# Generate research-backed cold email icebreakers with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-research-backed-cold-email-icebreakers-with-openai (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 research-backed cold email icebreakers with OpenAI

Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 19 steps, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

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

**19 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 2 Logic 12 Service 4

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

- 1 **Details** Form trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **formatting** Code *Logic*
- 3 **Leads Scraper1** Http Request *Service*
- 4 **Only Websites & Emails1** Filter *Logic*
- 5 **Scrape Home1** Http Request *Service*
- 6 **HTML1** Html *Logic*
- 7 **Edit Fields1** Set *Logic*
- 8 **Loop Over Items1** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 9 **Split Out1** Split Out *Logic*
- 10 **Filter1** Filter *Logic*
- 11 **Code1** Code *Logic*
- 12 **Remove Duplicate URLs1** Remove Duplicates *Logic*
- 13 **Limit1** Limit *Logic*
- 14 **Request web page for URL1** Http Request *Service*
- 15 **Markdown1** Markdown *Logic*
- 16 **Summarize Website Page1** Open Ai *Model*
- 17 **Aggregate1** Aggregate *Logic*
- 18 **Generate Multiline Icebreaker1** Open Ai *Model*
- 19 **Add Row1** Google Sheets *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone submitting a form
- **Steps:** 19, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Sheets
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on someone submitting a form.

Does it use AI?

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

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 19 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 19 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-research-backed-cold-email-icebreakers-with-openai)
- **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.

- [**AI marketing agent for lead generation: Reddit + OpenRouter** 19 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-marketing-agent-for-lead-generation-reddit-openrouter)
- [**Automated Reddit lead generation with Google Sheets** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Reddit](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-reddit-lead-generation-with-google-sheets)
- [**B2B outreach automation: LinkedIn to email sequence** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/b2b-outreach-automation-linkedin-to-email-sequence)
- [**Cold email icebreaker generator with Apify and OpenAI** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/cold-email-icebreaker-generator-with-apify-and-openai)
- [**Deep Multiline Icebreaker Generator** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/deep-multiline-icebreaker-generator)
- [**Enrich and classify company leads in Google Sheets with Gemini** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/enrich-and-classify-company-leads-in-google-sheets-with-gemi)