EPISODE #973
Victoria Vaughan
PR from AI to Blockchain:
Authentic Stories to Help Tech Startups Cut Through the Noise
973 Victoria Vaughan: PR from AI to Blockchain
How PR Can Build Influence and Secure Funding
Just about every business owner on the planet is trying to figure out the best applications of AI in their businesses, and there is no one size fits all.
What is increasingly clear is the need for a human-AI partnership, that is, finding ways to leverage AI as a work companion and not as a replacement.
In any given day, journalists and editors are flooded with pitches, many of them easily dismissed as automated AI slop. What stands out for a media outlet looking to write about the next big thing is a founder’s authentic voice, unique perspective and data, and a focus on solving real problems for real people.
Victoria Vaughan, an award-winning communication strategist and founder of B612, a New York–based PR agency serving high-growth technology companies, says real thought leadership and relationships of trust cannot be programmed by an AI. There can be no replacement for authentic storytelling, she says, though AI is game changing for monitoring trends, researching journalists, and “newsjacking” the day.
Before launching B612, Victoria was the CEO of Cointelegraph, scaling it to 200 staff, 18 million monthly readers, and local editions in seven languages, proving that niche media can set the global agenda and become the largest news outlet in the web3 space. Now with In 2024 I launched B612, a PR agency for tech companies driving product adoption, growth, and investor trust. B612 has placed founders in the New York Times, MIT Tech Review, TechCrunch, Wired, and dozens of other tier-one outlets, turning press into real business leverage and over $100m in funding.
🔑Key Takeaways🔑
🤖 💖 AI for PR: Learn how AI can help your business monitor trends and spot newsjacking opportunities faster than ever—while avoiding the “over-automation” trap. “Human connection now is even more important,” says Victoria, so avoid AI-generated emails and use AI instead for research and targeting, then switch to genuine, human connection for pitching journalists.
💡 🚀 Stand Out in a Noisy World: With tech giants dominating headlines, scrappy emerging tech companies can get noticed by offering authentic, data-driven stories and strong points of view. Focus on building your thought leadership with compelling narratives that highlight your expertise and unique market insights.
🎯🌍 Niche is the New Mainstream: Why the most effective PR moves isn’t always chasing a big outlet—it’s finding the right outlet. Newsletters and Substack’s are on the rise, often delivering better, more targeted results than traditional media because those audiences are loyal and deeply engaged.
🔥🛠️Build Relationships That Last: Why the gold standard in PR remains relationships—getting to know journalists, engaging with their work well before you pitch, and offering expertise proactively (even when there’s nothing in it for you). It’s a long game, but it pays off in trust and coverage when you need it most.
More about Victoria Vaughan at b612pr.com
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More about Victoria at b612pr
Victoria Vaughan, an award-winning business leader and communication strategist, is the founder of B612, a New York–based PR agency serving high-growth technology companies. B612 clients are featured in top tier outlets such as NYT, WSJ, TechCrunch, Wired and have raised over $100m in funding in 2025. With over a decade in tech communications, Victoria has previously served as CEO of the top-tier Web3 media company Cointelegraph, directly managing media strategy and operations. She was named a Best Business Owner by NYX awards’25.
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