# Generate personalized cold email icebreakers: n8n workflow

> Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI and OpenRouter.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-personalized-cold-email-icebreakers (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Lead generation](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Lead+generation#library)

# Generate personalized cold email icebreakers

Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI and OpenRouter. 11 steps, 1 branch, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI, OpenRouter

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fgenerate-personalized-cold-email-icebreakers)

**11 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 6 Logic 2 Service 2

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **When clicking ‘Execute workflow’** Manual trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Perplexity Sonar** Lm Chat Open Router *Model*
- 3 **Claude Sonnet** Lm Chat Open Router *Model*
- 4 **Parse JSON** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 5 **Get Leads** Google Sheets *Service*
- 6 **Perplexity Research** Chain Llm *Model*
- 7 **Generate Icebreaker** Chain Llm *Model*
- 8 **Check If Unprocessed** If *Logic*
- 9 **Update Icebreaker** Google Sheets *Service*
- 10 **Loop Over Leads** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 11 **Company Name Clean Up** Open Ai *Model*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An event in a connected app
- **Steps:** 11, with 1 branch, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Sheets
- **Model:** OpenAI, OpenRouter

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Sheets account, and a key for OpenAI and OpenRouter. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an event in a connected app.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI and OpenRouter. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 11 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 11 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fgenerate-personalized-cold-email-icebreakers)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)

## Workflows like it

Also lead generation, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**& analyze TikTok influencers with Bright Data and Claude** 11 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/and-analyze-tiktok-influencers-with-bright-data-and-claude)
- [**AI Cold Email Machine: GPT-4o Personalized Outreach** 11 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-cold-email-machine-gpt-4o-personalized-outreach)
- [**AI website chatbot with CRM and OpenAI** 11 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-website-chatbot-with-crm-and-openai)
- [**AI-powered lead processing from Apify with Gemini** 11 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-lead-processing-from-apify-with-gemini)
- [**Automate WhatsApp lead capture and replies with Whapi** 11 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-whatsapp-lead-capture-and-replies-with-whapi)
- [**Automate lead nurturing with OpenAI and Gemini** 11 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-lead-nurturing-with-openai-and-gemini)