A connector is the person who can introduce you to a target buyer. They sit in the middle of a warm path, with a real relationship to both sides, and it is their credibility with the buyer that makes the introduction land.
The strongest connector is not always the most senior person or the one with the most connections. It is the one whose relationship with the buyer is real and current: shared work history, an investor tie, a customer relationship, a genuine friendship. A connector who barely knows the buyer cannot transfer trust, no matter how impressive their title.
Connectors come from across your extended network: teammates, advisors, investors, and customers. The art is finding the one whose tie to a given buyer is strongest, which is a question of path strength.
Make the ask lightweight and give them an easy out. A good connector is doing you a favor and putting their own credibility on the line, so the request should be specific, low-effort, and easy to forward. For the mechanics, see how to ask for a warm introduction and how to leverage mutual connections.
Via identifies the right connector for each target and explains why the path is strong. Instead of guessing who on your team might know someone, you see the connectors with real relationships, ranked by strength, and how to frame the ask.