EPISODE · Feb 23, 2026 · 14 MIN
Launching a stealth company and training AI
from The Public Relations Podcast · host ThePublicRelationsPodcast
Launching a company from stealth sounds exciting. In reality, it’s usually messy, rushed, and full of competing voices.In this episode, Richard Midson is joined by Andrew Healey from Water & Wall (New York) to unpack a real fintech launch that had everything happening at once:a new company reveal, a multi-million dollar seed round, strategic partners, and multiple stakeholders who all needed sign-off.This isn’t theory or “best practice”. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how an agency actually pulled off a high-stakes launch in a tight window, over Christmas, with limited margin for error.They also get into how AI and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) are quietly changing media strategy, why some “low-status” sites now matter more than CMOs expect, and why embargo pitching is becoming less optional and more essential.If you work in an SME PR agency or in-house comms role and you’ve ever had to launch something fast, complex, and political, this episode is for you.Practical takeawaysHow to structure a launch when you have multiple announcements and can’t afford for one to bury the othersWhy longer embargo lead times are now helping reporters, not hurting coverageHow to think about stakeholders when there are investors, partners, and comms teams all in the mixWhat GEO actually changes about media targeting, and why some overlooked sites now influence AI search resultsGUESTAndrew Healy - Water and WallLOCATION: New York, USAWEB: waterandwall.comNEW TO PR?- Check out the new podcast 'Getting A Job In PR' - https://gettingajobinpr.comSUBSCRIBE- Video and Audio links here - https://thepublicrelationspodcast.com/listen/Or search for "The Public Relations Podcast" on all good podcast appsCONNECT WITH ME- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-midson/- Website - https://thepublicrelationspodcast.com/- 'Getting A Job In PR' - https://gettingajobinpr.comFUTURE GUESTS- Check out: https://thepublicrelationspodcast.com/be-a-guest/
What this episode covers
Launching a company from stealth sounds exciting. In reality, it’s usually messy, rushed, and full of competing voices.In this episode, Richard Midson is joined by Andrew Healey from Water & Wall (New York) to unpack a real fintech launch that had everything happening at once:a new company reveal, a multi-million dollar seed round, strategic partners, and multiple stakeholders who all needed sign-off.This isn’t theory or “best practice”. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how an agency actually pulled off a high-stakes launch in a tight window, over Christmas, with limited margin for error.They also get into how AI and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) are quietly changing media strategy, why some “low-status” sites now matter more than CMOs expect, and why embargo pitching is becoming less optional and more essential.If you work in an SME PR agency or in-house comms role and you’ve ever had to launch something fast, complex, and political, this episode is for you.Practical takeawaysHow to structure a launch when you have multiple announcements and can’t afford for one to bury the othersWhy longer embargo lead times are now helping reporters, not hurting coverageHow to think about stakeholders when there are investors, partners, and comms teams all in the mixWhat GEO actually changes about media targeting, and why some overlooked sites now influence AI search resultsGUESTAndrew Healy - Water and WallLOCATION: New York, USAWEB: waterandwall.comNEW TO PR?- Check out the new podcast 'Getting A Job In PR' - https://gettingajobinpr.comSUBSCRIBE- Video and Audio links here - https://thepublicrelationspodcast.com/listen/Or search for "The Public Relations Podcast" on all good podcast appsCONNECT WITH ME- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-midson/- Website - https://thepublicrelationspodcast.com/- 'Getting A Job In PR' - https://gettingajobinpr.comFUTURE GUESTS- Check out: https://thepublicrelationspodcast.com/be-a-guest/
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Launching a stealth company and training AI
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