For startups, securing investment can feel like reaching the summit of a treacherous mountain. Matteo Ferretti, CEO of PR agency Spynn, frequently reminds his clients, “The real journey begins after the check clears.”
Many founders celebrate funding rounds as victories, yet Ferretti maintains that capital merely fuels the engine. What happens next can determine whether a startup accelerates toward market leadership or stalls on the runway.
The Golden Announcement Opportunity
The first 48 hours after a funding announcement represent an important opportunity. According to Ferretti, this brief window offers leverage for shaping market perception.
“When investors commit millions to your vision, the market momentarily turns its collective gaze in your direction,” explains Ferretti. “That fleeting attention is worth more than the capital itself if you know how to harness it.”
According to Ferretti, this perspective challenges the common practice of issuing a standard press release and moving on. Ferretti advocates for an orchestrated media strategy that transforms a single funding announcement into a multi-week narrative about the company’s vision, leadership and market impact.
The value of the PR market is projected to reach $112.98 billion in 2025, reflecting the importance of maintaining a robust online presence in an era dominated by digital media and evolving consumer behaviors. Businesses increasingly recognize the need for sophisticated PR strategies to navigate this dynamic landscape effectively.
Beyond the Press Release
Traditional funding announcements typically follow a predictable template: Company X raises Y amount in Z round led by Notable Investor A. This may be functional, but the approach fails to capitalize on the true potential of the moment.
“A funding announcement should be the beginning of a conversation, not the entirety of it,” Ferretti insists. “The capital itself is rarely the most interesting part of the story.”
Spynn’s approach identifies narrative threads that extend beyond the transaction itself. Does the company solve a problem that resonates with broader societal concerns? Does the founder’s journey reflect universal themes of perseverance or innovation? Are there contrarian perspectives on industry trends that challenge conventional wisdom?
By extracting these elements, Ferretti shares that a single funding event can spawn multiple media opportunities across various platforms, each targeting different audience segments with tailored messaging. This method has the potential to transform what might have been a one-day news item into a sustained campaign that can build momentum over time.
The Strategic Media Placement
The importance of having a PR strategy for startups becomes most evident when examining the trajectory of market perception. Strategic media placement can compress the timeline from obscurity to industry leadership.
Consider recent funding news like Epicore Biosystems securing $6 million in funding in early May 2025. Rather than simply announcing the capital, companies can implement a strategic framework by first securing coverage in major publications, then placing technical articles in industry-specific outlets, and finally, making executive appearances on industry podcasts to discuss future innovations.
As Ferretti notes, “Effective PR is about coverage and creating narratives that resonate with audiences. Startups must highlight their unique value and demonstrate how they solve real-world problems.”
The Investor Relations Paradox
Post-funding PR involves a counterintuitive aspect regarding relationships with investors. Founders often assume their responsibility is to communicate shifts primarily toward their new stakeholders, but Ferretti argues the opposite is true.
“Your investors already believe in you. They’ve put their money behind that belief,” he notes. “The real work is convincing everyone else, which paradoxically creates the greatest return for those same investors.”
This perspective reframes public relations not as a vanity exercise but as a fiduciary responsibility. Feretti holds to the idea that strategic elevation of the company’s profile could increase the likelihood of successful future funding rounds at higher valuations, creating tangible returns for early investors.
The Talent Magnetism Effect
Another potential benefit of post-funding PR strategy Feretti highlights is talent acquisition. He explains that today’s hiring landscape gives companies an advantage in attracting exceptional candidates without solely relying on premium compensation packages.
“When a startup is regularly featured in respected publications, it creates an intangible aura of momentum,” Ferretti explains. “Top talent wants to be where things are happening, where history is being made.”
For early-stage companies operating with limited resources, this efficiency can make a difference.
The Long Game of Market Positioning
The immediate benefits of post-funding PR are substantial, but the long-term strategic advantages are also significant. Feretti discloses that consistently controlling the story around their category allows startups to effectively redefine market expectations to align with their strengths.
“The most valuable real estate is in the minds of your potential customers, partners, and acquirers,” Ferretti observes. “Stake your claim early and defend it relentlessly.”
It’s beneficial for startups to hire a PR team for startups. However, Ferretti believes that doing so immediately after funding can be even more impactful than those who delay.
The window for defining category leadership often narrows quickly. Companies that establish themselves as authoritative voices early in their industry’s evolution have an opportunity to maintain that position even as larger competitors enter the space.
Photo courtesy of Spynn
