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    The Lede Company: Consumer Tech Brand Launch Specialist

    The Lede Company has grown from a boutique NYC firm into one of the most culturally connected PR and communications agencies in the United States. Conversely, not every PR agency can pull off a 48-hour brand takeover of New York City. Not every firm can orchestrate a campaign that helps a designer debut as Creative Director of Louis Vuitton and turn it into a genuine cultural moment. And not every agency can drive Olympic momentum for a global broadcaster and win Grammy Awards for a client in the same year. The Lede Company consumer tech and lifestyle agency did all three, in a single twelve-month stretch. Founded in 2018 by a diverse group of women leaders, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, and a London outpost, the agency now serves major consumer technology brands, entertainment giants, fashion houses, wellness companies, and A-list talent. But cultural cachet alone doesn’t justify a retainer. So let’s go deeper. Who Is The Lede Company? The Lede Company is a full-service strategy, public relations, and communications consulting firm. It was founded in New York City in 2018 and is currently backed by Shamrock Capital Advisors, a private equity firm originally founded as the Disney family investment vehicle Consequently, its specific focus is on media, entertainment, marketing, and communications investments. That institutional backing is notable. Shamrock Capital has committed between $30 million and $300 million per transaction in its target sectors. Its investment in The Lede Company signals a belief in the agency’s long-term growth trajectory, not just its current client roster. As of 2025, the agency has approximately 140 employees across its New York, Los Angeles, and London offices.   Key Facts at a Glance Core Divisions: How The Lede Company Is Structured The Lede Company operates across seven distinct but interconnected divisions. This structure matters because it means a brand client can access talent relationships, content production, and social impact strategy, all under one roof. Brand Division: This is where consumer tech and lifestyle brand clients live. The Brand team oversees traditional media relations, messaging, influencer programmes, social PR, experiential design, high-level gifting and more. It has spearheaded launches for some of the world’s biggest brands, product launches, influencers and tastemakers. Talent Division: The Lede Company represents more than 250 of the biggest names in entertainment, including film and TV stars, authors, models, digital influencers and theatre actors. ,For consumer brands, this creates an unmatched internal pathway to authentic celebrity partnerships, without the intermediary cost and friction of a third-party talent agency and Strategic Communications Division: This division handles Fortune 500 companies, film studios, media conglomerates, tech companies, private equity firms, trade associations and, labour unions. It is also the division that advises political leaders and senior executives, a capability most lifestyle agencies simply don’t have. Social Impact Division:Purpose matters to today’s consumers. The Social Impact team provides advisory and consulting services to talent, philanthropists, brands and NGOs, helping brands build credible advocacy and sustainability narratives that go beyond surface-level CSR. Content and Music Divisions: These provide content production capabilities and music industry PR, particularly useful for consumer brands seeking to connect with cultural communities through sound, streaming, and entertainment partnerships. Notable Campaigns: What The Lede Company Actually Delivers Here is where The Lede Company’s capabilities become tangible. These are verified, publicly reported achievements. The WhatsApp NYC Takeover (2024):The agency partnered with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to orchestrate a WhatsApp brand takeover of New York City for 48 hours. The campaign captured a genuine cultural moment, and delivered the kind of earned attention that no paid media buy can replicate. According to The PR Net 100, this was one of the agency’s most significant achievements of the year. Pharrell Williams at Louis Vuitton (2024): The Lede Company played a key role in making Pharrell Williams’ debut as Creative Director of Louis Vuitton a major cultural event. Translating a fashion appointment into a global cultural conversation requires relationships, timing, and narrative precision. The agency demonstrated all three. Paris 2024 Olympics — NBCUniversal Partnership The agency was instrumental in driving media momentum for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in partnership with NBCUniversal. For a consumer tech and lifestyle agency to operate at this scale, coordinating entertainment, sports, and brand communications simultaneously, is a meaningful signal of its capabilities. Awards Season Wins: The PR Net 100 2024 reports that The Lede Company secured awards-season wins for clients inclu,ding Emma Stone (Academy Award for Best Actress, Poor Things), Kendrick Lamar (multiple awards), and Mark Ronson (Grammy Award). Talent PR at this level requires relationships and strategy that most brand agencies can’t access. Consumer Technology — Clients Served: The agency has worked with consumer tech clients including WhatsApp, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Hello Sunshine, Live Nation, Everlane, and Blue Bottle Coffee. Its experience spans direct-to-consumer technology products, streaming platforms, and digital-first lifestyle brands. The Honest Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths       Weaknesses Who Is The Lede Company Best For? Choose The Lede Company if: The Lede Company may not be the right fit if: Pricing The Lede Company does not publish pricing publicly. However, based on the agency’s client profile, Fortune 500 companies, major entertainment studios, global consumer tech brands, and A-list talen, and its 140-person team, retainers for foundational brand programmes typically start at $10,000–$20,000 per month. Integrated campaigns with talent activation, event production, and social strategy will be priced proportionally higher. Consequently, before engaging, ask specifically which division leads your account, who your day-to-day contact is, and what the team’s experience is with brands in your specific product category. Questions About The Lede Company What is The Lede Company known for? The Lede Company is known for culturally connected consumer PR, entertainment talent representation, and brand launch campaigns with celebrity and influencer integration. Its 2024 work includes the WhatsApp NYC takeover with Lewis Hamilton and the Paris 2024 Olympics partnership with NBCUniversal. Who owns The Lede Company? The Lede Company is backed by Shamrock Capital Advisors, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused

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    SHADOW vs Purple: Influencer vs Traditional PR Agency

    The SHADOW vs Purple comparison is fundamentally a debate between two philosophies of PR. ne built around cultural disruption and influencer-led storytelling, the other rooted in luxury positioning, editorial prestige, and traditional media craft. You’re a brand founder with a choice to make. You’ve narrowed your shortlist to two agencies, SHADOW vs Purple. Both work in lifestyle, fashion, and beauty. SHADOW vs Purple have impressive client lists. But how they actually build brand stories is almost completely different. That difference matters enormously for where your brand is right now, and where you need it to go. Neither is wrong. But only one is right for your specific brief. Let’s break it down clearly.   SHADOW: The Influencer-Led Creative Marketing Agency SHADOW was co-founded in 2007 in New York City by Lisette Sand-Freedman, Michelle Sokoloff, Liza Suloti, and Brad Zeifman. What began as a boutique PR buzz agency has grown into a 100-person creative marketing and communications powerhouse with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Over 17 years, the agency has deliberately evolved beyond traditional PR into a fully integrated creative marketing shop. Today, SHADOW operates across media relations, influencer marketing, content development, event production, social media management, and creative strategy, all under one roof. The agency describes itself as an agency that “shapes insights and ideas into stories, animates stories into moments and engineers moments into movements.”     SHADOW Key Facts What SHADOW Does Best SHADOW’s most impressive credential is its long-term partnership with e.l.f. Cosmetics, one of the most culturally successful beauty brand stories of the past decade. SHADOW served as e.l.f.’s long-time creative agency and conceptualised, cast, and scripted the brand’s debut Super Bowl commercial in 2023, a Jennifer Coolidge spot co-written with The White Lotus creator Mike White. That campaign was developed in just three weeks, from concept to final cut. According to e.l.f.’s Chief Marketing Officer, the campaign drove a 90% increase in e.l.f. website traffic during launch week and propelled Power Grip Primer to the number-one SKU in mass colour cosmetics in 2023, per NielsenIQ. The agency followed that with e.l.f.’s 2024 Super Bowl ad featuring Judge Judy Sheindlin and the Suits cast reunion, which achieved the highest relevance rating of any 2024 Super Bowl ad tested and a creative effectiveness score in the top 5% of the Ipsos database, per the Shorty Awards. Post-launch, e.l.f.’s website saw a 148% surge in traffic and a 50% increase in total sales, per the same source. These numbers are independently verified. They are not agency self-reported claims. Beyond e.l.f., SHADOW’s 2024 client work included: Purple: The Global Luxury Lifestyle PR Institution Purple takes a fundamentally different approach. Founded in 1997 in London by CEO Fergus Lawlor, Purple has spent over 25 years building its reputation as the go-to agency for luxury fashion, beauty, hospitality, and lifestyle brands seeking editorial prestige, cultural authority, and long-term brand positioning. With offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Miami, and an expansion into Singapore, Purple now operates as a genuinely global luxury communications agency. It employs between 100 and 249 staff members globally. Purple describes itself as “independent in philosophy, attitude and operation.” Unlike SHADOW’s rapid growth trajectory into integrated creative, Purple has remained steadfastly focused on connecting luxury brands with the media relationships, editorial platforms, and cultural partnerships that confer lasting prestige. Purple Key Facts What Purple Does Best Purple’s strength is in building and sustaining editorial authority for luxury brands. It is the craft of getting your brand placed in the right editorial context, Vogue, Architectural Digest, The Times, and international luxury press — in a way that reinforces brand positioning over time. The agency’s 2024 and 2025 client work illustrates this precisely. Willy Chavarria at CFDA: Purple was instrumental in the success of designer Willy Chavarria, who won American Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards and dressed high-profile celebrities for the 2024 Met Gala. This is not an influencer play. This is the kind of institutional fashion credibility that defines a designer’s long-term trajectory. Fashion Trust U.S.: Purple played a pivotal role in the Fashion Trust U.S. initiative, a nonprofit supporting emerging designers. The agency’s second annual awards in Los Angeles reinforced its position as a firm that shapes the fashion industry conversation, not just covers it. Luxury Beauty Clients: In 2024 and 2025, Purple delivered campaigns for brands including Augustinus Bader, Sol de Janeiro, Le Labo, Makeup by Mario, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and Parfums de Marl, some of the most respected names in premium skincare and fragrance. Hospitality Portfolio: EDITION Hotels, Rosewood Hotels & Residences, The Standard International, and Grand Wailea represent a hospitality client roster that requires sophisticated editorial storytelling rather than social amplification. Global Reach: Beyond the US and UK, Purple’s 2025 work includes Chanel’s Sparkling Fragrance launch in Hong Kong and the Michelin Guide 2025 Hong Kong & Macau Awards, evidence of a genuinely global operational capability.   SHADOW vs Purple: A Direct Comparison Factor SHADOW Purple Founded 2007, New York 1997, London Core approach Influencer-led, integrated creative Traditional PR, editorial, luxury positioning Offices New York, Los Angeles London, NY, LA, HK, Miami, Singapore Primary strengths DTC beauty, Gen Z, social amplification Luxury fashion, hospitality, beauty, design Super Bowl / mass reach Yes, proven at scale Not core to model Luxury editorial prestige Developing Core competency Experiential Yes — integrated in-house Yes, VIP events and high-profile experiences Social media Core offering Supporting capability Best for Disruptor brands, DTC, cultural velocity Luxury brands seeking editorial authorit SHADOW vs Purple:Which Agency Is Right for You? Choose SHADOW if: Choose Purple if: Neither SHADOW vs Purple is an ideal fit if: Pricing Expectations Neither SHADOW nor Purple publishes pricing publicly. Based on their respective client profiles and team sizes: In SHADOW vs Purple cases, the investment makes sense only if your brand has the marketing budget and brand maturity to leverage what each agency actually delivers. Frequently Asked Questions About SHADOW vs Purple What is the

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    How Joele Frank Saved a $2B M&A Deal From Crisis

    This article explores how Joele Frank criss communication firm helped a brand save a $2b M&A deal. Let’s say you’re the board of a publicly traded company. An unsolicited bidder just went public with an acquisition offer at what your advisors say is a significant undervaluation. Shareholders are spooked, the media is circling, and a well-known activist investor is quietly buying up your stock. Every hour without a clear communications strategy costs you ground. This is the kind of situation that Joele Frank M&A crisis communications built their firm for. The kind of pressure that has made Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher the undisputed #1 M&A PR advisor in the United States for over a decade. Understanding how this firm operates, and what it did in one of its most defining real-world engagements, offers every entrepreneur, executive, and board director a lesson in the power of strategic communications under pressure.   Who Is Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher? Founded in 2000 by Joele Frank, the firm launched with a handful of defectors from Abernathy MacGregor Frank after its founder was told, dismissively, that no woman could run a PR firm. Today, Joele Frank is: The firm’s co-founder has personally advised on over 3,000 special situations throughout her career. Their team includes practitioners who have defended boards against Carl Icahn over 30 times, Starboard Value over 40 times, and Pershing Square over 10 times.   The Kansas City Southern M&A Battle: A Case Study in Crisis Communications Few M&A communications engagements in recent US corporate history illustrate Joele Frank’s capabilities more clearly than the Kansas City Southern railroad acquisition battle of 2021. In March 2021, Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) announced a $29 billion offer to acquire Kansas City Southern (KCS). Thirty days later, Canadian National Railway (CN) launched a competing, and higher, bid of $33.7 billion. From a shareholder’s perspective, the CN offer looked more attractive on paper. KCS was suddenly caught between two competing suitors, a regulatory minefield, and an intensely public bidding war playing out across financial media, investor communications, and policy channels simultaneously. Joele Frank represented Kansas City Southern throughout this process. The communications challenge was enormous. Consider what was at stake: How Joele Frank Handled the Crisis The firm’s approach centred on several interlocking strategies. First, they separated the deal’s financial optics from its regulatory reality. The CN offer’s higher price was misleading as a standalone fact. CN’s proposed voting trust structure, which would allow it to control KCS before regulatory approval, carried significant regulatory risk. Joele Frank’s communications strategy made this risk legible to every stakeholder audience: investors, regulators, press, and the general public. Secondly, they shaped the regulatory narrative proactively. The STB ultimately ruled unanimously that CN’s proposed voting trust was not in the public interest, a ruling that effectively killed the higher bid. That outcome did not happen by accident. It happened, in part, because the communications strategy around KCS’s position was coherent, consistent, and evidence-based across every channel. Additionally, they managed the timeline. In contested M&A, timing is everything. Releasing the right information to the right audience at the right moment, without telegraphing moves to the opposing party, requires the kind of situational discipline that only comes from decades of deal experience. Joele Frank’s team, including partner Eliza Rothstein who worked directly on this engagement, coordinated KCS’s multi-stakeholder communications throughout. The outcome was that Kansas City Southern accepted Canadian Pacific’s revised offer of approximately $31 billion. The deal closed, creating CPKC, the first single-line railroad connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico. A deal that initially appeared under threat from a larger competing bid ultimately closed successfully, with KCS shareholders receiving a clear, well-communicated rationale for the transaction at every stage.     HP vs. Xerox: Defending Against an Unsolicited Takeover The Kansas City Southern engagement was not an isolated achievement. Consider what Joele Frank did for HP in its defense against Xerox and Carl Icahn. In late 2019, Xerox, a company significantly smaller than HP, launched an audacious unsolicited takeover bid for HP. Carl Icahn, the legendary activist investor, backed the effort by taking a position in HP’s stock. This was a high-profile, high-pressure situation that combined several of the most difficult communications challenges simultaneously: Joele Frank managed HP’s communications strategy throughout. The firm’s experience defending boards against Carl Icahn, over 30 documented engagements, meant they understood precisely how Icahn’s camp would attempt to shape the narrative, and how to counter it at each stage. HP ultimately rejected Xerox’s bid. Xerox formally withdrew its offer in March 2020. HP’s independence was preserved.   What Makes Joele Frank’s Crisis M&A Approach Different Most PR agencies respond to M&A situations reactively. Joele Frank is built to operate proactively, shaping the communications environment before a deal is announced, not scrambling to contain damage after it leaks. Several specific practices set the firm apart. Backgrounding as a strategic tool: Backgrounding, providing trusted journalists with context and framing information without direct attribution, is a core tactic in Joele Frank’s M&A playbook. When done correctly, it shapes how a deal is covered before the first public statement is issued. If, done poorly, it backfires. The firm’s longstanding media relationships and deep understanding of financial journalism make this technique genuinely effective in their hands. Data-driven stakeholder mapping: The firm uses analytics to understand which shareholders hold positions, what their historical voting patterns are, and how to tailor communications for maximum persuasion. It is the same analytical discipline that hedge funds and investment banks apply to deal structuring, applied to communications strategy. Multi-stakeholder coordination: A complex M&A situation involves investors, employees, regulators, customers, and the press, simultaneously. Joele Frank’s communications plans address all of these audiences with consistent core messaging and audience-specific framing. Contradictions between what you say to the Street and what you say to the press are fatal in contested deals. Activism preparedness: The firm does not just respond to activist campaigns. It helps boards build preparedness frameworks before an activist appears. That early-warning infrastructure makes the

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    Alison Brod PR: Luxury Lifestyle Agency Worth the Cost?

    There’s a specific kind of founder who walks into 440 Park Avenue South in New York City and immediately understands whether Alison Brod PR is the right fit for their brand. She’s building a beauty line, launching a luxury spirits brand or repositioning a fashion label that needs the right celebrity association to crack the cultural conversation. If that sounds like you, Alison Brod PR might be considered, or it might be more than your budget allows. Either way, you deserve an honest assessment before signing anything. Since 1995, Alison Brod Marketing + Communications (ABMC) has built one of the most distinctive independent PR agencies in New York City. Founded by Alison Brod at just 25 years old, reportedly inspired by overhearing a stranger in an elevator talk about a product launch, the agency grew from a six-person boutique into a firm with 125+ employees across three continents and annual revenues estimated at $16 million. But growth and reputation don’t automatically mean it’s right for your brand. Let’s find out if it really is.   What Is Alison Brod Marketing + Communications? ABMC is a full-service PR, marketing, and influencer agency that has focused on one distinct lane since its founding: beauty, fashion, lifestyle, celebrity, restaurant, and spirits brands. Alison Brod famously noted that when she launched the agency, very few shops were specializing exclusively in beauty and lifestyle PR. That early niche decision paid off. Today, the agency has been profiled by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, The daily Today Show, and Gotham magazine for its record of creating new brands, re-inventing companies, and sustaining long-term campaigns. Crain’s New York Business named it the second best company to work for in New York City, recognition that speaks to internal culture as much as external reputation.   Key Facts About Alison Brod PR Founded: 1995, New York City Founder and CEO: Alison Brod COO: Aliza Bogner Staff: ~125 employees across 3 continents Estimated annual revenue: $16 million (2026) HQ: 440 Park Avenue South, New York, NY Additional locations: Miami Specialities: Beauty, fashion, lifestyle, celebrity, restaurant, spirits Industry recognitions: Crain’s NY Business #2 Best Place to Work in NYC, featured in The PR Net 100   What ABMC Does for Lifestyle and Luxury Brands Alison Brod is not a generalist. Every service it offers connects back to its central expertise in lifestyle, beauty, and cultural conversation-starting. 1. Strategic Media Counsel: ABMC builds earned media strategies that connect brands with the editorial outlets that matter most in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Think Vogue, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Times Style, and the TV segments that shift consumer behaviour overnight. 2. Influencer and Celebrity Relations:TimbitsThis is where ABMC genuinely stands out. The agency’s influencer division has tripled in size in recent years to meet growing client demand, according to The PR Net. Hundreds of influencers and talent visit the agency’s showroom office every year, creating organic, authentic brand discovery that feels genuinely different from transactional influencer marketing. Furthermore, the agency has an entire celebrity and talent division with a specific focus on entertainment sponsorships. Partnerships like Justin Bieber’s  campaign for Tim Hortons, Kraft Mac and Cheese’s Van Leeuwen Ice Cream collaboration, and Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP’s “popcorn diamond ring” stunt, all creative work that ABMC helped develop, generated billions of combined impressions and earned Effies and Cannes Lion recognition. 3. Product Placement and Events: ABMC has specialised in creative product placement and industry events since its founding. Its showroom office, complete with a hair and makeup salon and floor-to-ceiling brand displays, functions as a curated discovery environment for media and talent year-round. 4. Social Media Activation: The agency integrates social media strategy across platforms, including expertise in TikTok Live Shopping, Instagram Checkout, and YouTube Shorts, ,  knowledge that goes beyond surface-level social media management. 5. Multicultural Programming: ABMC has a dedicated Hispanic division and a local team in Miami, making it one of the few independent lifestyle agencies with genuine multicultural communications capabilities built into its structure, not bolted on as an afterthought. 6. Crisis Management: The agency added a formal crisis management practice in response to client demand. While this is not its core identity, the capability exists for brands that face reputational challenges within the lifestyle and consumer space.   The Brands That Trust Alison Brod PR One of the clearest signals of any PR agency’s credibility is its client roster. At ABMC, the names speak for themselves. Beauty and Skincare: L’Oréal Paris and ten L’Oreal brands, Charlotte Tilbury, Dyson, Lancôme, Bliss, Peter Thomas Roth, Mario Badescu, SkinCeuticals, Kerastase, and Caudalie, among others. Fashion: Old Navy, Polo Ralph Lauren fragrances, Spanx, Haviana’s, and more. Food and Beverage: Panera, Popeyes, Burger King, Kraft Heinz, Tim Hortons, Evian, Coors, Aviation Gin (Ryan Reynolds), SodaStream, Salt & Straw, and Stonyfield. Hospitality and Lifestyle: Resorts World, IHG Hotels, Yelp, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Notable campaign highlights: Helped launch Sephora boutiques at Kohl’s, a large-scale retail marketing rollout Executed the Frida Mom campaign featuring the first Sports Illustrated Swim model with a C-section scar, generating enormous cultural conversation Helped Naomi Watts launch the Stripes menopause beauty collection Supported JVN Haircare by Jonathan Van Ness These are not just brand name drops. They represent a consistent track record of executing high-visibility campaigns across multiple sectors simultaneously.   Read Also: Ketchum PR Agency: Is This Omnicom Firm Worth It?   What Alison Brod PR Does Well and Where It Falls Short Every honest review must address both sides. Here’s what you need to know. What ABMC Does Well Influencer and celebrity access is genuinely unmatched at the independent agency level in NYC lifestyle PR. The showroom model creates authentic, relationship-based brand discovery. Creative campaign thinking is strong. The Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP diamond ring, the Velveeta-scented nail polish, the Bieber TimBits campaign, these are ideas that earned cultural attention, not just coverage. Long-standing client relationships signal real delivery. Brands like L’Oréal, Charlotte Tilbury, and Coors don’t stay with an agency for years without seeing results. Multicultural

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    MSL vs Hanover Communications: Healthcare vs Financial PR Battle

    You’ve been tasked with finding the right PR agency. Your shortlist has two names on it, MSL vs Hanover Communications. Both are respected and MSL vs Hanover Communications serve serious clients. But they are built for very different briefs. That’s the decision you’re facing, and it’s not a small one. Choose the wrong agency, and you’ll spend months trying to make a relationship work that was never the right fit to begin with. Choose the right one, and you gain a communications partner who genuinely understands your sector, your audiences, and what it takes to move the needle. So let’s break down the MSL vs Hanover Communications comparison in plain language. No jargon or filler. Just what you actually need to know.   MSL: The Publicis-Backed Healthcare and Consumer Influence Powerhouse MSL, formerly Manning Selvage & Lee, is one of the flagship PR agencies within Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest communications holding companies. With over 2,000 professionals across more than 100 offices in 40 countries, MSL has built one of the most recognizable reputations in healthcare and consumer communications. According to MM+M’s Agency 100 report, MSL’s healthcare revenue in North America grew 11% from 2022 to 2023, reaching an estimated $19.3 million. That growth continued in 2024, climbing a further 9% to an estimated $21 million. Those aren’t vanity figures. They reflect a consistent demand from clients like Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Invisalign, and GSK who keep growing their accounts with the agency. Additionally, PRovoke Media named MSL one of its 2025 Global Agencies of the Year, a distinction MSL has earned repeatedly, alongside being named Best Midsized Agency to Work For for four consecutive years.   What Makes MSL Different MSL describes itself as an “influence engine for brands, companies and leaders.” That’s more than marketing language. The agency has built a proprietary approach called Fluency for influencer marketing, a CultureIQ tool for algorithmic trend tracking, and Message ShAIping, an AI-powered tool for narrative testing. Furthermore, MSL’s healthcare practice is anchored by a team dedicated to executive thought leadership, patient advocacy, and regulatory communications. The 2024 focus, according to U.S. CEO Diana Littman, was on using earned media as an upstream driver of business decisions, not just communications outputs. Key MSL facts at a glance: Parent company: Publicis Groupe Staff: 2,000+ globally Primary strengths: Healthcare PR, consumer communications, influencer marketing Notable clients: Pfizer, Eli Lilly, GSK, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, The Home Depot 2024 awards: PRovoke Global Agency of the Year 2025, Best Midsized Agency to Work For (4 years running) Hanover Communications: The UK’s Independent Financial and Policy PR Leader Hanover Communications takes a different path entirely. Founded in London in 1998 by Charles Lewington, formerly press secretary to Prime Minister John Major, Hanover built its reputation around one thing; Understanding how power works. That background shapes everything the agency does, from financial services PR to public affairs and regulatory navigation. Hanover is now part of AVENIR GLOBAL, a Montreal-based communications group. However, it operates with full independence and retains its specialist identity. Collectively, AVENIR GLOBAL ranks among the top 15 largest communication firms in the world. The agency has 163 full-time employees across Europe, serves clients including Goldman Sachs, Airbus, Microsoft, Lilly, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, and Takeda. They posted revenues of £19 million in 2018 with consistent 25% top-line growth in the years leading to its acquisition.   What Makes Hanover Different Hanover’s strength is at the intersection of financial services, public affairs, and regulatory communications. Its “Rewire” diagnostic tool helps leaders turn reputational vulnerabilities into strategic opportunities. It is a valuable asset for financial services firms navigating regulatory change, investor scrutiny, or government policy shifts. Conversely, Hanover also maintains a growing healthcare practice, specifically focused on NHS policy, pharma access, and patient advocacy within the UK health system. The appointment of Professor Sir Stephen Powis, former National Medical Director of NHS England, as a senior advisor signals how seriously Hanover takes this vertical. The agency describes itself as serving “enterprises, institutions, and individuals”, and that breadth reflects a firm that moves comfortably between corporate boardrooms, Westminster, and Brussels.   Key Hanover facts at a glance: Parent company: AVENIR GLOBAL (part of top 15 global comms groups) Staff: 163+ across Europe Primary strengths: Financial services PR, public affairs, regulatory communications Notable clients: Goldman Sachs, Airbus, Microsoft, Lilly, Novartis, Roche Founded: 1998, London MSL vs Hanover Communications: A Direct Comparison Here is where things get genuinely useful. MSL vs Hanover Communications are excellent. But they serve different needs, different geographies, and different decision-makers. Factor MSL Hanover Communications Parent company Publicis Groupe AVENIR GLOBAL Primary strength Healthcare PR, consumer influence Financial services, public affairs Geography Global (40 countries) Europe & Middle East (primarily UK) Healthcare focus Deep — pharma, biotech, patient advocacy Growing — NHS, pharma access Financial PR Limited Core specialty AI/Tech tools Yes — CultureIQ, Fluency, Message ShAIping Yes — Rewire diagnostic Best for Pharma, consumer health, FMCG brands Financial services, regulated industries, policy Holding company Yes (Publicis) Yes (AVENIR GLOBAL) The core difference is clear. MSL is a better fit if your priority is healthcare communications, consumer influence, or integrated global campaigns. Hanover, conversely, is the stronger choice if you need deep financial services expertise, UK regulatory navigation, or public affairs counsel at a senior level. Read Also:Guaranteed PR Agencies Compared: Honest Truth About Real Results    MSL vs Hanover Communications: Which Agency Is Right for You? This depends entirely on what you actually need, not what sounds impressive in a pitch meeting. Choose MSL if: You’re a pharmaceutical or biotech company needing US or global healthcare PR Your brand requires consumer marketing and influencer-led campaigns at scale You want AI-powered insight tools embedded in your communications strategy You need a large global network coordinating multi-market campaigns simultaneously Choose Hanover Communications if: You operate in UK financial services and need regulatory or policy navigation Your business is navigating a complex government affairs challenge in the UK or EU You’re a pharma or medtech company

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    Touchdown PR for Startups: Austin SaaS Agency Analysis

    For many B2B tech startups, great products die in obscurity, not because they lack value, but because they lack visibility. That’s the gap that Touchdown PR startups positioning aims to fill. You’ve built a SaaS product your team is genuinely proud of. But no one outside your immediate network has heard of it. Sound familiar? Founded in 2006 in the UK by CEO James Carter, Touchdown PR has spent nearly two decades building a reputation as a results-focused communications agency for enterprise technology companies. Today, it operates offices in Austin, Texas, Basingstoke UK, Paris, Munich, Amsterdam — and maintains teams in Australia and Singapore. But the real question you’re asking is this: can Touchdown PR actually move the needle for your startup? Let’s find out. Who Is Touchdown PR? Touchdown PR is an award-winning international B2B tech PR agency. Its Austin, Texas office, led by Global Executive VP Emily Gallagher, has over 20 years of PR experience serving technology companies across the US and internationally. The agency’s works exclusively with enterprise technology brands. Specifically, it specializes in cybersecurity, data protection, data management, storage, SaaS, and AI. This specialization is a critical differentiator. Rather than spreading thin across industries, Touchdown has built deep media relationships, analyst contacts, and editorial expertise within the B2B tech space. Additionally, in December 2024, the agency brought on a senior leader with 25 years of B2B tech PR experience. Someone who has worked with startups, emerging growth companies, and Fortune 1000 firms across AI, cybersecurity, IT services, and SaaS.   Key Facts at a Glance Founded: 2006 (UK), Austin office added later CEO: James Carter Global EVP (Austin): Emily Gallagher Offices: Texas USA, UK (London & Basingstoke), France, Germany, Netherlands Remote teams: Australia, Singapore Focus: B2B technology, cybersecurity, SaaS, data, AI, enterprise IT Agency type: Independent, specialist B2B tech PR Core Services: What Touchdown PR Offers Startups Touchdown PR is not a generalist shop. Its entire service model is built around helping B2B tech companies communicate their innovations to the right audiences. 1. Media Relations This is Touchdown’s foundation. The agency has built strong editorial relationships with publications including Business Journal, TechTarget, and MediaPost. For SaaS startups, getting into the right B2B trade press is often more valuable than chasing consumer headlines. 2. Thought Leadership Programs Touchdown positions founders and executives as credible voices in their sectors. This involves byline placements, contributed articles, speaking pitch support, and analyst briefings. 3. Content Creation and Press Releases The agency creates press materials, technical white papers, and campaign content designed to break through a crowded news cycle — particularly relevant in sectors like cybersecurity where noise is constant. 4. Award Entry Programs Touchdown has a decade-long track record of winning industry awards for its clients. In the B2B sector, awards provide credibility with enterprise buyers who need third-party validation before purchasing. 5. International PR Campaigns Because of its multi-office footprint, Touchdown can coordinate campaigns across the US, UK, and Europe simultaneously. This is especially useful for SaaS companies scaling internationally from an Austin or US-based HQ. 6. Analyst Relations Relationships with industry analysts — Gartner, Forrester, IDC — are essential for B2B tech. Touchdown’s team facilitates analyst briefings that influence buyer decisions in enterprise sales cycles. Does Touchdown PR Deliver for SaaS Brands? Here is where Touchdown PR’s credibility becomes concrete. In 2020, Touchdown PR worked with Exabeam,  a leading security analytics and automation company, on its annual Cybersecurity Professionals Salary, Skills and Stress Report. The challenge was significant: how do you get a research report noticed during a year when COVID-19 dominated every news cycle? Touchdown’s answer was a focused press outreach and data-driven storytelling strategy. The campaign reached Exabeam’s customers, prospects, and the broader cybersecurity industry with relevant, timely insights. Touchdown and Exabeam were recognized with the Best PR/Marketing Campaign of 2020 award by the Tech Ascension Awards. Emily Gallagher, EVP at Touchdown PR, noted that the 2020 environment required unprecedented creativity, because more companies than ever were relying on research to break through the competitive news cycle. Consequently, this case study reveals something important about how Touchdown approaches startup PR. They don’t just pitch stories. They build research-backed narratives that give journalists and analysts a reason to cover a brand when competing for attention is hardest. That’s a meaningful strategic distinction, particularly for SaaS startups that often struggle to generate coverage without a major funding announcement or product launch.   Read Also: Ketchum PR Agency: Is This Omnicom Firm Worth It?     Touchdown PR vs. Other Austin SaaS PR Agencies Austin has no shortage of B2B tech PR firms. So why consider Touchdown over local alternatives? Factor Touchdown PR Typical Austin Boutique Agency Global offices Yes (US, UK, EU, APAC) Rarely B2B tech specialization Yes, exclusive focus Often mixed with consumer Analyst relations Yes Varies Startup experience Yes, from seed to Fortune 1000 Often startup-only Award entry programs Yes, 10+ years experience Rare International campaign coordination Yes Limited Furthermore, agencies like Treble PR and INK Communications Co. serve the Austin B2B tech space with strong reputations. However, neither offers Touchdown’s combination of transatlantic reach, cybersecurity depth, and dedicated analyst relations work. For SaaS startups planning to expand into European markets, that international infrastructure is not a nice-to-have, it is a genuine competitive advantage. What Clients and Employees Say About Touchdown PR No honest review skips this section. So let’s look at the full picture. On the positive side, Glassdoor reviewers from the Austin office highlight: A results-first culture that develops strong PR professionals A high-quality US team with genuine expertise Hybrid working flexibility A transatlantic exchange program for US and UK staff Generous PTO and a genuine investment in culture On the critical side, some UK-based Glassdoor reviews raise more serious concerns. Several reviewers describe what they call management favoritism and a high-pressure work environment in the UK offices. One review noted that the agency can feel like a “burnout agency” for high performers. This is an important distinction: the UK management issues appear more

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    Ketchum PR Agency: Is This Omnicom Firm Worth It?

    You’re a founder or marketing director. You’ve heard the name Ketchum more times than you can count. But you still can’t answer one simple question,  is the Ketchum PR agency actually worth the investment for your business? That’s a fair question, and the answer, honestly, depends on what stage you’re at. Ketchum PR agency is one of the oldest and most decorated PR firms on the planet. Founded in 1923 by George Ketchum in Pittsburgh, it has grown into a global communications powerhouse. Today, it operates in over 70 countries with more than 130 offices worldwide. But size doesn’t always mean fit. So let’s break this down properly. Who Is Ketchum PR Agency? Ketchum is a full-service global communications consultancy. It is headquartered in New York City and has been part of the Omnicom Group since 1996, one of the world’s largest advertising and communications holding companies. The agency serves clients across consumer goods, healthcare, food and beverage, corporate, and technology sectors. Over its 100-year history, it has built one of the most recognizable reputations in public relations. Additionally, Ketchum PR agency has transformed from a traditional PR firm into a consultancy-first model, a pivot it made formally in 2018. That shift changed how the agency frames its work: starting with the business problem first, not the press release.   Key Facts at a Glance Founded: 1923 HQ: New York City, USA Parent Company: Omnicom Group Global Offices: 130+ across 70+ countries Team Size: Approximately 2,500 employees Industry Awards: Named Large Agency of the Year at the 2023 North America SABRE Awards (PRovoke Media) Cannes Lions: 136 total accolades Ketchum PR Agency Core Services Ketchum is not a one-trick agency. Its service menu is broad. However, it is particularly strong in a handful of specialty areas. 1. Integrated Strategic Communications Ketchum builds multi-channel communications campaigns. These combine earned media, paid strategy, digital content, and social amplification into a single narrative. 2. Consumer and Food PR This is arguably Ketchum’s deepest specialty. With over 60 years of experience in food and foodservice PR, the agency brings unmatched insight into reaching consumers, foodservice buyers, and influencers. Clients like Nestlé, General Mills, and Wendy’s have benefited from this expertise. 3. Healthcare Communications Ketchum’s healthcare practice handles pharma brands, medical devices, and health advocacy campaigns. It combines regulatory awareness with creative storytelling. 4. Crisis and Reputation Management When things go wrong, Ketchum PR agency has a structured crisis response team. The agency has handled high-profile reputation challenges across multiple industries. 5. Data and Analytics Ketchum uses proprietary tools to measure campaign impact. Its team was recognized by PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25 list for advancing data-driven PR. This is particularly useful for clients who need to prove ROI to internal stakeholders. 6. Social and Digital PR Influencer partnerships, social strategy, and content creation are integrated into most campaign packages, not bolted on as an afterthought.   Read Also: 360PR+ Agency: Unstoppable SaaS Brand PR Awareness     Notable Campaigns: Does Ketchum Deliver Results?   Wendy’s Breakfast Launch: Ketchum helped Wendy’s launch its first-ever breakfast menu using a bold social stunt involving a competitor’s former chef. The campaign generated billions of media impressions and directly contributed to measurable sales growth. Gillette’s “New Routine” Campaign: During COVID-19, Ketchum PR agency developed grooming tutorials for Gillette, giving quarantined consumers at-home guidance when barbershops closed. The campaign built brand salience during a period when most advertisers went quiet. Mastercard #AcceptanceMatters: Ketchum won the PRWeek Award for Best Consumer Launch with this campaign. It demonstrated Ketchum’s ability to connect brand purpose with emotional storytelling. Consequently, Ketchum retained 97% of its top 50 North American clients in 2022, with 35 of those expanding accounts year over year.   Ketchum and Omnicom: What Does That Mean for You? Being part of Omnicom is both a strength and a complication. On the positive side, Ketchum PR agency gains access to Omnicom’s vast network, data infrastructure, global talent, and integrated media capabilities. If you need to run a coordinated campaign across 15 markets simultaneously, that holding company infrastructure matters enormously. However, there are real concerns worth flagging. In Q3 2025, Omnicom PR, which includes Ketchum,  reported a 7.5% year-over-year revenue decline, dropping to $377.2 million (PRWeek). That followed what PRWeek described as “a difficult 2024.” Meanwhile, Omnicom completed its $9 billion acquisition of IPG in late 2025, adding agencies like Weber Shandwick and Golin to the same umbrella. The restructuring led to layoffs across OPR agencies, including Ketchum. Multiple Glassdoor reviewers noted that “Omnicom has gutted Ketchum and its culture,” with some senior employees flagging that administrative financial tasks now consume up to 30% of billable staff time. Furthermore, some current employees noted that Ketchum PR agency” can’t shake its old-school PR reputation,” which makes winning new, exciting clients harder. That cultural stagnation has real implications for clients who want fresh creative thinking. Bottom line: Omnicom’s scale is an asset for global execution. But the holding company pressure can water down the boutique agency energy that many founders want. Who Is KetchumKetchum PR agency Best For? Not every business is a Ketchum client in the making. Based on their track record, Ketchum PR agency is a strong fit for: Established consumer brands running multi-market campaigns that require local adaptation Fortune 500 companies with complex stakeholder communication needs Food and beverage brands that need deep industry access and influencer relationships Healthcare organizations requiring both regulatory sensitivity and creative storytelling Corporations managing reputation crises that need an experienced, well-resourced response team Conversely, Ketchum PR agency is not a great fit if you are: A seed-stage or early startup with a limited PR budget A niche B2B tech company needing hyper-specialized sector knowledge A brand that wants senior-level attention without being passed to junior account staff A business that wants guaranteed placements rather than earned media strategy Ketchum PR Agency Pricing and What to Expect Ketchum PR agency does not publish its pricing publicly, which is standard for agencies at this tier. However, based on industry benchmarks,

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    Lansons vs Teneo: Integrated vs CEO Advisory Showdown

    Choosing between Lansons vs Teneo is not like choosing between two flavors of the same thing. These two agencies occupy very different positions in the UK communications landscape, and understanding that difference could save you a lot of time, money, and frustration. Lansons is the integrated comms specialist that grew from a financial services stronghold into a broader reputation management firm. Teneo is the global CEO advisory machine that works at the intersection of strategic communications, financial transactions, and high-stakes corporate counsel. Both Lansons vs Teneo are well-regarded, the and both command serious fees. But they serve fundamentally different needs. So, the Lansons vs Teneo showdown begins here. Let’s get into it.   Lansons: The Integrated UK Comms Agency With a Record-Breaking 2024 Lansons has been a fixture in the UK communications market since 1989, when co-founders Tony Langham and Clare Parsons launched the firm in London. Over 35 years, it has built a reputation for corporate, financial, public affairs, crisis management, and sustainability communications. In 2023, the agency was acquired by Team Farner, a Swiss-headquartered communications group backed by Waterland Private Equity, operating across Germany, France, Spain, restructuring Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium. Lansons now serves as Team Farner’s UK flagship, operating as Lansons | Team Farner. And 2024 was their best year yet. According to PRovoke Media, Lansons delivered record-breaking financial performance in 2024, growing UK fee income by 16% to £13.3 million, with a 93% client retention rate. More than 70% of retainer clients have stayed for over three years. That’s a remarkable loyalty signal in an industry where switching agencies is common. Additionally, Lansons coined the term “specialist situations” in 2024, a new category of advisory work for scenarios that aren’t full crises but require complex legal, operational, and regulatory expertise. Lansons Key Facts Founded: 1989, London Current structure: Lansons | Team Farner (acquired 2023) Team Farner annual volume: ~$125 million 2024 UK fee income: £13.3 million (+16% year on year) Client retention: 93% Primary strengths: Integrated comms, financial services, public affairs, crisis, sustainability Notable clients: Invesco, Legal & General, Openreach, The National Lottery, Sky Bet   What Lansons Does Well Lansons doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. Its work sits at the crossroads of reputation, regulation, and narrative. That’s a tight, coherent proposition — and it shows in the quality of its client relationships. Corporate and Financial Communications: This is Lansons’ original home. The agency built its identity advising financial services firms on investor-facing communications, regulatory reputation, and stakeholder engagement. Invesco and Legal & General are not exactly low-profile clients. Public Affairs: Lansons has a credible public affairs capability that connects communications strategy with policy intelligence. In a post-Brexit UK regulatory environment, this matters considerably to financial and corporate clients managing government exposure. Crisis and Specialist Situations: The “specialist situations” concept is genuinely useful. It fills a gap between everyday reputation management and full crisis response, covering situations where legal, regulatory, and communications counsel must work together under pressure. Sustainability Communications: The agency has invested in this area, notably bringing in an external science advisor for climate campaigns. Its work on The National Lottery’s ‘It’s a Game Changer’ campaign shows an agency that can operate beyond pure financial communications when the brief demands it.   Teneo: The Global CEO Advisory Firm Playing in a Different League If Lansons is a precision instrument for UK integrated communications, Teneo is a full-spectrum advisory machine. Founded in 2011 by Declan Kelly, Paul Keary, and Doug Band, Teneo started as a strategic communications firm and has grown into one of the most formidable advisory organizations in the world. As of 2025, it operates in more than 40 offices globally, employs over 1,800 professionals, and carries a valuation of approximately $2.3 billion, backed by CVC Capital Partners. Its clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100. But here’s what makes Teneo genuinely unusual: it does not just do PR. Teneo’s services span strategic communications, investor relations, financial transactions and restructuring, management consulting, physical and cyber risk, organizational design, board and executive search, geopolitics and government affairs, and ESG. Correspondingly, it positions itself not as a PR agency, but as the global CEO advisory firm. That positioning is deliberate. And for the right client, it’s extremely valuable. Teneo Key Facts Founded: 2011, New York Valuation (2025): ~$2.3 billion Staff: 1,800+ across 40+ offices globally Majority owner: CVC Capital Partners Chairwoman: Ursula Burns | CEO: Paul Keary Primary strengths: CEO advisory, M&A communications, investor relations, restructuring, political risk UK expansion: Acquired Blue Rubicon (2015), StockWell, Pendomer Communications, Tulchan (2023) Notable advisors: Former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore, former U.S. DNI Stacey Dixon, former CENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie   What Teneo Is Well Known For Teneo’s advisory model is built around one central idea: that CEOs facing complex, high-stakes situations need counsel that operates across disciplines simultaneously, not separate agencies managing separate workstreams. CEO and Executive Communications: This is the firm’s core identity. Teneo works directly with chief executives on their personal communications, leadership visibility, and strategic positioning. Few agencies operate at this level with this level of integration. M&A and Financial Communications: Teneo’s acquisition of Tulchan in 2023 significantly expanded its M&A advisory capabilities in the UK and Asia Pacific. The firm advises on some of the most complex cross-border transactions in the market. Restructuring Communications: Teneo’s financial advisory division , with 600 employees dedicated to ., makes it genuinely distinct. No other communications firm offers this level of financial advisory depth alongside its PR work. Political Risk Advisory: The recent additions of former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore, former U.S. DNI Stacey Dixon, and former CENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie to its Global Political Risk Advisory team make Teneo’s geopolitical capabilities essentially unmatched in the agency world.   Read Also: MSL vs Hanover Communications: Healthcare vs Financial PR Battle   Lansons vs Teneo: A Direct Comparison Factor Lansons Teneo   Founded 1989 2011   Structure Independent (Team Farner backed) Global advisory firm (CVC backed)  

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    Guaranteed PR Agencies Compared: Honest Truth About Real Results

    Guaranteed PR agencies have grown so rapidly. They offer something the traditional model has never been willing to put in writing. A specific publication, a specific outcome, and a refund if they fail to deliver. According to a January 2026 analysis by AuthorityTech, 65 percent of client-side marketers now expect PR agency compensation to be directly tied to measurable results. Let’s say you have decided that press coverage is the next step for your brand. You want to appear in Forbes, Business Insider, or Bloomberg. But after one conversation with a traditional PR agency, you realize the problem is that most of them charge $5,000 to $20,000 per month on a retainer and cannot promise you a single article in return. Yet only 19 % of agencies currently offer genuine guaranteed placements. That gap is enormous. The demand is real and brands want accountability. They want to know that investing $3,000 or $15,000 in a PR placement will result in an actual article going live in an actual publication, not months of outreach activity with nothing to show for it. This guide compares the leading guaranteed PR agencies in 2026. It covers what each one promises, which publications they access, what their refund terms actually say, and which type of brand each agency serves best. You will find the information you need to make a confident, informed decision, without the sales pressure.     What Guaranteed PR Agencies Promise Before comparing guaranteed PR agencies side by side, it helps us to understand exactly what a guarantee means in the context of public relations. Not all guarantees are created equal, and the differences matter significantly when you are investing thousands of dollars. The strongest guarantee in the industry is a named publication agreed in writing before work begins, combined with a full money-back refund if the placement fails to appear. A weaker version of the guarantee is a results-based model where the agency promises a certain number of placements over a given period but does not name the specific publications in advance. You might be promised five placements per month without knowing whether those placements will be in Forbes or in a low-authority industry blog. The weakest version, which is unfortunately still common, is a performance-based framing with no written refund policy. An agency might describe itself as results-driven or outcome-focused without putting any specific commitment on paper. That is marketing language, not a guarantee. When evaluating guaranteed PR agencies, always ask three questions: The answers to those three questions separate genuine guaranteed PR agencies from agencies that use the word guarantee as a selling point without backing it up contractually.   Read Also:MP&F vs Moore Inc: Which Regional PR Agency Truly Delivers?   Why the Guaranteed PR Model Is Growing So Fast The traditional PR retainer model charged brands $10,000 to $50,000 per month without guaranteeing a single outcome. This frustration created the opening for guaranteed PR agencies to emerge and grow. Furthermore, according to AuthorityTech’s January 2026 analysis, 85 percent of marketing leaders plan to increase investment in outcome-based PR initiatives. The guaranteed PR model is not a trend. It is a structural shift in how brands expect PR accountability to work.   The Top Guaranteed PR Agencies Compared Here is an honest, side-by-side comparison of the leading guaranteed PR agencies operating in 2026. Each entry is based on publicly available information, published client testimonials, and independently reported results. Guaranteed PR Agencies: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026) Agency Guarantee Type Key Publications Money-Back Policy Best For 9-Figure Media Guaranteed placement per package, 100% refund if not published Forbes, Bloomberg, Business Insider, USA Today, Entrepreneur, CNBC, etc. Full refund if placement fails (per Terms & Conditions) Startups, founders, SMBs seeking tier-one credibility fast Baden Bower Named publication agreed in writing before work starts Forbes, Vogue, Business Insider, Fast Company, Rolling Stone, 700+ outlets Full contractual money-back refund Brands needing rapid credibility, visa applicants, and global reach Otter PR Results-based guarantees; no long-term commitments Forbes, Entrepreneur, NY Times, Oprah, CNBC, PopSugar Performance guarantees without long-term contracts Thought leaders, coaches, executives, Fortune 50 brands Public Haus Agency Pay-on-results: only pay when coverage is live Major US media outlets (undisclosed full list) No charge until placement is delivered Brands wanting zero upfront financial risk Spynn.co Placement-guaranteed editorial PR model Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Inc. Results-based pricing structure Startups and scale-ups needing rapid tier-one coverage Sources: AuthorityTech Jan 2026, Baden Bower client data (Grit Daily Oct 2025, Daily Caller Nov 2025), Otter PR case studies, 9-Figure Media pricing and terms, Public Haus Agency website, Prezly agency guide Feb 2026   9-Figure Media: Guaranteed Placements for Startups and Growing Brands 9-Figure Media is a US-based PR agency headquartered in Laguna Beach, California, with over 11 years of experience in marketing and public relations. The agency built its model specifically around guaranteed media placements, targeting startups, founders, and established businesses that need credibility without months of uncertain outreach. Their guarantee is clear; if they fail to publish your story for any reason, you receive a prompt refund as outlined in their terms and conditions. Packages range from the Basic tier at $1,000 to $10,000 per month to the Premium tier at $50,000 and above, with each level specifying the number of guaranteed publications per month. Publications accessible through 9-Figure Media include Forbes, Business Insider, Bloomberg, USA Today, Inc Magazine, Entrepreneur, Nasdaq, Mashable, Cosmopolitan, Yahoo Finance, and over 35 other major outlets. Their strongest use case is for brands that want to display the logos of major publications prominently on their website, in investor decks, or in sales materials to accelerate trust and conversion. Client testimonials on their website and third-party review platforms cite genuine coverage in MarketWatch, NBC News, and national newspapers, as well as measurable conversion rate improvements and investor interest generated by the media visibility. For startups that specifically want Forbes, Business Insider, or Entrepreneur coverage and prefer an agency that focuses exclusively on the startup and scale-up segment, 9-Figure Media is worth evaluating alongside

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    Sabi: How Startup Fundraising PR Doubled Investor Success

    Your startup fundraising PR strategy is often the difference between getting a meeting with investors and being ignored. That is the hard truth most founders learn too late. In 2023, Sabi, an African-based B2B ecommerce startup, faced exactly that problem. The company had a strong business model and growing user numbers. But without media coverage, international investors did not know who they were. Sabi partnered with 9-Figure Media, a Laguna Beach-based strategic public relations agency, to fix that gap. The results were striking. Sabi doubled its fundraising success and eventually raised $38 million in a Series B round at a $300 million valuation, according to TechCrunch. This case study is for you if you are a founder trying to understand how startup fundraising PR works. Not the theory. The real actions, the real placements, and the real outcomes. We pull from Sabi’s publicly documented experience and 9-Figure Media’s own published case study to give you an honest look at what happened and what you can learn from it. Your startup fundraising PR strategy is often the difference between getting a meeting with investors and being ignored. Sabi and the Startup Fundraising PR Challenge in Africa Before you can understand why startup fundraising PR mattered for Sabi, you need to understand the environment the company was operating in. The African startup ecosystem was under serious pressure. According to BusinessDay NG, venture capital inflows into African startups dropped by 87% as of August 2024. That figure alone tells you how competitive and difficult the funding environment has become. Sabi was not a weak company. Its platform connected informal retailers across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa with suppliers through a streamlined digital infrastructure. The company had over 175,000 merchants on its network by late 2021, according to co-founders Anu Adesola and Ademola Adesina in an interview with TechCrunch. It was also recording a $200 million annualized gross merchandise value run rate at the time. However, despite those numbers, Sabi struggled to build the kind of media presence that international investors expected to see before committing capital. That is a common problem for African startups. The business works and the numbers are real. But if major global media outlets have not covered the company, investors often view it as a credibility gap.   The Strategic Public Relations Problem Sabi Had to Solve According to 9-Figure Media’s published case study on the Sabi partnership, the startup faced three specific startup fundraising PR challenges:   Limited media visibility: Sabi had not yet captured the attention of top-tier global media despite strong growth in operational metrics.   Investor confidence gap: Without prominent media coverage, potential investors lacked the third-party validation they needed to justify committing capital.   Crowded market differentiation: The Nigerian and broader African tech space had many startups competing for the same small pool of international investment dollars. Furthermore, the informal trade sector Sabi was serving, which makes up most of Africa’s $1 trillion retail market, was unfamiliar territory for many international investors. They needed a clear, credible narrative to understand why Sabi was different, why the opportunity was real, and why the timing was right. Consequently, strategic public relations became the most direct path to solving all three problems at once. Earned media coverage in respected publications would build credibility, differentiate Sabi from competitors, and give investors the third-party validation they needed to move forward.   How 9-Figure Media Built the Startup Fundraising PR Strategy 9-Figure Media is a strategic public relations agency founded in 2014 in Laguna Beach, California. The firm specializes in helping startups and growing businesses secure guaranteed media placements in major publications, including Forbes, Bloomberg, Business Insider, TechCrunch, and Entrepreneur. According to its Clutch.co profile, the agency charges a minimum project size of $1,000 and an average hourly rate of $300. For Sabi, the agency built a three-part startup fundraising PR approach centered on narrative crafting, media placement, and executive thought leadership. Each element targeted a specific part of the investor credibility problem the company faced.   Part 1: Crafting a Powerful Fundraising Narrative The first step in any effective strategic public relations campaign for fundraising is building a story that investors can connect with. For Sabi, 9-Figure Media centered the narrative on the company’s mission to empower informal traders across Africa. The informal sector in Africa is not a niche market. It represents most of the economic activity across most African countries. By framing Sabi as a scalable infrastructure layer for this enormous, underserved market, the agency gave investors a concrete reason to pay attention. The narrative was not just about what Sabi did. It was about why the African supply chain needed exactly what Sabi was building. This narrative approach is central to how startup fundraising PR works when done well. It gives journalists a story worth writing. It gives investors a vision worth backing. And it gives the startup a consistent message that travels across multiple media placements without losing its punch. Sabi’s PR coverage specifically highlighted its growth metrics, user acquisition rates, revenue increases, and platform’s ability to transform informal trade across Africa. These were data points wrapped in a clear story about market impact.   Strategic PR Results the Campaign Delivered According to BusinessDay NG’s reporting on the campaign, the startup fundraising PR effort for Sabi produced measurable outcomes across three areas: media visibility, investor confidence, and business outcomes.   Media Placements That Moved Investor Confidence The agency secured features for Sabi in a set of top-tier publications that specifically reached the international investor community the startup needed to impress. These included coverage in Bloomberg, Benzinga, MSN News, and other prominent business and technology media outlets. For international investors unfamiliar with the Nigerian startup ecosystem, a Bloomberg placement is a particularly powerful credential. Bloomberg reaches the institutional investors, venture capital partners, and financial decision-makers who have the capital Sabi was trying to attract. Appearing in Bloomberg signaled that Sabi was not just a local success story, it was a globally relevant business worth watching.

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