Firebrand is eight! Woo…and phew!
Despite the AI boom, it’s been another tough year for startups in terms of revenue growth and fundraising. We’ve all seen and experienced the impact on marketing budgets, teams and programs. But it seems now we’re on the cusp of the uptick – fundraising in Q2 was up, active early-stage VC investors are picking up the pace, the Fed cut the interest rates by half a point. So perhaps we’re through the worst?
From where we sit, we certainly have more funding announcements in-flight than we’ve had for the past 18 months. It will take some time for that to feed into new marketing roles and campaigns, but it’s coming. And we are ready!
Despite the adverse economic weather, we have had a successful year. Our team has delivered some killer campaigns that have been nominated for awards. We’ve rolled out new services, such as Account-based PR, which aligns PR with the ABM programs. We’ve become a Microsoft Bing Ads and a Leadfeeder partner. We’ve launched guides to Data Storytelling and PR Measurement and conducted our first survey of over 250 startup marketers, which we compiled into our inaugural Startup Marketing Outlook. We published over 30 new blog posts embracing our ‘sage’ brand archetype to help others with their programs. Our podcast, FiredUp!, has celebrated its first year and has new swag in the Store. We’ve won new clients, run training, had promotions, celebrated the wins, and above all, enjoyed working alongside our clients who are making an impact with their technology.
Last year, I said this downturn was a bit like a Recession Boa – a slow squeeze. It’s been tough wrestling with it all year – at times, you feel like you are running in place. But downturns teach you to constantly enhance your proposition, to demonstrate value in all you do, and to keep learning and trying new things. It’s uncomfortable at times – but that’s how you improve. And there are plenty of high points with new clients, launches and announcements. That’s why we are ready for the upswing – lean, efficient, fast-paced, creative, measurable, innovative. We’re fully stocked with adjectives.
So here’s to getting to the 8th-anniversary milestone. My thanks to the entire Firebrand team, our wonderful clients, and our fantastic partners – you are the best!
About the Author
Morgan McLintic is the founder and CEO of startup marketing agency,Firebrand. Firebrand works with early- and late-stage startups to help raise awareness and drive demand. It does this through integrated programs involving PR, content marketing and digital marketing. The firm was recently recognized as the Boutique Agency of the Year by the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) and awarded Gold Winner of theB2B PR Campaign of the Year by The Drum. Firebrand works with startups in sectors spanning fintech, cybersecurity, AI/ML and infrastructure such as Emburse, Human Interest, Planful, Weaviate and Yubico.
Prior to Firebrand, Morgan was the founder in the US of LEWIS, a global communications firm, which grew to $35m in revenues and 200+ staff in the US, and $75m with 600 staff globally. He has over 30 years' tech experience, both consumer and B2B. At LEWIS, Morgan lead the acquisition of three companies - Page One which was integrated and rebranded as LEWIS Pulse; the Davies Murphy Group, a 65-person PR and marketing consultancy; and Piston, a 50-person full-service digital advertising agency.
Morgan has been a speaker at events for AlwaysOn, Holmes Report, MIT / Stanford VLABs, OnHollywood, PR News, PRSA, Social Media Club, Social Media World Forum, Venture Capital and Private Equity Group, and WITI. PRWEEK named him to its Global PR Powerbook in 2015 and 2016.
Morgan is the host of weekly startup marketing podcast, FiredUp!
