How to Choose the Best PR Agency for Your Startup

Choosing the right PR agency can be a game-changer for your startup. Whether you're in fintech, AI, or another fast-moving tech sector, the right media coverage and thought leadership can open doors to funding, credibility, and growth. At Jaya Jaya Myra Productions, we know how vital it is to find a communications partner that understands your industry, aligns with your mission, and knows how to get results across traditional, digital, and AI-powered search platforms. Here’s how to make the smartest choice for your startup’s future.

1. Define Your Startup’s PR Goals

Before you start your search, get clear on what you want PR to accomplish. Becoming a thought leader in your industry will take time; requiring dedication and collaboration from you just as much as your PR team. You are making a solid commitment to cultivating a trustworthy reputation with your company and the public, so make sure you have a PR team that will ease that journey.

PR can help you build credibility, attract investors, drive SEO results, and position your executive team as trusted voices in the industry. But not all agencies offer the same services. Some excel in TV and radio booking. Others specialize in digital media placements or print publications. Others, like Jaya Jaya Myra Productions, offer full-spectrum support across media relations, award submissions, thought leadership content, and search-optimized visibility.

Knowing your goals,  as a start-up especially, makes it easier to find an agency with the right expertise—and helps you measure ROI effectively from the start.

2. Look for Industry-Specific Experience

Tech startups face a different set of challenges than consumer lifestyle brands. In fields like fintech and AI, the ability to tell a clear, compelling story about complex products or platforms is non-negotiable.

Seek out agencies with experience working in your vertical. They’ll know the media landscape, the right language to use, and the journalists and outlets who actually cover your space. At Jaya Jaya Myra Productions, we’ve worked across B2B and B2C tech sectors to secure meaningful coverage that drives both awareness and authority.

An agency with proven tech PR results understands how to translate complexity into credibility—and that’s what sets great startup storytelling apart.

3. Evaluate Their Media & Platform Reach

Ask potential agencies about their media relationships—and more importantly, their track record. Have they landed clients in national outlets? Do they secure features in niche trade publications? Can they book podcast interviews or TV segments?

Don’t be afraid to ask what kind of coverage you can reasonably expect each month. A good PR agency should offer transparency around deliverables, timelines, and typical media outcomes for companies at your stage.

And as digital discovery evolves, it’s not just about who reads what—it’s about how your brand shows up in search. That’s why we integrate search engine optimization and AI discoverability into every PR campaign. From Google and Bing to tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini, your story should surface in all the places your audience is looking.

4. Understand the Team and the Strategy

PR isn’t just about distribution—it’s about strategy. Will the agency work with you to craft your narrative? Will they elevate not just your company, but your leadership?

As an entrepreneur, it’s vital to know the people you work with. Ask who will be running your account day-to-day. Many agencies send their senior team to pitch but assign junior staff to do the work. At Jaya Jaya Myra Productions, our senior-level team is directly involved in shaping and executing each client’s strategy.

Also consider: Does the agency help develop internal content, like blogs and LinkedIn posts? Do they support long-term thought leadership campaigns, or are they only focused on reactive media opportunities? Look for a partner who understands how to grow your voice, not just your headlines.

5. Budget and Flexibility Matter

Startups often need a PR partner who can scale with them. Some months might require heavy outreach and media push, while others focus more on content development and SEO strategy.

Understand how the agency structures its pricing—retainer versus project-based—and make sure it aligns with your budget and capacity. The best agencies can offer flexibility, without compromising quality.

6. Red Flags to Avoid

A few signs that a PR agency might not be the right fit:

• Their deliverables are vague or generic.

• They don’t present a clear strategy—or only offer press release distribution without strategic messaging.

A trustworthy agency will be transparent, collaborative, and grounded in realistic expectations.

Conclusion

Choosing the best PR agency for your startup isn’t just about flashy headlines—it’s about finding a true strategic partner who understands your industry, your mission, and your growth goals. At Jaya jaya Myra Productions, we specialize in helping purpose-driven startups cut through the noise with powerful media coverage, SEO-optimized content, and thought leadership that drives results across both traditional and AI-powered platforms. With the right partner by your side, your brand’s story won’t just be heard—it will lead.