On June 1st, 2023, Valentin Saitarli, CEO of Prai.co, found himself in the company of industry giants at San Francisco’s #TechWeek X Pear VC Conference. It was here that Saitarli had the golden opportunity to converse briefly with Pear VC Founder Pejman Nozad and Josh Reeves, the CEO of Gusto, a unicorn company providing payroll services to over 300,000 organizations.
Nozad, a carpet-seller turned venture capitalist, is no stranger to transformative narratives. Having invested in Gusto during its early stages through Pear VC, Nozad was there to discuss Gusto’s journey to success. Reeves, on the other hand, was there to share insights into the unique strategy that catapulted Gusto into the forefront of its industry.
Interestingly, Reeves emphasized the role of public relations (PR) in Gusto’s growth story, mentioning it three times during their discussion. “PR played a pivotal role in how we acquire our customers,” Reeves stated, highlighting the often underestimated power of strategic communication and reputation management.
For Saitarli, the takeaways from this meeting were invaluable. The importance of PR, as emphasized by Reeves, resonated with him deeply. He understood that effectively communicating the company’s values, mission, and achievements is critical for building trust, gaining recognition, and attracting customers.
Taking a moment to reflect on the brief encounter with these industry stalwarts, Saitarli recognized the immense potential of PR for his own company, Prai.co. He saw that by leveraging strategic communications, he could boost the visibility of Prai.co and potentially replicate the success of companies like Gusto.
Reeves and Nozad’s shared narrative offered Saitarli a blueprint of what it takes to succeed in the competitive tech landscape. As the conference continued, Saitarli couldn’t help but reflect on how the power of PR, combined with robust products and services, could drive Prai.co towards unprecedented growth.
The chance meeting with Nozad and Reeves at the #TechWeek was more than a simple conversation for Saitarli. It was an opportunity to gain insights from those who have tread the path of success before him. It was a moment that highlighted the importance of networking, learning, and adapting in the ever-evolving tech world. Saitarli returned from the conference with new knowledge, fresh ideas, and a renewed drive to lead Prai.co towards new heights of success.
