Latest news with #PR
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Y Combinator, a16z experts hold invite-only summit for founders
On August 9, the people who previously ran startup incubator Y Combinator's events and PR, along with a former Andreessen Horowitz social media manager, are holding a small, invitation-only event, TechCrunch has learned. The To Do List Summit will cap off at 80 early-stage founders and will teach them how to work with the press and run their own social media, the organizers promise. The fee for the event is $600. YC laid off most of the folks putting on this event between a small layoff about a year ago and a larger one in 2023. These layoffs were surprising at the time because Y Combinator's events have always been highly popular and were a major force in making San Francisco the hub for the burgeoning AI startup community. (Of course, the center of that universe is YC-affiliated OpenAI, also headquartered in San Francisco and run by former YC president Sam Altman). The people putting on this event are doing it because they are appalled at how often early-stage startups are led to believe they must pay tens of thousands of dollars to hire PR and social media agencies, one person involved told TechCrunch. Still, in the wake of startups that routinely go viral, like Cluely, founders feel pressured to do the same. It's also true that a single social media post can make an early-stage startup go viral these days. The founders of app vibe coding startup Rork were almost broke when a viral tweet led them to raise $2.8 million and nab a spot in a16z's Speedrun program. Defense tech startup Theseus landed a contract with the U.S. Special Forces, $4.3 million in funding, and a spot in YC from a viral X post. If the folks behind the new event could help YC founders, they believe they can help founders who aren't part of the famed program — and on the cheap without giving up equity. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


TechCrunch
13 hours ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Former Y Combinator, a16z experts hold invite-only summit for founders
On August 9, the people who previously ran startup incubator Y Combinator's events and PR, along with a former Andreessen Horowitz social media manager, are holding a small, invitation-only event, TechCrunch has learned. The To Do List Summit will cap off at 80 early-stage founders and will teach them how to work with the press and run their own social media, the organizers promise. The fee for the event is $600. YC laid off most of the folks putting on this event between a small layoff about a year ago and a larger one in 2023. These layoffs were surprising at the time because Y Combinator's events have always been highly popular and were a major force in making San Francisco the hub for the burgeoning AI startup community. (Of course, the center of that universe is YC-affiliated OpenAI, also headquartered in San Francisco and run by former YC president Sam Altman). The people putting on this event are doing it because they are appalled at how often early-stage startups are led to believe they must pay tens of thousands of dollars to hire PR and social media agencies, one person involved told TechCrunch. Still, in the wake of startups that routinely go viral, like Cluely, founders feel pressured to do the same. It's also true that a single social media post can make an early-stage startup go viral these days. The founders of app vibe coding startup Rork were almost broke when a viral tweet led them to raise $2.8 million and nab a spot in a16z's Speedrun program. Defense tech startup Theseus landed a contract with the U.S. Special Forces, $4.3 million in funding, and a spot in YC from a viral X post. If the folks behind the new event could help YC founders, they believe they can help founders who aren't part of the famed program — and on the cheap without giving up equity.


Forbes
19 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
5 Essential Strategies To Build Value With Your Story
Jenna Guarneri, Founder and CEO of JMG Public Relations, an award-winning PR firm for innovators and their mission-driven startup companies. Today's world is more media-saturated than it has ever been. With the myriad of products, services and information that the average consumer is presented with, brands find themselves competing not just for product quality but for the attention of the audience. The traditional paradigm, where brands focused their energy on product development and then built their marketing strategy as an afterthought, can now be considered a thing of the past. Today, it's not just the product that is the product. It's people's perception of the product that is the product. One major component that drives perception is public relations (PR). Contrary to popular belief, PR is not just about getting media coverage, issuing press releases or managing crises. Modern PR is much more proactive and creative. It is an engine for shaping the narrative around your brand. If your business is not putting PR strategy at the center of your product promotion efforts, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to highlight your true value in this media-saturated market. Here's why PR is your most valuable asset and why the smartest businesses are taking their narratives more seriously than ever. Why PR Is Now A Strategic Investment In the past, businesses invested more of their time and money into research and development (R&D). Product quality is the core of gaining a consumer's trust and loyalty. However, the truth that the most successful businesses have unlocked is that even the best product in the world can be ignored if not presented to the world in a strategic, attractive way. Beyond product quality, you need a loud, clear and consistent brand voice. It's PR that helps your company build that voice, attracting the attention of your target audience. With excellent PR, you establish social and emotional relevance, allowing you to position yourself front and center in important conversations within your industry. This directly leads to tangible results: networking with investors, attracting top talent and growing your customer base. 5 Ways To Build PR Like A Product Paying the same attention to PR as R&D will get you further ahead. More than organizing one-off events or interviews, PR should be seen as a long-term asset that develops as your brand grows. Here are five things you can do to improve your PR. 1. Think about PR from the get-go. Startups can get so caught up in product development that they put off their PR, and that is a missed opportunity. A PR strategy should not be activated during product launch or right after a public crisis. If your product development plans are carefully laid out from inception to execution, your communications strategy should be treated with the same amount of care. From the start, you should have clear answers to questions such as "What does your company stand for?" or "How do you want people to react when they hear about you?" Getting your message sorted from the start helps you ensure that your narrative is clear and consistent, so that future customers or investors are interested when they do a deep dive into your brand history. 2. Think of PR as ongoing narrative development. Your communications strategy should be proactive, not reactive. When you have a consistent message, brand values, mission and advocacy, you're able to participate in the cultural moment more effectively. If your industry faces a crisis, create articles or speeches with confidence that will allow you to participate as a thought leader in the discussion. Once you launch a new product, you're able to present the product as a point of growth, allowing both customers and investors to cultivate a deeper trust in you after seeing steady development. 3. Adopt a people-focused approach. Brands that appear to be "business as usual" all the time often fall short in creating meaningful connections with their audience. At the end of the day, people want to connect with people. It cannot be denied or ignored that emotional connections are at the core of human interaction, whether that be in the boardroom or on the sidewalk. That's why it's important for a brand to make leadership visible. Founders, executives and key team members should represent the brand personally. Everything from podcast interviews to written online content allows them to build those emotional connections. 4. Rely on data at all times. For a growing business, the effectiveness of a PR strategy can be measured through data research, surveys, social media metrics, website visits and more. In the same way that you pay close attention to product usage after your product is launched, you should also keep a close eye on how your message is being received by the public. From there, you're able to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. 5. Invest in a thorough, targeted communications strategy. Even though your brand narrative is not a tangible asset, it's an asset nonetheless, and it is arguably just as important as the product itself. If your brand narrative is what draws eyes to your business in the first place, then it is worth investing time, energy and resources in. Dedicate time for planning, work with the right PR experts, and gather the technology needed to make good PR happen. Most importantly, devote time to internal training, briefing key brand representatives and team members on your strategies. This will allow you to delegate brand stewardship from top-level executives to team members in all departments. Perception Drives Value While great products often speak for themselves, they need to be given the opportunity to take the stage. It's your brand narrative that creates those opportunities. In a market that overwhelms people with information, brands that stand out are those that are smart, prepared, intentional and human-centered with their approach to communications. They understand that PR truly is the new product. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Muck Rack Study: Generative AI Relies Heavily on Earned Media and Journalism
More than 95% of Cited Links in AI Responses Come from Non-Paid Sources, Of Which 85% are Earned Media; 27% are Journalistic Miami, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a groundbreaking study analyzing millions of AI-cited links from hundreds of thousands of prompts, Muck Rack, the leading provider of the award-winning PR software, has revealed how generative AI prioritizes which sources to cite, and why this shift is critical for communicators looking to shape brand perception, influence buyers, and lead in the future of marketing. The research, titled 'What is AI Reading?' set out to answer a fundamental question: Does media coverage materially affect what AI says? The answer, unequivocally, is yes. 'This study is an eye-opener for PR and communications teams aiming to understand how media mentions influence AI-generated content,' said Greg Galant, cofounder and CEO of Muck Rack. 'Until now, we've had theories and early signals—but now we've got solid evidence that earned media directly influences AI-generated output. This changes the stakes for PR. The way businesses are represented by AI now ties directly to the media coverage they earn.' Study Findings Citations actively influence AI output: Controlled prompt testing showed that when citations are enabled, LLM (large language models like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google Gemini) outputs meaningfully change. Earned media doesn't just show up—it affects what is said. This proves that cited content is not decorative. It materially grounds outputs in real-time, dynamic inputs. Earned media is a foundational input: More than 95% of citations come from unpaid media sources and 85% of those come from earned sources, while another quarter are from journalistic sources. Half of total AI responses included at least one earned media citation. These figures highlight the critical role that earned media strategies play in GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) Determines Whether a Brand is CitedThree key variables drive citation inclusion: Recency: Particularly in OpenAI models, fresh content–especially on topical, opinion-based, or event-driven queries–is prioritized. Query framing: Advice-seeking or opinion-based prompts trigger more dynamic citations, while encyclopedic queries tend to fall back on older, static training data. Outlet authority: High-domain authority outlets such as Reuters, Axios, Financial Times, AP, TIME, Forbes, NPR and CNN are frequently cited—but even among these, performance varies. In addition, more niche sites, such as Good Housekeeping and Investopedia, are also frequently referenced. Strategic Implications for Communications Teams Communications strategies must evolve to account for this new layer of visibility: New KPIs: Success now includes whether your brand is cited in AI responses—not just traditional media placements or backlinks. New tactics: PR teams should prioritize high-authority outlets and align publishing cadence with the recency preferences of generative AI models. As AI increasingly mediates how information is accessed and consumed, it's clear that PR strategy must expand beyond human readers to include algorithmic interpreters. The study confirms what many in the industry have suspected: the stories you place—and where and when you place them—can now shape AI understanding at added, 'Generative AI is reshaping itself at an unprecedented pace, with new patterns emerging constantly, so the brands that thrive will be those that proactively track their position and adapt in real time to stay ahead.' To access the full report, visit MethodologyThis study explores how modern generative AI systems cite sources in response to realistic user prompts. The objective was to quantify and characterize the nature of AI-generated citations across different use cases and vendor models. This includes their frequency, source types, and the prominence of earned and owned media. To accomplish this, Generative Pulse and Muck Rack constructed a large, diverse prompt set and executed it across several web-enabled language models, followed by systematic analysis of the responses and the cited links. The prompts span all industries and subject matter. Sometimes they specifically mention companies by name, sometimes they do not. The following specific models were used to execute hundreds of thousands of queries, during the month of July 2025:Chat GPT (both '4o' and '4o-mini'), Gemini ('flash' and 'pro') and Claude ('sonnet' and 'haiku'). # # # About Generative Pulse Generative Pulse is a tool that helps PR and communications teams monitor and define how their brands appear in AI-generated search results. Built around the concept of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), it reveals which journalists, outlets, and sources influence large language models like ChatGPT—so teams can shape brand visibility in the age of AI. Integrated into Muck Rack's PR platform and backed by a $180M Series A financing, Generative Pulse gives comms professionals the insights and tools to lead in an AI-native search landscape. Learn more at About Muck Rack Muck Rack is the leading provider of award-winning PR software built for how brands and agencies work. The only public relations software powered by intuitive technology and the most accurate, comprehensive data provided by journalists themselves, Muck Rack combines media database, monitoring and reporting for seamless team collaboration, pitching and measurement. Purpose-built for communications and public relations, Muck Rack helps more than 5,000 companies worldwide analyze and report on the impact of their media relations. Thousands of journalists use Muck Rack's free tools to showcase their portfolios, analyze news about any topic and measure the impact of their stories. Learn more at We're Hiring! CONTACT: Linda Zebian VP of Communications, Muck Rack linda@


The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Legendary singer, 85, cancels gigs hours before he's due onstage
A LEGENDARY singer has cancelled a gig just hours before he was due on stage - leaving fans gutted. Music fans in Bremen, Germany were gearing up for the gig this evening, ready to sing their hearts out with their idol. Advertisement 2 Sir Tom Jones has been forced to cancel a gig in Germany Credit: PR Supplied 2 The 85-year-old said he has contracted an upper respiratory infection Credit: Getty But sadly, Sir Tom Jones has announced that he has had to cancel his performance. In a statement, the 85-year-old said: "Hello to all the fans in Bremen. Unfortunately, I must postpone my show this evening, as I've contracted an upper respiratory infection that needs treatment and rest. "I know this is really disappointing and will cause inconvenience to you all, and I'm very sorry about that. "But the show will now go ahead on Monday 28th July, so I look forward to seeing you then. All tickets will remain valid for the re-scheduled date. Advertisement Read More on Tom Jones "Until then, thank you for your understanding. Love, Tom." Disappointed fans immediately wished the singer - whose hits include Delilah and Sexbomb - a speedy recovery. One wrote on X: "I always keep u n my prayers. 24/7 so now u have 2 listen 2 ur body and just slooow down…much [love heart emoji] 4 u Sir. Another added: "Take care of yourself get well soon." Advertisement Most read in Music A third tweeted: "Get well very soon Sir Tom xx." Sir Tom is currently touring Europe, and is next due on stage on Saturday in Dundee before returning to Bremen on July 28. Sir Tom Jones vs. Engelbert Humperdinck: The 40-Year Feud He will then be back in the UK for three performances before heading over to Spain for further dates. Last year, the singer spoke about how grateful he is to still be performing after more than 60 years in the music business. Advertisement He told The Mirror: "Well, thank God my voice is still working. I am 83 years old. I mean I can't believe it, but it is true. "When I am singing I am like, 'How the hell is this coming out of me?' Honestly. "If the voice was not there I am sure I would be going 'Urgh, I don't want to do so many shows' but I love it as the voice is still working!'