We launched in 2013 with a simple goal: help startups navigate PR.
Many startups view public relations as too expensive or too difficult to take on. That may have been true when we started — so we set out to change it. We launched as a self-directed software platform to help startups build and manage their own PR (think MailChimp for PR), then evolved our services to create the best possible outcomes for our clients.
We were disappointed with the software’s success rate at launch. As we improved it, the gains never quite materialized — until we focused on doing more advising. The more we advised, the more successful the campaign. Today we’re a virtual PR agency built on a software backbone, and we license that software (PitchFriendly) to some of the world’s top PR firms.
“Public relations is not black magic. We’re great at what we do, and we’re willing to show you exactly how we do it.”
For startups, there’s no success without coverage. We’re singularly focused on getting coverage that directly impacts your business — whether the goal is customer acquisition, thought leadership, or fundraising.
We want your input, and we walk you through every step of the project and our progress. With our PitchFriendly software, you get full visibility into every outreach effort and the live status of your campaign.
Our clients have been featured in every major publication in the US — the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME — and earned guest columns in Inc., Huffington Post and VentureBeat.
What we stand for.
Be agile
We're a startup too. We know what it's like to have big changes week to week, so we build PR plans that adapt and pivot with you.
Be transparent
You should know what’s happening every step of the way — weekly meetings, activity grids, and client access to every single pitch.
Focus on results
The reason to do PR is to get coverage. We tell your story to the right reporter — no PowerPoint decks, no busywork "strategy sessions."
Iterate & build
Good results take time. We pursue a strategy that gets wins up front and builds on them, changing course fast when something isn’t working.
The people behind the pitches.
Joel Andren
A startup entrepreneur who has worked in PR in-house, agency-side, and as a client. Marketing lead and employee #4–6 at early-stage software companies, and co-founder of enterprise storage company Bitcasa. MA in Communication with a PR focus; started his career at the third-largest PR firm in Seattle.
Lauren Schiffman
A 20-year veteran of communications who has built and run PR programs across healthcare, human services, B2B and non-profit. Architect of multiple award-winning campaigns. BS from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College.
Paul Denya
A lifelong coder who built the platform that helps startups manage their PR. Previously employee #2 at HelloSign and built microsites at New York ad agencies. Guides PressFriendly’s technology vision from North Carolina.
Ready to get your startup in the press?
Tell us what you’re building. We’ll show you what coverage could look like — and how we’d get there.