, November 2
Women's Venture Summit 2026 - 4-day event … code COYOTE applied
San Diego Startup Week 2026 - 5-day event
That’s enough howling out of me.
See you in the wild!
Jonah 🐺
find me on LinkedIn
or hit reply here [email protected]
Refer a Friend-ly Coyote 🐺 |
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You're already forwarding these to friends. Might as well get something for it.
7 referrals = a black Coyote Cap with your name on it.
I don't mail these, so we'll trade it over a coffee or at an event.
Current Referral Count: {{rp_num_referrals}}
Referral URL: grab this link
Howl yeah
