Don't hire PR firms too early; build relationships with the press yourself as they can last throughout your company's lifecycle.

Most early-stage PR can be handled by the founders themselves; spending on PR firms is often unnecessary and can waste significant resources.

In the early stages of a startup, avoid business development deals as they can be distractions without a solid product.

You should not outsource your sales efforts; it's important for founders to be directly involved in the sales process.

In the early stages, founders should not prioritize marketing and PR, but as the product gains traction, they need to take charge of messaging and communication to ensure consistency and clarity. Developing personal relationships with journalists is crucial; they prefer talking to founders rather than PR representatives.

PR, or press, involves pitching an independent third-party publication to tell your startup's story, which is external to your own channels.

Hiring a PR agency is often a mistake for startups; most founders end up firing them after realizing they don't deliver value.

In the early stages, it's important to be cautious with spending and have a plan to reach profitability, even if you're reinvesting revenue into growth.

Sales should be prioritized early in the startup process, as engaging with customers can lead to better product development and quicker sales success.