Why should most startups avoid hiring a PR agency until after their Series A? Jackson Wightman, founder of a tech PR firm, argues that early-stage companies often waste money on agencies before they are ready. In this interview, he breaks down the right time to invest in public relations and why the playing field has tilted against those who ignore AI. Jackson also reveals how AI has fundamentally changed the agency model—allowing him to grow 15-20% without hiring junior employees. He discusses the problem of "AI Slop" in media pitches, the terrifying reality of a "lost generation" of workers who can't get entry-level experience, and how Chinese manufacturers are aggressively taking over Amazon's "Buy Box" by bypassing traditional branding. Check out the company: https://properpropoganda.net

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrot

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com

🕒 CHAPTERS

00:00 - How AI Changed the PR Industry Forever

01:32 - Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet

02:52 - The Plague of "AI Slop" in Pitch Emails

05:31 - Using AI for Media Training & Research

08:38 - Why We Stopped Hiring Junior Employees

10:48 - Is the Career Ladder Broken? (The Junior Talent Crisis)

13:21 - The Future of Work: Scared to Have Kids?

17:45 - How Chinese Brands Are Dominating Amazon

21:58 - Trust & Brand Equity: Why Product Isn't Everything

26:17 - The Translation Fail That Hurt a Game Launch

28:58 - The #1 Rule for Agency Success: Run by Numbers

📈 WORK WITH ME

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate

▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai

🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFx

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

147 AUDIOBOOK/READALONG Pickman’s Model by H.P. Lovecraft