Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet

Episode 282 of the We Live to Build podcast, hosted by Sean Weisbrot, titled "Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet" was published on December 23, 2025 and runs 31 minutes.

December 23, 2025 ·31m · We Live to Build

Summary

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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: [email protected]🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - How AI Changed the PR Industry Forever01:32 - Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet02:52 - The Plague of "AI Slop" in Pitch Emails05:31 - Using AI for Media Training & Research08:38 - Why We Stopped Hiring Junior Employees10:48 - 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 Amazon21:58 - Trust & Brand Equity: Why Product Isn't Everything26:17 - The Translation Fail That Hurt a Game Launch28:58 - The #1 Rule for Agency Success: Run by NumbersLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description