LaunchSquad

Last week, at Ultra Light Startups‘ January Entrepreneur’s Forum Managing Director Todd Barrish of LaunchSquad’s New York office, joined Rachel Honig of G.S. Schwartz & Co, Karl Schmieder of MessagingLab and Lloyd Trufelman of Trylon SMR for a panel about “PR, Branding and Buzz.”

Moderated by BizBriefs‘ John Adams, the panelists tackled strategies for startups that included what to look for when hiring an agency to DIY tips. Ultra light startups face the unique challenge of building themselves and their image from the ground up, which can make navigating public relations especially tricky. Graham Lawlor, Ultra Light Startup founder, noted that “PR clearly is something important to know about if you’re an ultra light startup” and just launching whether on your own or through an agency.

Barrish introduced LaunchSquad noting that “we make a living caring about your company,” emphasizing that public relations — whether for a young startup or a mature brand — is ultimately about creating a unique, intriguing story, understanding your business model and distributing your story in a targeted, strategic manner.

Offering advice to the entrepreneurs, Barrish noted the importance of creating a consistent, compelling story that can be carried across markets. “The first thing you can do as a small company is create that message and understand how you’re talking about yourself to your multiple audiences.”

The Ultra Light Startups’ Entrepreneurs Forum is a monthly meetup of about 100 entrepreneurs to participate in discussions of interest to individuals starting lightweight tech ventures. The meetings feature 60-second elevator pitch introductions from the attending entrepreneurs followed by pizza and networking and an interactive panel discussion.

Watch the panel in its entirety here: