ABOVE THE CODE™




        Tel Aviv
     July 11, 2012
Hacking Your Startup’s PR and
 Communications Initiatives
         To Get You
    Above The Code™
OUR STARTUP IS NOT READY
            FOR THIS...

• What    is a PR person doing in the room?

• We    gotta focus on getting to - and through Demo Day

•I   work a lot and want to have a life

•Idon’t have time for this... thinking about PR could wind up being a
 distraction
ABOUT


• 30   years - yup, I am an old school PR guy :) -

• San Antonio    & Tel Aviv

• Works    with Jeff Pulver on State of NOW -#140Conf

• Involved   with Israel’s traditional tech sector for the last 18 years
Life in three labs....



                               Tel Aviv


                                     San Antonio




NYC / London / Tel Aviv,
         etc.
GETTING LUCKY...


• Belief   set about getting lucky with....

  • PR

  • Social

  • Content
ALIGNING BUSINESS GOALS
  WITH COMMUNICATIONS

• can be applied as an element of your R&D and development
 strategies

• help   you accelerate the potential for success

• prepare
       your company for gaining coverage before, during and after
 Demo Day

• prepare   your company for being discovered

• be   ready when you are found by the media
2 PARTS TO PRESENTATION



• Principles   and belief sets for the long run

• Practical
        and actionable steps to help you be ready for DEMO Day in
 September and beyond...
THE MEDIA IS
 YOUR FIRST
  MARKET
to share and tell your story
The Media is Your Customer....

              bloggers



you            analysts                         &      the
                                      the
                                                    consumer
                                   enterprise


               media
GOOD NEWS :)

• Very   low cost / no cost to create a start-up

• Big   Idea

• Core    team

• Strong   will

• Servers      / hosting

• Coding
BAD NEWS :(


• Someone       in New York, Austin, Chicago, SFO, Singapore, Haifa, Mumbai
    is thinking the same thing as you are :(

•   Hard to have a defensible position

• Hard   to protect your IP
QUALITIES THEN...


• Strong   Intellectual Property

• Defensible    technology

• Strategic   investors like Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Motorola

• VC   funded
QUALITIES NOW

• No   Intellectual property

• Nothing     really defensible

• Strategic
          investors & partners - Friends, Family, Angels, Microsoft,
 Google, Yahoo, AT&T, etc.

• Up   until recently....No funding, or angel, micro, friends & family funding

• Easy
     to run a virtual company... no real address, presence from a co-
 working space and an IP phone number
THE WORLD AS WE KNEW IT

• Hardware

• Software                   Go to School
                            Army Service
• Telecom
                          Year Off for Travel
• Security             Go to College / University
                             Summer Job
• Bio   Sciences             Go to Work
• Medical    Devices
THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT

• Hardware                High School
                            Start-Up
• Software                    Army
                            Start-Up
• Telecom              College / University
                            Start-Up
• Security                 Travel Year
                              Work
• Bio   Sciences             Startup
                         Quit Day Job
• Medical    Devices
                             Startup
THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT


• The   next generation of multi-national startups are being formed

• Israel   is a center of gravity in the world of startups

• Startups are starting up with foreign co-founders who live in different
 parts of the world

• The   consumerization of technology is one that is global
Outbound / Inbound Strategy


Outreach to media

                        pick me



              Being found by the media
   find
   me
PR in the past.....

                                bloggers
company         agency


                                 media

company

                                analysts
The more that software
eats the world, the role
   of story telling and
connecting the dots for
your global customer /
 partner base becomes
 increasingly important
WHAT I BELIEVE

• 12   Fundamental Belief Sets

 • Not     everything I do always works

 •I    do this for me... I do this for clients.

 • There’s    always exceptions to the rules

 • Discussion     is based on a combination of experience and principles
From >


         Code
To >   Above
        The
       Code
Alan’s
12 Fundamental Belief Sets
#1 - STOP PITCHING

• Start   story telling

• Yourpitch helps clarify / define
 what you do, but really sucks as
 a way to get coverage
#2 - YOU’RE REALLY A MEDIA
        COMPANY THAT....
•Creates  and makes media   • Pinterest

so you’ll be discovered,    • Instagram
found and shared
                            • Cinchcast
 • YouTube
                            • SoundCloud
 • Twitter
                            • Google   Plus
 • Facebook
                            • LinkedIn
 • Blog
#3 UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEING...


• Discovered   - random    being discovered and being
                          found increases your chances
• Found   - search                  of sharing
#4 IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU


• How do you help others do
 something in a compelling way
 you could not do before
#5 BE HUMAN

• Get  off your perch and write
 like you would speak

• Conversewith your potential
 market wherever they are
#6 LIKE MINDED PEOPLE TEND
    TO FIND EACH OTHER
• Givethem a place to connect
 and share their story

• Consider  aligning with other
 startups like yours to create a
 multinational startup
#7 HAVE A MISSION

• We’re   out to make __________ better

• We   want to help _____ do _______

• We   want to help others the opportunity to ________

• We’re   connecting _______ with ______ so they can ________

• We   make it easier to ____________

• Have   your voice be heard about _________
#8 THINK LIKE A SOCIAL
              DEMOGRAPHER

• The potential to collect “Big Data” means you have something of
 incredible value to a potential partner, investor, or brand

• Gives   you a better chance of a lift when an exit may present itself

• Bigdata lends itself to infographics, which contributes to your thought
 leadership and a great way to get media coverage
spark -
      what if?
                      “some
                    funding.”..


                 technology platform



                      story...             narrative to
real value
                                           engagement


                      BIG DATA


                 Lift towards an exit...           (c) Alan Weinkrantz
#9 PUT IT OUT THERE


• You   never know who is going to find your content and engage

•   You don’t have to have high quality production values to do this

•   Hardware is cheap. Tools are free. Tons of creatives to help you
#10 DRAW, PAINT,
       PHOTOGRAPH, ROCK OUT
• Do something or learn to do
  something creative other than
  working on your startup

• Itwill re-wire your brain in an
  unexpected way




                                    my drums circa 1968
#11 IT’S NOT ALWAYS
               REPLICABLE
• Justbecause one strategy or
 tactic worked for one company
 does not mean it will work for
 another
#12 GET LUCKY

• Go    wide

• Get   lucky

• Runwith it when you strike a
 chord
THE MIND OF A DEVELOPER


• Focus   on...

 • functionality

 • application

 • utilitarian    value
HACK YOUR OWN PR!

• Youhave to “know” the
 journalist

• Much   of this you can do yourself

• “Paper  trails” on the Internet
 exist if you search correctly
PLAN....

• Postand write relevant content   • Read  and comment on relevant
 so you can be a source to media    articles without being self
 on your field of expertise          promotional.

• Develop & publish infographics   • Askend user / beta customers if
 you can share                      you can refer to them to media

• Follow a wish list of 20         • Follow   editorial calendars
 journalists you think should
 cover you
NOW....

• Makea wish list of where you      • track
                                          competitors or
 belong                              companies in your periphery
                                     on news.google.com to see
 • business/ tech / bloggers who     who covers and writes about
  are your fans back home            them

 • media   appropriate to your
  space

 • analysts   appropriate to your
  space
PLAN FOR PR

• Ifyou follow some of these basic   • Get  everyone on your team to
  principles, you’ll be further       make this part of their regimen
  ahead.                              as it will make them aware of
                                      the opportunities that await you
• This process takes at least six     when you are ready.
  months to one year to really get
  on a journalist’s radar and be     • Bring
                                           up PR in your team
  sticky - sometimes you can get      meetings in a “what if...” scenario.
  lucky
          Be Ready For PR So You Can Succeed
HELP!

• Mydoor is “open” via email and
 Skype

• Happy to spend one hour with
 each company after July 15 to
 help you think this through.

• Email   me your wish list of media
Read. Re-Read.

     http://tech.li/2012/03/integrating-pr-into-your-product/


http://gigaom.com/2012/03/03/how-startups-can-hack-the-pr-machine/


      http://appsmarketing.mobi/app-marketing-sxsw-2012/




                            read again...:)
Free tools to get you into the groove....



                                 http://www.alanweinkrantz.com/startup-pr-
  Who did I pitch today?               strategies-who-did-i-pitch-today



                                   http://www.gartner.com/technology/about/
Gartner Briefings request form                vendor_briefings.jsp



    Editorial calendars                 http://www.alanweinkrantz.com/
                                       technology-public-relations-2011-
                                                  editorial-ca
Methodically.
                                     Reach.
                                      Out.




http://www.alanweinkrantz.com/startup-pr-strategies-
               who-did-i-pitch-today
ABOVE THE CODE™




    please share:)
thank you

          alan@weinkrantz.com
        www.alanweinkrantz.com
Twitter. Facebook. LinkedIn. Instagram.
                                 all photos by me


    © Alan Weinkrantz And Company 2012         Above The Code ™

Above The Code - IDC Elevator - Tel Aviv Israel

  • 1.
    ABOVE THE CODE™ Tel Aviv July 11, 2012
  • 2.
    Hacking Your Startup’sPR and Communications Initiatives To Get You Above The Code™
  • 3.
    OUR STARTUP ISNOT READY FOR THIS... • What is a PR person doing in the room? • We gotta focus on getting to - and through Demo Day •I work a lot and want to have a life •Idon’t have time for this... thinking about PR could wind up being a distraction
  • 4.
    ABOUT • 30 years - yup, I am an old school PR guy :) - • San Antonio & Tel Aviv • Works with Jeff Pulver on State of NOW -#140Conf • Involved with Israel’s traditional tech sector for the last 18 years
  • 5.
    Life in threelabs.... Tel Aviv San Antonio NYC / London / Tel Aviv, etc.
  • 6.
    GETTING LUCKY... • Belief set about getting lucky with.... • PR • Social • Content
  • 7.
    ALIGNING BUSINESS GOALS WITH COMMUNICATIONS • can be applied as an element of your R&D and development strategies • help you accelerate the potential for success • prepare your company for gaining coverage before, during and after Demo Day • prepare your company for being discovered • be ready when you are found by the media
  • 8.
    2 PARTS TOPRESENTATION • Principles and belief sets for the long run • Practical and actionable steps to help you be ready for DEMO Day in September and beyond...
  • 9.
    THE MEDIA IS YOUR FIRST MARKET to share and tell your story
  • 10.
    The Media isYour Customer.... bloggers you analysts & the the consumer enterprise media
  • 11.
    GOOD NEWS :) •Very low cost / no cost to create a start-up • Big Idea • Core team • Strong will • Servers / hosting • Coding
  • 12.
    BAD NEWS :( •Someone in New York, Austin, Chicago, SFO, Singapore, Haifa, Mumbai is thinking the same thing as you are :( • Hard to have a defensible position • Hard to protect your IP
  • 13.
    QUALITIES THEN... • Strong Intellectual Property • Defensible technology • Strategic investors like Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Motorola • VC funded
  • 14.
    QUALITIES NOW • No Intellectual property • Nothing really defensible • Strategic investors & partners - Friends, Family, Angels, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, AT&T, etc. • Up until recently....No funding, or angel, micro, friends & family funding • Easy to run a virtual company... no real address, presence from a co- working space and an IP phone number
  • 15.
    THE WORLD ASWE KNEW IT • Hardware • Software Go to School Army Service • Telecom Year Off for Travel • Security Go to College / University Summer Job • Bio Sciences Go to Work • Medical Devices
  • 16.
    THE WORLD ASWE KNOW IT • Hardware High School Start-Up • Software Army Start-Up • Telecom College / University Start-Up • Security Travel Year Work • Bio Sciences Startup Quit Day Job • Medical Devices Startup
  • 17.
    THE WORLD ASWE KNOW IT • The next generation of multi-national startups are being formed • Israel is a center of gravity in the world of startups • Startups are starting up with foreign co-founders who live in different parts of the world • The consumerization of technology is one that is global
  • 18.
    Outbound / InboundStrategy Outreach to media pick me Being found by the media find me
  • 19.
    PR in thepast..... bloggers company agency media company analysts
  • 20.
    The more thatsoftware eats the world, the role of story telling and connecting the dots for your global customer / partner base becomes increasingly important
  • 21.
    WHAT I BELIEVE •12 Fundamental Belief Sets • Not everything I do always works •I do this for me... I do this for clients. • There’s always exceptions to the rules • Discussion is based on a combination of experience and principles
  • 22.
    From > Code
  • 23.
    To > Above The Code
  • 24.
  • 25.
    #1 - STOPPITCHING • Start story telling • Yourpitch helps clarify / define what you do, but really sucks as a way to get coverage
  • 26.
    #2 - YOU’REREALLY A MEDIA COMPANY THAT.... •Creates and makes media • Pinterest so you’ll be discovered, • Instagram found and shared • Cinchcast • YouTube • SoundCloud • Twitter • Google Plus • Facebook • LinkedIn • Blog
  • 27.
    #3 UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCESBETWEEN BEING... • Discovered - random being discovered and being found increases your chances • Found - search of sharing
  • 28.
    #4 IT’S NOTABOUT YOU • How do you help others do something in a compelling way you could not do before
  • 29.
    #5 BE HUMAN •Get off your perch and write like you would speak • Conversewith your potential market wherever they are
  • 30.
    #6 LIKE MINDEDPEOPLE TEND TO FIND EACH OTHER • Givethem a place to connect and share their story • Consider aligning with other startups like yours to create a multinational startup
  • 31.
    #7 HAVE AMISSION • We’re out to make __________ better • We want to help _____ do _______ • We want to help others the opportunity to ________ • We’re connecting _______ with ______ so they can ________ • We make it easier to ____________ • Have your voice be heard about _________
  • 32.
    #8 THINK LIKEA SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHER • The potential to collect “Big Data” means you have something of incredible value to a potential partner, investor, or brand • Gives you a better chance of a lift when an exit may present itself • Bigdata lends itself to infographics, which contributes to your thought leadership and a great way to get media coverage
  • 33.
    spark - what if? “some funding.”.. technology platform story... narrative to real value engagement BIG DATA Lift towards an exit... (c) Alan Weinkrantz
  • 34.
    #9 PUT ITOUT THERE • You never know who is going to find your content and engage • You don’t have to have high quality production values to do this • Hardware is cheap. Tools are free. Tons of creatives to help you
  • 35.
    #10 DRAW, PAINT, PHOTOGRAPH, ROCK OUT • Do something or learn to do something creative other than working on your startup • Itwill re-wire your brain in an unexpected way my drums circa 1968
  • 36.
    #11 IT’S NOTALWAYS REPLICABLE • Justbecause one strategy or tactic worked for one company does not mean it will work for another
  • 37.
    #12 GET LUCKY •Go wide • Get lucky • Runwith it when you strike a chord
  • 38.
    THE MIND OFA DEVELOPER • Focus on... • functionality • application • utilitarian value
  • 39.
    HACK YOUR OWNPR! • Youhave to “know” the journalist • Much of this you can do yourself • “Paper trails” on the Internet exist if you search correctly
  • 40.
    PLAN.... • Postand writerelevant content • Read and comment on relevant so you can be a source to media articles without being self on your field of expertise promotional. • Develop & publish infographics • Askend user / beta customers if you can share you can refer to them to media • Follow a wish list of 20 • Follow editorial calendars journalists you think should cover you
  • 41.
    NOW.... • Makea wishlist of where you • track competitors or belong companies in your periphery on news.google.com to see • business/ tech / bloggers who who covers and writes about are your fans back home them • media appropriate to your space • analysts appropriate to your space
  • 42.
    PLAN FOR PR •Ifyou follow some of these basic • Get everyone on your team to principles, you’ll be further make this part of their regimen ahead. as it will make them aware of the opportunities that await you • This process takes at least six when you are ready. months to one year to really get on a journalist’s radar and be • Bring up PR in your team sticky - sometimes you can get meetings in a “what if...” scenario. lucky Be Ready For PR So You Can Succeed
  • 43.
    HELP! • Mydoor is“open” via email and Skype • Happy to spend one hour with each company after July 15 to help you think this through. • Email me your wish list of media
  • 44.
    Read. Re-Read. http://tech.li/2012/03/integrating-pr-into-your-product/ http://gigaom.com/2012/03/03/how-startups-can-hack-the-pr-machine/ http://appsmarketing.mobi/app-marketing-sxsw-2012/ read again...:)
  • 45.
    Free tools toget you into the groove.... http://www.alanweinkrantz.com/startup-pr- Who did I pitch today? strategies-who-did-i-pitch-today http://www.gartner.com/technology/about/ Gartner Briefings request form vendor_briefings.jsp Editorial calendars http://www.alanweinkrantz.com/ technology-public-relations-2011- editorial-ca
  • 46.
    Methodically. Reach. Out. http://www.alanweinkrantz.com/startup-pr-strategies- who-did-i-pitch-today
  • 47.
    ABOVE THE CODE™ please share:)
  • 48.
    thank you alan@weinkrantz.com www.alanweinkrantz.com Twitter. Facebook. LinkedIn. Instagram. all photos by me © Alan Weinkrantz And Company 2012 Above The Code ™