The Series A Media Strategy Checklist

The Series A Media Strategy Checklist

Landing a Series A is more than a financial milestone — it’s your public debut. Suddenly, your startup isn’t just a scrappy idea. It’s a funded company. With that funding comes pressure, scrutiny, and opportunity. And how you show up in the media during this stage can set the tone for everything that follows: hiring, partnerships, investor interest, customer acquisition, and competitive perception.

At TAG Collective, we’ve helped dozens of founders shape and scale their Series A narratives. Whether you’re prepping for your first PR push or refining your positioning post-funding, here’s the checklist you need to ensure your Series A media strategy is pitch-perfect.

1. Define Your Core Story — And Stick to It
Your Series A announcement isn’t just about the money. It’s about why the money matters. What problem are you solving? Why now? Why you? What’s the broader mission behind the milestone?

Journalists want more than numbers. They want a compelling narrative that contextualizes your raise in the real world. A strong story drives all assets: press release, pitch angles, founder interviews, and investor quotes.

2. Get Crystal Clear on Your Messaging Pillars
Before going public, align your team on three to five key pillars that define your brand’s voice and priorities. For a healthtech startup, this might include accessibility, data privacy, affordability, and user empowerment. For an AI platform, it might be ethics, speed, scalability, and transparency.

These pillars ensure message consistency across earned, owned, and paid channels — and help avoid off-brand soundbites when media requests flood in.

3. Prep a Press-Ready Founder
Founders are the face of the company during Series A. Media will want to hear directly from them. Ensure your founder is media-trained, understands the narrative, and can balance enthusiasm with substance. They should be able to pivot tough questions, avoid jargon, and hit all key messages with clarity.

If the founder isn’t press-ready, consider a co-founder, investor, or trusted exec as backup. But ideally, they should be the storyteller-in-chief.

4. Secure Media Exclusives Strategically
The right exclusive — with TechCrunch, Forbes, or a vertical outlet — can anchor your announcement. But be strategic. Choose a publication that reaches your core audience (future hires, customers, or VCs) and aligns with your tone and goals.

Pitch early — at least 1-2 weeks in advance — with a tight embargo. Provide a thoughtful founder interview, compelling visuals, and a clear sense of what makes this round different.

5. Anticipate the Second-Day Story
Every Series A gets a press release. But what happens after the announcement? Plan your second wave of coverage. This might include:

• Q&As or founder profiles
• Podcast interviews
• Guest op-eds on industry trends
• Social content showing the team, product, or mission in action

Sustain the narrative beyond day one, and you’ll stay relevant while others fade.

6. Align Your Visual Identity
Your public moment is also your brand reveal. Make sure your website, product shots, headshots, and social channels look sharp. Avoid announcing a $15M raise with a DIY Wix homepage and a pixelated logo. Perception matters — and media will judge what they see as much as what they hear.

7. Prep Internal and External Stakeholders
Before going live, brief your team, investors, board, and key partners. Arm them with messaging, FAQs, and pre-approved social copy. Turn them into amplification allies. This prevents leaks, miscommunication, and missed opportunities.

Also, align on who’s handling inbound press requests. Response speed post-announcement is critical.

8. Have a Plan for Detractors
If your industry is polarizing (AI, crypto, social media, etc.), anticipate criticism. Prepare talking points that show responsibility, ethics, and long-term thinking. Respond with clarity, not defensiveness. One well-handled comment can turn skepticism into respect.

9. Measure Impact — Not Just Impressions
Track more than just coverage volume. Monitor:

• Quality of media outlets and sentiment
• Increase in inbound investor interest
• Surge in job applicants and site traffic
• Engagement on founder and company social posts

Data helps you optimize for the next funding round — and prove the value of media to your board.

Case Study: A Clean Tech Series A Done Right
We worked with a clean tech startup that raised $17M in Series A. Rather than lead with the number, we led with the mission: decarbonizing commercial real estate. We landed an exclusive in Bloomberg Green, followed by a founder Q&A in TechCrunch and a feature in Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech. The campaign led to a tripling of qualified leads and a speaking slot at a global energy conference.

Final Thought: Series A Is Your Brand’s First Big Stage
This is your chance to move from stealth to story — from startup to company. At TAG Collective, we help founders not just get covered, but get remembered. Because Series A isn’t just about capital. It’s about credibility, clarity, and carving your space in the market — with a media strategy built for growth.