As an internet entrepreneur, I found that a good idea does not automatically reach the right employee at a large company. In my original article I explained how I used LinkedIn to request an introduction through an existing contact. The buttons and subscriptions I described have changed; the human route still makes sense.
Find the right person first
Work out which team or role handles your subject. Then look for someone you know at the company or a person known by one of your contacts. A mutual connection helps only if they can judge whether the introduction is appropriate. Do not ask a vague name you barely know for a favor.
Explain briefly why you want contact, what your idea could mean to the recipient and what you are asking for. Make it easy to decline. An introduction draws on someone's relationship and reputation; it is not an automatic entitlement because two profiles are connected.
Follow through
If someone helps you, be ready for a conversation and thank them even if no meeting follows. LinkedIn itself says connections work best with a clear professional reason. That matches my experience: a network has value when people know each other well enough to help sincerely.