There’s a concept in network theory called Preferential Attachment. When one node gets ahead, it attracts more resources, and more attention. It's a snowball effect. PR for your company works the same way. Once you become the biggest node, more resources flow to you. Today, NFX General Partner James Currier sits down with Vijay Chattha, founder of PR agency VSC to reveal how to build that attention flywheel. VSC has worked with NFX unicorn companies like Mammoth Biosciences, Poshmark, and Outdoorsy, to build attention and momentum from the ground up. (0:00) Introduction and Background of Vijay Chattha (5:06) Vijay Chattha's Approach to PR and Criteria for Representing Companies (10:41) The Importance of a Company's Storytelling Runway and Marketability (19:26) Authenticity, Audience Understanding, and the Role of Journalists in Today's Media Landscape (25:28) Setting Goals and Audience Targeting for Seed Stage Startups (30:40) Case Study: Successful PR Strategy with Mammoth Biosciences and the Concept of Preferred Attachment in PR (37:44) The Role of Funding in Storytelling and Strategies for Early-Stage Startups (43:19) Risks and Rewards of Founders Using Social Media and Choosing the Right Medium for Communication (47:10) Common Mistakes Founders Make in Communication and the Shifting Landscape of Media Coverage (51:15) When to Hire a PR Firm and the Role of Investors in PR and Storytelling

Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha interviewed Vijay Chattha, a startup comms leader who has spent over 20 years in the storytelling world. Chattha is the CEO and founder of VSC and founding partner of VSC Ventures, a $21 million investment vehicle to back startups. Here's what we spoke about: How his clients are reacting to the downturn in terms of their openness, vulnerability, and general hunger to tell their story The difference between pitching a VC and pitching a journalist (lol) How startup's goal with media coverage can sometimes inherently clash with the media's goal to cover a startup (and why we disagree on the importance of disclosing valuations) The best framework for the different types of media form out there, from Twitter to billboards to earned media. How the #MeToo movement impacted leadership styles and changed accountability for the better If we're getting closer to a more transparent ecosystem, or more opaque one And of course, we end with a lightning round - including but not limited to Chattha's biggest pet peeve with journalists. Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto, a show that interviews founders, a show that details how our stories come together and more! Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.