How can an Analyst start building business/relationships?

Hey All - 

Analyst who hit the desk 6 months ago here. Been actually enjoying banking thus far especially the learning curve at the junior level. Team is really chill so its not like Im sweating which definitely helps.

Also I'm a a MM shop with small deal teams so I am pretty exposed to my MDs. One MD I am working with does quite well with our firm but I've noticed he sources deal much like I sourced this job, cold e-mailing. And it always seems to work. He leverages any relationship our firm has with the sponsor and uses them to reach out or gets their email and emails them regarding an opportunity. So it's not pure cold e-mailing but its a lot more cold than sourcing through your golf partner. Surprisingly we get bites this way as the opportunities we put across are indeed sound and interesting. 

This seems pretty basic to me and being able to cold e-mail and build relationships with industry leaders seems like something I can do myself starting now. Funnily enough at a social event I met a guy whose startup is doing quite well and about to raise a seed round. We just shot the shit talked casually then talked about his product and he was ecstastic to hear about my experience and said I should help him out. Since then I've been doing some independent consulting for him and preparing marketing materials. This really isn't that big of a deal but its shown me that I can also start building my business right now.

Is it possible for an analyst to start developing Business Development skills? If so what is a good way to go around it. I don't want to seem like I am cutting around my firm.