There is a statistic floating around that keeps me up at night: apparently, 72% of tech CMOs can’t link their PR spend to actual qualified leads. They drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on heavy retainers, get a stack of magazine clippings to show the board, and have absolutely no idea if it helped sell a single piece of software.
I saw this play out in real-time last year. A client of ours—a brilliant Series B fintech founder—landed a massive feature in TechCrunch. It was the holy grail of coverage. We were high-fiving in the Slack channel. But when we looked at the analytics 48 hours later, my heart sank.
Thousands of visitors had flooded the site, sure. But the server response time slowed to a crawl. The “Book a Demo” button was buried below the fold. We didn’t even have pixel tracking set up to retarget the traffic. We got the glory, but we didn’t get the gold. The traffic spiked, then vanished, and revenue remained flat.
That experience changed how I look at Public Relations. As we head into 2026, the era of “spray and pray” press releases is over. You can’t afford to hire a pr firm that relies solely on a good Rolodex. You need a partner that understands the data, the narrative, and the actual business impact.
We aren’t just listing names to fill space here. We dug into the landscape to find tech pr agencies that treat PR as a revenue driver, not a vanity project.
Table of Contents
- The “Too Long; Didn’t Read” Cheat Sheet
- Comparison Table
- How We Actually Picked These
- 1. FINN Partners
- 2. Bolt PR
- 3. SHIFT Communications
- 4. Interdependence
- 5. BerlinRosen
- 6. The Hoffman Agency
- 7. Clarity
- 8. Avaans Media
- Tools & Notable Mentions
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
The Cheat Sheet for Busy Execs
If you have a board meeting in ten minutes and need a name immediately, here is the quick breakdown:
- Best for AI & Global Reach: FINN Partners
- Best for Consumer Gadgets: Bolt PR
- Best for B2B Data Nerds: SHIFT Communications
- Best for Moving Fast: Interdependence
- Best for “Cool Factor” & Brand: BerlinRosen
- Best for Global Storytelling: The Hoffman Agency
- Best for High-Growth Startups: Clarity
- Best for Pure Tech Focus: Avaans Media
Comparison of Top Agencies
| Agency | Best For | The Hook | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| FINN Partners | AI & Global Reach | “Agile by design” global structure | Mid-to-High Retainer |
| Bolt PR | Consumer Gadgets | Aggressive product launch support | Project & Retainer |
| SHIFT | B2B Data Narratives | “Narrative Velocity” & Data Science | Retainer |
| Interdependence | Rapid Scaling | AI-driven pitching (Interviewed®) | Performance & Retainer |
| BerlinRosen | Lifestyle & Brand | Cultural & narrative storytelling | Premium Retainer |
| Hoffman Agency | Global Storytelling | Single P&L for cross-border ease | Retainer |
| Clarity | High-Growth Startups | Growth hacking & sales alignment | Retainer/Project |
| Avaans Media | Pure Tech Focus | Streamlined, senior-led focus | Custom Quote |
The Rules: How We Selected These Agencies
Finding a partner is easy. Finding the right partner is a nightmare. Before we vetted the list, we looked at five things that actually matter for a modern pr firm:
- Do they speak “Engineer”? A generalist fails at explaining “deep tech” or B2B SaaS. You need someone who actually understands the product.
- Data Accountability: We looked for agencies that track share of voice and web traffic, not just vague “brand awareness.”
- Integrated Capabilities: PR doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We value agencies that understand how earned media impacts SEO and LLM training data.
- Crisis Chops: The tech market is volatile. Can they handle a data breach without panicking?
- AI Integration: A requirement for 2026. If they aren’t using AI for monitoring and list building to lower costs, they’re already behind.
1. FINN Partners
Best For: Global Integrated Communications & AI
FINN Partners has managed to pull off a difficult trick: they have the resources of a massive holding company but the soul of a boutique firm. They call this model “agile by design,” which is fancy marketing speak for “we stripped away the red tape.”
What really caught my attention for 2026 is their heavy focus on AI. They aren’t just pitching AI clients; they are preparing their clients for an era of “agentic AI,” where software agents make purchasing decisions.
The Good: They have a massive global reach that still feels personal. They are also investing heavily in tools to ensure clients show up in AI-generated search answers (GEO).
The Bad: They are resource-intensive. If you are a seed-stage startup looking for a quick, cheap splash, this probably isn’t the right fit.
Price: Mid-to-High Tier Retainer.
Where to find: FINN Partners Technology Practice
2. Bolt PR
Best For: Consumer Tech & Product Launches
If you are launching a physical product—a new wearable, a smart home device, or a consumer gadget—Bolt PR is the one you want in your corner. They excel at the “launch phase.” I’ve seen them take international products that are virtually unknown in the U.S. and break them into the market with aggressive force.
Their approach is distinct because it is highly sales-focused. They don’t want a story for the sake of a story; they want product reviews, awards, and influencer unboxings that drive immediate sell-through.
The Good: They have a track record of products selling out and deep connections with consumer electronics media (think TechRadar, Tom’s Hardware).
The Bad: They are less suitable for complex enterprise B2B software; their DNA is consumer-facing.
Price: Project and Retainer options (Budget-friendly compared to giants).
Where to find: Bolt PR Consumer Tech
3. SHIFT Communications
Best For: B2B Tech & Data-Driven Narratives
SHIFT has been around since 2003, but they haven’t stayed stagnant. They focus on a concept called “narrative velocity”—ensuring your story moves through the market faster than your competition’s.
They are pioneers in using data to inform PR strategy. If you are a B2B service company or a data infrastructure brand, you don’t need flash; you need authority. SHIFT delivers that.
The Good: They take a scientific approach to PR, focusing on pipeline influence rather than vanity metrics.
The Bad: This relationship requires heavy client buy-in and transparency. You can’t hide your data from them if you want this to work.
Price: Retainer-based.
Where to find: SHIFT B2B PR
4. Interdependence
Best For: AI Startups & Rapid Scaling
Interdependence differentiates itself by acting more like a tech company than a traditional PR firm. They use proprietary technology called Interviewed®, an AI platform that predicts media pitch success before they even send the email.
They are aggressive, results-oriented, and fast. If you are a startup that just raised a Series A and you need to look big *yesterday*, this is the agency you call.
The Good: Extremely fast results (coverage often starts month one) and they claim massive increases in conversion rates.
The Bad: Their aggressive style might not suit conservative brands that want a slow, “white glove” build.
Price: Performance and Retainer models available.
Where to find: Interdependence
5. BerlinRosen
Best For: Lifestyle Tech & Brand Elevation
BerlinRosen operates at the intersection of technology, lifestyle, and culture. They are excellent for companies that want to transcend “tech specs” and become a household brand.
If your tech product has a cultural component—like a dating app, a music platform, or a sustainable energy solution—BerlinRosen knows how to make it cool.
The Good: Incredible storytelling capabilities. They are great for consumer apps or lifestyle tech products.
The Bad: Probably not the first choice for “deep tech” or heavy infrastructure B2B.
Price: Premium Retainer.
Where to find: BerlinRosen Technology
6. The Hoffman Agency
Best For: Global Storytelling & Microsites
The Hoffman Agency is known for avoiding the “cookie-cutter” approach of giant agencies while still offering global reach. Their unique selling point is their single P&L structure. Unlike other global agencies where the London office fights with the San Francisco office for budget, Hoffman operates as one unit.
The Good: They are excellent at humanizing complex tech and have perhaps the strongest Asia-Pacific presence on this list.
The Bad: Their traditional “story-first” roots mean momentum builds a little slower than “paid-first” strategies.
Price: Retainer-based.
Where to find: The Hoffman Agency
7. Clarity
Best For: High-Growth Tech & Data-Driven Performance
Clarity is a global comms firm specifically for high-growth tech brands. They bring a performance-focused approach to PR, aiming to drive leads rather than just awareness. They are particularly effective for companies looking to scale quickly and require a partner that understands the “growth hacking” mindset.
The Good: Transparency and measurement-first campaigns. They have strong alignment with sales goals.
The Bad: The high focus on metrics can sometimes feel transactional.
Price: Retainer/Project.
Where to find: Clarity (via Prezly)
8. Avaans Media
Best For: Pure Tech PR Capabilities
Avaans Media is a firm dedicated to serving the technology sector. While their digital footprint is streamlined, they are recognized for their capabilities in handling tech PR mandates.
Sometimes you don’t need a massive agency with a thousand employees. You need a specialist who knows your industry inside and out. That is Avaans.
The Good: Focused dedication to tech; no distraction from consumer packaged goods or other verticals.
The Bad: There is less public data on proprietary tools compared to tech-heavy firms like Interdependence.
Price: Contact for quote.
Where to find: Avaans Media Tech PR
Notable Mentions & Tools
If the top agencies don’t fit your specific needs (or your budget), consider these. Sometimes you need a tool to manage things internally, or a resource to rank pr firms by specific location.
- Prezly: Not an agency, but a software platform. It’s essential for in-house teams or better agency collaboration to handle distribution and coverage tracking.
- O’Dwyer’s: The industry standard database. If you need to rank firms by revenue or very specific niche location, this is where you go.
- The Marketing Agency (Performance Marketing): Sometimes you don’t need PR; you need users now. PPC and Paid Media often deliver faster, measurable acquisition than earned media.
- The Marketing Agency (SEO & Web Dev): PR traffic is useless if your site doesn’t convert. High-performance web dev and SEO ensure that when the press hits, the revenue follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a top-tier tech PR agency cost in 2026?
It varies wildly. For project-based work, you might look at $5,000 to $15,000. But for a full-service retainer with a top-tier tech pr agency like FINN or BerlinRosen, expect to start at $15k to $25k per month, scaling up to $50k+ for global programs.
How long does it take to see results?
The “ramp-up” period is usually 3 months. Performance marketing is immediate, but brand building is a long-term play. Agencies using AI might shorten this, but sustainable reputation building takes time.
Should I hire an agency or build an in-house team?
It’s a trade-off. In-house teams have deep product knowledge and are cheaper in the long run. However, when hiring a pr firm, you gain immediate access to established media relationships. The best model is often a hybrid: a strong internal comms lead who manages an external agency for reach.
How do I measure the ROI of Tech PR?
Please, for the love of God, move beyond “Ad Value Equivalency” (AVE). Discuss share of voice, referral traffic, domain authority boosts, and lead attribution. You should be using tools like a marketing ROI calculator to understand the real impact of your spend.
Final Thoughts: The Missing Link
Sector specialization and data accountability are the new standards. But hiring a pr firm is only half the battle.
Remember that client I mentioned at the start? You can get the TechCrunch article, but if your site crashes or your value prop is unclear, you wasted your money.
This is where The Marketing Agency comes in. We don’t replace your PR firm; we power the engine they drive. We build the high-converting infrastructure, handle the SEO so the press coverage boosts your long-term rankings, and ensure your data tracking captures every lead your PR agency generates.
To understand how integrated strategies work, you can review our PR case study which details how earned media can be leveraged for broader growth, or explore our online reputation case study.
Don’t just make noise—make profit. [Contact The Marketing Agency] to build the performance engine that powers your PR success.
