Navigating the PR challenges of raising funds: a startup founder’s guide
Raising funds represents constant and critical layers in a founder’s early stage journey. This dynamic path can be often fraught with delays and challenges. Navigating the influencers in this circuitous landscape requires a thoughtful approach to growth through public relations which is essential for building credibility to engage potential and follow-on investors. The journey begins by crafting a compelling narrative that clearly communicates your vision and impact for the capital being raised. This part becomes the foundation for your...
read moreTips for making your early-stage company stand out to investors
Securing the trust and credibility of investors during your capital raise requires a product or service that solves big problems and a team with a track record to grow and scale the business. Smart investment starts with seed money or a series raise as relationships fuel awareness with venture capital (VC) firms. Eventually with growth and scale, the possibility of an exit or private equity (PE) investment becomes real. Beyond the skills to raise money in vibrant or tumultuous times, founders need a compelling narrative. Because...
read moreA guide for your early-stage company to build brand awareness
Building brand traction in a competitive market often determines an early-stage company’s journey. Investors, customers and industry leaders notice brands that cut through the noise. To stand out, follow these strategies for elevating your company’s message. Maximize media coverage: earned visibility in reputable publications accelerates brand recognition, adds instant credibility and forms connections with journalists and industry influencers in your space. Highlighting your unique value in a well-placed article showcases fresh...
read moreThe power of storytelling: is your early-stage company’s narrative compelling enough for hypergrowth?
In today’s crowded marketplace, success requires more than a great product or service. Early-stage companies need a compelling message structure that shows the problems they are solving and deeply resonates with target audiences – customers, investors, partners – and reaches them a variety of media (paid, earned, shared, owned). A well-crafted brand journey drives business growth by ensuring your story cuts through the noise. For example, one of our multi-year partnerships helped fuel a Chicago healthcare service company’s growth from...
read moreHow board membership elevates leadership skills and community impact
Being an active board member is more than a fancy title; it’s a dynamic role requiring sharp objectivity, nimble problem-solving and a deep commitment to the community. Channeling our expertise and passions on boards doesn’t just transform organizations—it enriches our professional lives and amplifies our personal brands. In the healthcare arena, leaders face intricate challenges like managing physicians, addressing staffing shortages and navigating union negotiations. They juggle wage laws, quality standards, patient satisfaction and the...
read moreCharting a successful course for your early-stage company
In the thrilling journey of early-stage companies, growth flourishes in pivotal areas while brand awareness fuels the momentum. Beyond a strong team, three factors steer these companies and their founders through turbulent times and triumphant courses: Commercialization after IP protection: starting from an idea, you developed a product or service that is unique and took the necessary steps with an attorney to protect your intellectual property, including trademarks and patents. The natural next step includes preparing for investor relations...
read moreUnlocking market leadership: five proven growth strategies for founders
Being a market leader demands more than just an innovative solution; it requires strategic engagement and lead generation for high-impact visibility, brand building and reputation management. For startups aiming to scale rapidly and effectively, leveraging the right plan with an expert PR partner becomes crucial. First, third party influencers that help tell your story serve as pivotal amplifiers. Their help educating the market about your solution extends reach and credibility. By engaging influencers strategically, you reinforce...
read moreDePaul University’s Introduction to Entrepreneurship Students Get Advice from Chicago Business Professionals
Students at DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center who are taking the course Introduction to Entrepreneurship delivered their final business plan presentations to professional mentor judges, Ben Cole, Randi Binstock, John Dilenschneider and our founder, Kellee Johnson. The students recently developed ideas for building new ventures to solve market problems. Demonstrated in a business plan were revenue channels and business models to pitch potential investors. Five student teams presented their business ideas with an...
read moreReinforcing America’s first online grocery delivery company as a brand of choice
While the value of the online grocery market doubled from 2016 to 2018 with Amazon/Whole Foods, Walmart and Target entering the delivery space, Peapod needed a brand strategy to differentiate itself. Peapod turned to Ballast Group to help the company stand out in its home market of Chicago, creatively reminding the market that Peapod is a local company and the original player to transform the way people think about grocery shopping, opening 30 years ago. A strategic, integrated campaign by our team placed Peapod in front of millions of...
read moreThe Importance of Joining a Board
Many young professionals who launch a career consider three things before starting: Can I support myself financially doing this work? Will I like doing this work? Am I offering the world some type of benefit by doing this work? Often for motivated career professionals, these questions never stop. In fact, Presidents and CEOs of major companies ask themselves these types of questions annually. The search to find that perfect balance between happy and doing good becomes a lifelong quest. The Ballast Group’s founder, Kellee Johnson, offers...
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