
We Live to Build Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet
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
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