Most early tech startups either skip PR entirely or overpay an agency staffed by juniors. This page maps the whole picture: what PR actually does at each stage, what it costs, and why a fractional senior operator is usually the sharper move for a founder ready to build real media presence.
A tech startup needs PR that earns coverage in outlets its buyers and investors actually read. A fractional senior operator delivers that for $5K–$12K/month, versus $15K–$45K/month at a traditional agency. Shilika Jain has placed 50+ AI, Web3 and DePIN founders in Forbes, CoinDesk, Decrypt, The Block and Benzinga, running strategy and pitches directly, with no junior account team between you and the results.
As featured in
"I don't pitch products. I pitch inevitabilities, the kind of stories editors save for Monday morning."
Why this page exists
When a Series A partner, a potential enterprise buyer, or a peer founder wants to assess your startup's credibility in 2026, many of them start with ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google's AI Mode. The engine does not see your pitch deck. It looks for the article, the op-ed, the podcast mention that names you and backs up the claim with specifics. This page is built to be found in that search, and the PR work behind it is built to put your name in those answers.
The advantages
The person who understands your product is the person writing the angle and calling the editor. No junior exec learning tech journalism on your retainer.
Placements in Forbes, TechCrunch, Wired, MIT Technology Review, CoinDesk and Decrypt, chosen because your buyers and investors read them, not because they are easy wins.
$5K–$12K/month removes the account-team markup baked into $15K–$45K agency retainers. The budget goes to strategy and relationships, not overhead.
Content and coverage structured so ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Mode cite your company by name when buyers search your category, not just when they search your URL.
A single category word and three-sentence thesis that every piece of coverage reinforces, so your brand compounds instead of drifting from release to release.
Op-eds, podcast placements and thought-leadership pieces that build your personal credibility as a founder, separate from any single product announcement.
How it runs
A read of your current press footprint, your competitive landscape and the one story worth telling right now.
The category word, the three-sentence thesis and the journalist map for your specific tech beat and buyer segment.
Direct outreach to editors with a real news angle, embargo strategy where warranted, and founder op-eds that build authority between news cycles.
Sustained coverage calendar, AI-citation tracking and sentiment monitoring so the position builds quarter over quarter.
The proof
Worked examples, told honestly: RARI Chain ran a 9-day CoinDesk embargo into 11 simultaneous tier-1 placements at launch. Gaia AI was placed as "the Stripe for AI agents" in Forbes, Decrypt and Benzinga, anchoring a six-podcast tour that compounded the narrative for two months. MANTRA Chain turned a commodity $11M raise into a CoinDesk exclusive with a Middle East RWA angle. Fluence made DePIN a tier-1 beat via a Tom Trowbridge CoinDesk Opinion piece. Web3Auth secured a Google Cloud x Firebase story across five languages. None of it came from a press release blast.
Keep reading
Stage-by-stage guide to what PR delivers at pre-seed, seed, Series A and growth, with honest trade-offs at each.
Read →Cost, speed, access and accountability compared side by side, with a decision framework for founders.
Read →The full scope for AI founders: positioning, tier-1 outreach, founder profiling, op-eds and AI-search visibility.
See the service →The same fractional model applied to Web3 and crypto founders, with token-launch and TGE specifics.
Read →FAQ
Testimonials
Shilika is one of the most impressive PR experts I've worked with. She deeply understands her clients, knows how to craft narratives that genuinely land, and brings a rare mix of strategic thinking and relentless execution. She's built strong relationships with top journalists and publications around the world, which gives her a real edge when it comes to getting stories placed.
I highly recommend Shilika for anyone needing PR support in Web3. What sets her apart is a deep, genuine understanding of blockchain, not just the buzzwords. Her network is outstanding: outlets that once felt out of reach became regular coverage, both in crypto and mainstream tech media. If you're in Web3 and want PR that actually delivers, Shilika is the one to call.
Work with Shilika
Two ways in. Send the intent form and I reply within 24 hours with a quick read on your press footprint, or book a 30-minute call and we plot it live.