Eric Rafat - Community Builder, Startup Founder, and SEO consultant

Rethinking Startup Press: Why We need Better Coverage

Press for Early-stage startups

Getting press for an early-stage startup is an absolute must, but as many founders will tell you, the chances of getting covered are slim unless you’ve raised a big round. Press plays a key role in the growth of a startup, whether it’s for gaining more exposure, helping with recruitment, or providing a boost to SEO. Unfortunately, the current press landscape is dominated by fundraising news, layoffs, or random policy articles. When was the last time you read an article about an early-stage startup before it raised funds? We need a place on the internet to discover the next big thing before it becomes big! This is why we’re reshaping the current press landscape with FoundersPress:

1. Bootstrapping is becoming more mainstream.

Bootstrappers certainly need a channel to share their stories, but where can you find these stories? Platforms like X are a great starting point, but they can get noisy. This is why we’re developing FoundersPress to provide dedicated coverage of bootstrapping stories.

2. Early-stage stories go uncovered.

There’s not much coverage for early-stage startups out there. When you open mainstream channels, it’s hard to find an early-stage startup story that deserves the spotlight.

3. Storytelling at a global scale.

Local publications are a great starting point, but we need more storytelling on a global scale. Entrepreneurship can emerge from anywhere in the world, and platforms that focus on this will be the winners!

4. More authentic coverage.

We need more coverage that is raw and authentic. In mainstream channels, entrepreneurship is often glamorized, but the reality is that those successes aren’t overnight stories. It literally takes years of struggle and plenty of failure.

5. Press timing is important.

Founders have to plan months in advance regarding press timing. This is why we strive to bring more speed to coverage that deserves the spotlight.

What do you think of the current startup media landscape? How can we improve it?

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