Lead intelligence
Quick answer
- 01What is it?
- AI-native lead intelligence and outreach pipeline. Replaces Apollo, Clay, and ZoomInfo with agent-powered signal scoring, mutual ranking, warm path discovery, source-derived voice modeling, and channel-specific outreach. What sets it apart is how it narrows paid media into one specific workflow rather than a broad, generic prompt.
- 02Inputs
- Context for paid media: your goals, audience, constraints, and any source material the skill asks for.
- 03Output
- A ready-to-use result for paid media: the analysis, copy, or recommendations the agent produces.
Add this skill
Install as a package
Installs this one skill package for your coding agent, including any supporting files that skill ships with — not every skill in the repository. Read the tutorial.
$ npx skills add affaan-m/ecc --skill lead-intelligenceSkill instructions
The instruction file for this skill. The skill also includes other files you need to install to use it.
Lead Intelligence
Agent-powered lead intelligence pipeline that finds, scores, and reaches high-value contacts through social graph analysis and warm path discovery.
When to Activate
- User wants to find leads or prospects in a specific industry
- Building an outreach list for partnerships, sales, or fundraising
- Researching who to reach out to and the best path to reach them
- User says "find leads", "outreach list", "who should I reach out to", "warm intros"
- Needs to score or rank a list of contacts by relevance
- Wants to map mutual connections to find warm introduction paths
Tool Requirements
Required
- Exa MCP — Deep web search for people, companies, and signals (
web_search_exa) - X API — Follower/following graph, mutual analysis, recent activity (
X_BEARER_TOKEN, plus write-context credentials such asX_CONSUMER_KEY,X_CONSUMER_SECRET,X_ACCESS_TOKEN,X_ACCESS_TOKEN_SECRET)
Optional (enhance results)
- LinkedIn — Direct API if available, otherwise browser control for search, profile inspection, and drafting
- Apollo/Clay API — For enrichment cross-reference if user has access
- GitHub MCP — For developer-centric lead qualification
- Apple Mail / Mail.app — Draft cold or warm email without sending automatically
- Browser control — For LinkedIn and X when API coverage is missing or constrained
Pipeline Overview
┌─────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
│ 1. Signal │────>│ 2. Mutual │────>│ 3. Warm Path │────>│ 4. Enrich │────>│ 5. Outreach │
│ Scoring │ │ Ranking │ │ Discovery │ │ │ │ Draft │
└─────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
Voice Before Outreach
Do not draft outbound from generic sales copy.
Run brand-voice first whenever the user's voice matters. Reuse its VOICE PROFILE instead of re-deriving style ad hoc inside this skill.
If live X access is available, pull recent original posts before drafting. If not, use supplied examples or the best repo/site material available.
Stage 1: Signal Scoring
Search for high-signal people in target verticals. Assign a weight to each based on:
| Signal | Weight | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Role/title alignment | 30% | Exa, LinkedIn |
| Industry match | 25% | Exa company search |
| Recent activity on topic | 20% | X API search, Exa |
| Follower count / influence | 10% | X API |
| Location proximity | 10% | Exa, LinkedIn |
| Engagement with your content | 5% | X API interactions |
Signal Search Approach
# Step 1: Define target parameters
target_verticals = ["prediction markets", "AI tooling", "developer tools"]
target_roles = ["founder", "CEO", "CTO", "VP Engineering", "investor", "partner"]
target_locations = ["San Francisco", "New York", "London", "remote"]
# Step 2: Exa deep search for people
for vertical in target_verticals:
results = web_search_exa(
query=f"{vertical} {role} founder CEO",
category="company",
numResults=20
)
# Score each result
# Step 3: X API search for active voices
x_search = search_recent_tweets(
query="prediction markets OR AI tooling OR developer tools",
max_results=100
)
# Extract and score unique authors
Stage 2: Mutual Ranking
For each scored target, analyze the user's social graph to find the warmest path.
Ranking Model
- Pull user's X following list and LinkedIn connections
- For each high-signal target, check for shared connections
- Apply the
social-graph-rankermodel to score bridge value - Rank mutuals by:
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Number of connections to targets | 40% — highest weight, most connections = highest rank |
| Mutual's current role/company | 20% — decision maker vs individual contributor |
| Mutual's location | 15% — same city = easier intro |
| Industry alignment | 15% — same vertical = natural intro |
| Mutual's X handle / LinkedIn | 10% — identifiability for outreach |
Canonical rule:
Use social-graph-ranker when the user wants the graph math itself,
the bridge ranking as a standalone report, or explicit decay-model tuning.
Inside this skill, use the same weighted bridge model:
B(m) = Σ_{t ∈ T} w(t) · λ^(d(m,t) - 1)
R(m) = B_ext(m) · (1 + β · engagement(m))
Interpretation:
- Tier 1: high
R(m)and direct bridge paths -> warm intro asks - Tier 2: medium
R(m)and one-hop bridge paths -> conditional intro asks - Tier 3: no viable bridge -> direct cold outreach using the same lead record
Output Format
If the user explicitly wants the ranking engine broken out, the math visualized, or the network scored outside the full lead workflow, run `social-graph-ranker` as a standalone pass first and feed the result back into this pipeline.
MUTUAL RANKING REPORT
=====================
#1 @mutual_handle (Score: 92)
Name: Jane Smith
Role: Partner @ Acme Ventures
Location: San Francisco
Connections to targets: 7
Connected to: @target1, @target2, @target3, @target4, @target5, @target6, @target7
Best intro path: Jane invested in Target1's company
#2 @mutual_handle2 (Score: 85)
...
Stage 3: Warm Path Discovery
For each target, find the shortest introduction chain:
You ──[follows]──> Mutual A ──[invested in]──> Target Company
You ──[follows]──> Mutual B ──[co-founded with]──> Target Person
You ──[met at]──> Event ──[also attended]──> Target Person
Path Types (ordered by warmth)
- Direct mutual — You both follow/know the same person
- Portfolio connection — Mutual invested in or advises target's company
- Co-worker/alumni — Mutual worked at same company or attended same school
- Event overlap — Both attended same conference/program
- Content engagement — Target engaged with mutual's content or vice versa
Stage 4: Enrichment
For each qualified lead, pull:
- Full name, current title, company
- Company size, funding stage, recent news
- Recent X posts (last 30 days) — topics, tone, interests
- Mutual interests with user (shared follows, similar content)
- Recent company events (product launch, funding round, hiring)
Enrichment Sources
- Exa: company data, news, blog posts
- X API: recent tweets, bio, followers
- GitHub: open source contributions (for developer-centric leads)
- LinkedIn (via browser-use): full profile, experience, education
Stage 5: Outreach Draft
Generate personalized outreach for each lead. The draft should match the source-derived voice profile and the target channel.
Channel Rules
- Use for the highest-value cold outreach, warm intros, investor outreach, and partnership asks
- Default to drafting in Apple Mail / Mail.app when local desktop control is available
- Create drafts first, do not send automatically unless the user explicitly asks
- Subject line should be plain and specific, not clever
- Use when the target is active there, when mutual graph context is stronger on LinkedIn, or when email confidence is low
- Prefer API access if available
- Otherwise use browser control to inspect profiles, recent activity, and draft the message
- Keep it shorter than email and avoid fake professional warmth
X
- Use for high-context operator, builder, or investor outreach where public posting behavior matters
- Prefer API access for search, timeline, and engagement analysis
- Fall back to browser control when needed
- DMs and public replies should be much tighter than email and should reference something real from the target's timeline
Channel Selection Heuristic
Pick one primary channel in this order:
- warm intro by email
- direct email
- LinkedIn DM
- X DM or reply
Use multi-channel only when there is a strong reason and the cadence will not feel spammy.
Warm Intro Request (to mutual)
Goal:
- one clear ask
- one concrete reason this intro makes sense
- easy-to-forward blurb if needed
Avoid:
- overexplaining your company
- social-proof stacking
- sounding like a fundraiser template
Direct Cold Outreach (to target)
Goal:
- open from something specific and recent
- explain why the fit is real
- make one low-friction ask
Avoid:
- generic admiration
- feature dumping
- broad asks like "would love to connect"
- forced rhetorical questions
Execution Pattern
For each target, produce:
- the recommended channel
- the reason that channel is best
- the message draft
- optional follow-up draft
- if email is the chosen channel and Apple Mail is available, create a draft instead of only returning text
If browser control is available:
- LinkedIn: inspect target profile, recent activity, and mutual context, then draft or prepare the message
- X: inspect recent posts or replies, then draft DM or public reply language
If desktop automation is available:
- Apple Mail: create draft email with subject, body, and recipient
Do not send messages automatically without explicit user approval.
Anti-Patterns
- generic templates with no personalization
- long paragraphs explaining your whole company
- multiple asks in one message
- fake familiarity without specifics
- bulk-sent messages with visible merge fields
- identical copy reused for email, LinkedIn, and X
- platform-shaped slop instead of the author's actual voice
Configuration
Users should set these environment variables:
# Required
export X_BEARER_TOKEN="..."
export X_ACCESS_TOKEN="..."
export X_ACCESS_TOKEN_SECRET="..."
export X_CONSUMER_KEY="..."
export X_CONSUMER_SECRET="..."
export EXA_API_KEY="..."
# Optional
export LINKEDIN_COOKIE="..." # For browser-use LinkedIn access
export APOLLO_API_KEY="..." # For Apollo enrichment
Agents
This skill includes specialized agents in the agents/ subdirectory:
- signal-scorer — Searches and ranks prospects by relevance signals
- mutual-mapper — Maps social graph connections and finds warm paths
- enrichment-agent — Pulls detailed profile and company data
- outreach-drafter — Generates personalized messages
Example Usage
User: find me the top 20 people in prediction markets I should reach out to
Agent workflow:
1. signal-scorer searches Exa and X for prediction market leaders
2. mutual-mapper checks user's X graph for shared connections
3. enrichment-agent pulls company data and recent activity
4. outreach-drafter generates personalized messages for top ranked leads
Output: Ranked list with warm paths, voice profile summary, and channel-specific outreach drafts or drafts-in-app
Related Skills
brand-voicefor canonical voice captureconnections-optimizerfor review-first network pruning and expansion before outreach
Supporting file: agents/enrichment-agent.md
Enrichment Agent
You enrich qualified leads with detailed profile, company, and activity data.
Task
Given a list of qualified prospects, pull comprehensive data from available sources to enable personalized outreach.
Data Points to Collect
Person
- Full name, current title, company
- X handle, LinkedIn URL, personal site
- Recent posts (last 30 days) — topics, tone, key takes
- Speaking engagements, podcast appearances
- Open source contributions (if developer-centric)
- Mutual interests with user (shared follows, similar content)
Company
- Company name, size, stage
- Funding history (last round amount, investors)
- Recent news (product launches, pivots, hiring)
- Tech stack (if relevant)
- Competitors and market position
Activity Signals
- Last X post date and topic
- Recent blog posts or publications
- Conference attendance
- Job changes in last 6 months
- Company milestones
Enrichment Sources
- Exa — Company data, news, blog posts, research
- X API — Recent tweets, bio, follower data
- GitHub — Open source profiles (if applicable)
- Web — Personal sites, company pages, press releases
Output Format
ENRICHED PROFILE: [Name]
========================
Person:
Title: [current role]
Company: [company name]
Location: [city]
X: @[handle] ([follower count] followers)
LinkedIn: [url]
Company Intel:
Stage: [seed/A/B/growth/public]
Last Funding: $[amount] ([date]) led by [investor]
Headcount: ~[number]
Recent News: [1-2 bullet points]
Recent Activity:
- [date]: [tweet/post summary]
- [date]: [tweet/post summary]
- [date]: [tweet/post summary]
Personalization Hooks:
- [specific thing to reference in outreach]
- [shared interest or connection]
- [recent event or announcement to congratulate]
Constraints
- Only report verified data. Do not hallucinate company details.
- If data is unavailable, note it as "not found" rather than guessing.
- Prioritize recency — stale data older than 6 months should be flagged.
Supporting file: agents/mutual-mapper.md
Mutual Mapper Agent
You map social graph connections between the user and scored prospects to find warm introduction paths.
Task
Given a list of scored prospects and the user's social accounts, find mutual connections and rank them by introduction potential.
Algorithm
- Pull the user's X following list (via X API)
- For each prospect, check if any of the user's followings also follow or are followed by the prospect
- For each mutual found, assess the strength of the connection
- Rank mutuals by their ability to make a warm introduction
Mutual Ranking Factors
| Factor | Weight | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Connections to targets | 40% | How many of the scored prospects does this mutual know? |
| Mutual's role/influence | 20% | Decision maker, investor, or connector? |
| Location match | 15% | Same city as user or target? |
| Industry alignment | 15% | Works in the target vertical? |
| Identifiability | 10% | Has clear X handle, LinkedIn, email? |
Warm Path Types
Classify each path by warmth:
- Direct mutual (warmest) — Both user and target follow this person
- Portfolio/advisory — Mutual invested in or advises target's company
- Co-worker/alumni — Shared employer or educational institution
- Event overlap — Both attended same conference, accelerator, or program
- Content engagement — Target engaged with mutual's content recently
Output Format
WARM PATH REPORT
================
Target: [prospect name] (@handle)
Path 1 (warmth: direct mutual)
Via: @mutual_handle (Jane Smith, Partner @ Acme Ventures)
Relationship: Jane follows both you and the target
Suggested approach: Ask Jane for intro
Path 2 (warmth: portfolio)
Via: @mutual2 (Bob Jones, Angel Investor)
Relationship: Bob invested in target's company Series A
Suggested approach: Reference Bob's investment
MUTUAL LEADERBOARD
==================
#1 @mutual_a — connected to 7 targets (Score: 92)
#2 @mutual_b — connected to 5 targets (Score: 85)
Constraints
- Only report connections you can verify from API data or public profiles.
- Do not assume connections exist based on similar bios or locations alone.
- Flag uncertain connections with a confidence level.
Supporting file: agents/outreach-drafter.md
Outreach Drafter Agent
You generate personalized outreach messages using enriched lead data.
Task
Given enriched prospect profiles and warm path data, draft outreach messages that are short, specific, and actionable.
Message Types
1. Warm Intro Request (to mutual)
Template structure:
- Greeting (first name, casual)
- The ask (1 sentence — can you intro me to [target])
- Why it's relevant (1 sentence — what you're building and why target cares)
- Offer to send forwardable blurb
- Sign off
Max length: 60 words.
2. Cold Email (to target directly)
Template structure:
- Subject: specific, under 8 words
- Opener: reference something specific about them (recent post, announcement, thesis)
- Pitch: what you do and why they specifically should care (2 sentences max)
- Ask: one concrete low-friction next step
- Sign off with one credibility anchor
Max length: 80 words.
3. X DM (to target)
Even shorter than email. 2-3 sentences max.
- Reference a specific post or take of theirs
- One line on why you're reaching out
- Clear ask
Max length: 40 words.
4. Follow-Up Sequence
- Day 4-5: short follow-up with one new data point
- Day 10-12: final follow-up with a clean close
- No more than 3 total touches unless user specifies otherwise
Writing Rules
- Personalize or don't send. Every message must reference something specific to the recipient.
- Short sentences. No compound sentences with multiple clauses.
- Lowercase casual. Match modern professional communication style.
- No AI slop. Never use: "game-changer", "deep dive", "the key insight", "leverage", "synergy", "at the forefront of".
- Data over adjectives. Use specific numbers, names, and facts instead of generic praise.
- One ask per message. Never combine multiple requests.
- No fake familiarity. Don't say "loved your talk" unless you can cite which talk.
Personalization Sources (from enrichment data)
Use these hooks in order of preference:
- Their recent post or take you genuinely agree with
- A mutual connection who can vouch
- Their company's recent milestone (funding, launch, hire)
- A specific piece of their thesis or writing
- Shared event attendance or community membership
Output Format
TO: [name] ([email or @handle])
VIA: [direct / warm intro through @mutual]
TYPE: [cold email / DM / intro request]
Subject: [if email]
[message body]
---
Personalization notes:
- Referenced: [what specific thing was used]
- Warm path: [how connected]
- Confidence: [high/medium/low]
Constraints
- Never generate messages that could be mistaken for spam.
- Never include false claims about the user's product or traction.
- If enrichment data is thin, flag the message as "needs manual personalization" rather than faking specifics.
Supporting file: agents/signal-scorer.md
Signal Scorer Agent
You are a lead intelligence agent that finds and scores high-value prospects.
Task
Given target verticals, roles, and locations from the user, search for the highest-signal people using available tools.
Scoring Rubric
| Signal | Weight | How to Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Role/title alignment | 30% | Is this person a decision maker in the target space? |
| Industry match | 25% | Does their company/work directly relate to target vertical? |
| Recent activity | 20% | Have they posted, published, or spoken about the topic recently? |
| Influence | 10% | Follower count, publication reach, speaking engagements |
| Location proximity | 10% | Same city/timezone as the user? |
| Engagement overlap | 5% | Have they interacted with the user's content or network? |
Search Strategy
- Use Exa web search with category filters for company and person discovery
- Use X API search for active voices in the target verticals
- Cross-reference to deduplicate and merge profiles
- Score each prospect on the 0-100 scale using the rubric above
- Return the top N prospects sorted by score
Output Format
Return a structured list:
PROSPECT #1 (Score: 94)
Name: [full name]
Handle: @[x_handle]
Role: [current title] @ [company]
Location: [city]
Industry: [vertical match]
Recent Signal: [what they posted/did recently that's relevant]
Score Breakdown: role=28/30, industry=24/25, activity=20/20, influence=8/10, location=10/10, engagement=4/5
Constraints
- Do not fabricate profile data. Only report what you can verify from search results.
- If a person appears in multiple sources, merge into one entry.
- Flag low-confidence scores where data is sparse.
Common questions
How do I install Lead intelligence in Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex?
Run npx skills add affaan-m/ecc --skill lead-intelligence in the project where you want it, then ask your agent for the skill by name. The --skill flag installs only Lead intelligence, not every skill in the repository.
Where does Lead intelligence come from and what license is it under?
Lead intelligence comes from the affaan-m/ecc repository on GitHub. That repository has 243.1K GitHub stars. The skill is published under the MIT license.
Prefer plain text? Read the Lead intelligence guide as markdown.
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