How many media interviews have you seen that are best described as awkward, embarrassing or even humiliating? The unfortunate reality is media interviews can and do go completely wrong. But it’s a risk you can mitigate if you undergo media training in advance.

In the world of venture capital and angel investing, the adage “investors invest in people, not just companies” holds a lot of truth. Investors are not just looking for a groundbreaking business idea; they are looking for a solid leader who can navigate the tumultuous journey from startup to scaleup and beyond. Most founders have an extraordinary vision. But they need to convince investors they also have the leadership, technical skillset and resilience to see it through.

Raising capital? If so, you need a strategic timeline for your media campaign. Media hits spread out over six to 12 months (or more) leading up to a cap raise is the ideal scenario, with positive stories continuing to drop even as you begin meeting with investors. Media coverage is more important than ever for startups and scaleups, with the current market for raising capital proving challenging. For tips on doing media the right way, check out the latest story in our scaleup blog series.

With climate change affecting every country on Earth, there is a global market for climate tech solutions. But when does it make the most sense for a company to seek markets or investment offshore? It’s a question Bespoken General Manager Michaela Ryan recently explored with Monty Compost Co CEO and founder Ashley Baxter, GeoNadir co-founder Paul Mead and Ashurst Global Co-Head Energy Industry Dan Brown as part of a panel at Climate Salad’s Queensland Climate Tech Showcase 2024.

You always clean your house before you invite someone over, right? The same thing goes for a company seeking capital. By the time you meet with investors, you need your company’s external-facing assets and profile to be professional, conveying your strengths and credibility. This can sometimes be the difference between landing a meeting with an investor in the first place, or missing out. Let’s delve into four marketing and PR essentials in the lead-up to a capital raise.

The creation of a ‘villain’ is sometimes the perfect way to create a compelling media hook. This was among the tactics discussed by Bespoken Managing Director Sarah Morgan and Media and Communications Specialist Lisa Chant when they teamed up for a presentation at the second annual Content Summit at the Brisbane Powerhouse.Their topic, ‘Finding the hook others may overlook’, was a fully subscribed session, with many attendees disappointed to miss out. In the spirit of sharing, here’s an extract from the session.

When you want to tell a powerful story that truly resonates with your target audience, numbers can speak louder than words. In an increasingly data-driven world, an ever-growing number of brands are using figures to craft compelling narratives that drive awareness and build credibility, across avenues ranging from unique media stories to tailored social media campaigns. Here are some important points to consider when creating and telling a story with data.

BREAKING NEWS: Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to include whingeing and whining as a sport…home nation expected to dominate after diabolical levels of negativity.Of course, the above sentence is not true.But let’s be honest, the collective – or loudest - mindset towards Brisbane 2032 has been decidedly “unQueensland-like”.

Cyber crises strike hard, fast and usually without warning, causing instant devastation.But beyond the initial impact there's another danger lurking which can hurt you even more in the long run - reputational damage arising from poor communication.