On this episode of The Press Playbook, Kendall Aldridge sat down with Erica Guevara, Senior Account Executive at BAM, to break down how she helped Haast land an exclusive in Axios.
This one is a really good look at how to approach a funding announcement the right way, especially for a newer company going through PR for the first time.
Interested in joining us for an upcoming dinner? See our event lineup here!
Below are the key moments and takeaways from the episode, or listen where you please:
Episode Overview
Guest: Erica Guevara, Senior Account Executive at BAM
Client Featured: Haast
Key Placement: Axios
Episode Focus: Structuring a funding announcement + what makes an exclusive land
Key Moments & Tayoukeaways
⏱️ 00:00–01:30 — Meet Erica + Haast
Erica walks through her role at BAM and introduces Haast.
They’re building an enterprise compliance platform that helps automate workflows and free up internal teams’ time.
⏱️ 01:30–03:00 — The Funding Moment
Haast was preparing to announce a $12M Series A, and since this was one of their first major PR moments, the focus was on getting it right.
The goal from the start was to land a top-tier exclusive.
⏱️ 03:00–04:30 — Choosing Axios + The Right Reporter
The team targeted Axios, specifically a reporter who covers startups, venture, and enterprise tech.
This wasn’t random. It was based on:
- beat alignment
- past coverage
- existing relationship with BAM
⏱️ 04:30–06:00 — Structuring the Pitch
The pitch followed a very clear structure:
- lead with the funding + who the company is
- include total funding for context
- layer in founder + company background
- end with strong data
Everything was built to be easy to scan and quick to understand.
⏱️ 06:00–07:00 — The Data That Made It Stand Out
The biggest differentiator here was the data.
Haast had:
- 4.5x revenue growth in 12 months
- 0% customer churn
That’s the kind of stat that immediately grabs attention.
⏱️ 07:00–08:00 — Advice for Founders
Erica’s biggest takeaway is simple: data is everything.
If you have strong, proprietary numbers, that’s what’s going to make your story stand out and actually land.
Final Takeaway
This episode is a great reminder that landing an exclusive isn’t just about the news.
It’s about how clearly you present it and whether you have the data to back it up.
LEAVE A COMMENT