Willett Public Relations

This week I had the pleasure of speaking to the Auxin Labs community of investors and VCs. I dove into the three ways VCs interact with PR and marketing:

1. PR is an essential tool in evaluating the growth potential 📈 of investment opportunities. Companies that are already putting efforts into PR and marketing demonstrate their understanding of the market and provide a leg up to drive greater visibility amongst competitors.

2. The most promising entrepreneurs will also evaluate VCs before agreeing to meet with them to determine whether the VC or investor has strong credibility in the industry and will be a compatible partner. Andreessen Horowitz saw PR and marketing as a strong strategic move that would help establish them as the VC to work with and directly appeal to their target audience. In three years, they raised $2.7B! The most successful VC firms partner with an agency to adopt an integrated and strategic PR program. VCs that dismiss the power of PR, risk competing solely on price, valuation, and terms.

3. Not only is it essential to leverage PR to help the VC firm stand out, but being able to offer these services can be a real game-changer in attracting deals and driving success for your portfolio companies. Tech and B2B PR require a deep and often technical understanding of the industry as well as the ability to effectively communicate information to stakeholders. Having this on hand at the VC is an asset to startups.

Moral of the story? Don’t dismiss PR and marketing as a critical strategy in identifying strong opportunities, building brand awareness and winning more deals, and, finally, propelling your portfolio companies forward.

Thank you to Katie Swanson and Auxin Labs for the chance to connect with great minds!

Wishing you a season filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments! May your holidays be merry and bright. Happy Holidays from all of us at Willett PR! 🎄✨