Highwire PR
Detailed Description
Founded in 2008, Highwire PR (often stylised simply as Highwire) has grown into a 160-plus–person independent agency headquartered in San Francisco with additional hubs in New York, Boston and Chicago. Net fees in 2024 topped $41.3 million, ranking the firm No. 18 among all U.S. independents and No. 6 in the technology category according to O’Dwyer’s annual league table. With roots in journalism and Silicon Valley venture culture, the agency specialises in integrated communications for emerging-growth and enterprise brands in cybersecurity, AI, healthtech, fintech and climate tech, coupling classic media relations with content, digital marketing and analyst-relations programs.
Key Features
Sector-specialist “Squads” for cybersecurity, digital health, fintech, climate tech and energy, each staffed by ex-journalists and subject-matter strategists
Integrated PESO delivery (paid, earned, shared, owned) with an in-house content studio and performance-media specialists
Proprietary Analytics Suite blending media monitoring, share-of-voice, message pull-through and lead-gen attribution
Cybersecurity Crisis-Comms Readiness package with rapid incident playbooks, 24/7 monitoring and board-level counsel (discounted for retainer clients)
Executive Visibility & Thought-Leadership Sprints to place by-lines, analyst commentary and conference keynotes
Influencer & Analyst Relations targeting Gartner, Forrester, IDC and niche social-first influencers
Digital Marketing Add-ons—SEO content, HubSpot services, lead-gen assets and ABM-ready creative
DEI-Driven Workplace Culture recognised by industry bodies for inclusion and talent development
M&A-Fueled Growth (e.g., acquisition of Inner Circle Labs) adding deep-tech storytelling capacity
Global Partner Network for EMEA and APAC execution without holding-company overhead
Pros and Cons
Pros ✅
Ranked a Top-20 U.S. independent PR firm by revenue with double-digit year-over-year growth
Deep benches in cybersecurity and digital health, two of the fastest-growing PR verticals
Integrated digital-marketing services avoid “hand-offs” to external agencies
Robust analytics & reporting tied to pipeline and share-of-voice outcomes
Crisis-comms standby team available 24/7 for data-breach and regulatory events
Strong culture scores—4.0 / 5 on Indeed for work-life balance and growth
Ranked #93 globally by PRovoke’s 2024 Top-250 list
Entrepreneurial leadership and recent AI/creative hires keep programs innovative
Offices in four U.S. tech corridors plus flexible remote teams
Active in DEI initiatives and pro-bono tech-for-good programs
Cons ❌
Minimum monthly retainer averages $25 k–$30 k, above typical SMB budgets
Hourly blended rates frequently exceed $250 for senior strategists
Pay-for-performance models not offered; work is fee-based
Geared primarily to North-American media; global coverage relies on partners
Approval layers can slow content sign-off for urgent campaigns
Limited package-pricing transparency on public profiles
Culture reviews note workload spikes typical of high-growth tech agencies
Success heavily depends on client participation (executive access, data sharing)
Crisis-comms discounts apply only to existing retainers, not one-off incidents
No dedicated self-serve dashboards for smaller clients—reporting delivered via PDFs and live briefings
Pricing Information*
Core Tech/Health Retainer: $25k–$45k per month – 12-month scope covering media, content and digital amplification
Launch / Funding-Round Sprint: $80k–$120k – 8–12-week blitz for messaging, press tour and analyst outreach
Cybersecurity Crisis Readiness Package: from $60k – assessment plus playbook (20 % discount for retainer clients)
Incident Response Support: $400–$550 per hour – senior team, 48-hour minimum block
Digital-Marketing Add-Ons: $12k–$18k per quarter – SEO content packages, HubSpot operations
*Highwire does not publish a public rate card; figures reflect 2025 client RFPs, industry surveys and prevailing U.S. tech-PR benchmarks.
User Feedback
Indeed: 4.0 / 5—praises rapid learning and smart colleagues; some note overtime peaks
Clutch: Profile lists 50–249 staff but no verified reviews; minimum project “undisclosed”
Reddit (r/PublicRelations): Mixed commentary—valued for tech-media relationships, but approval cycles viewed as typical agency trade-offs
PRovoke Media: Short-listed for 2024 North-America Technology Agency of the Year
O’Dwyer’s: Ranked #18 U.S. independent, #6 tech PR by net fees; 161 FTEs
Summary
Highwire PR is purpose-built for venture-backed scale-ups and enterprise innovators that need sophisticated storytelling, iron-clad crisis support and measurable pipeline impact in tech and healthcare. Its Silicon-Valley DNA, deep vertical squads and growing digital-marketing bench make it a strong fit for companies ready to invest $25 k+ per month in integrated communications. Brands seeking lower-budget or primarily local PR support may find Highwire’s retainers steep, but those looking for category leadership, analyst buzz and board-level reputation management will benefit from its size, sector focus and data-driven culture.
FAQs
What is Highwire’s minimum retainer?
Most full-service programs start around $25 000–$30 000 per month. One-off sprints or launch projects begin near $80 000.
Which sectors does Highwire specialise in?
Core practices cover cybersecurity, AI & cloud, digital health, fintech, climate tech, energy and enterprise software.
Does Highwire offer guaranteed media coverage?
No. Coverage is earned through relationships and strong storytelling; it is not pay-to-play.
How does the Cybersecurity Crisis program work?
Clients receive a readiness assessment, issue-specific playbook, always-on monitoring and 24/7 access to seasoned crisis leads, with retainers receiving discounted incident-response rates.
What analytics are included?
Dashboard modules track share-of-voice, message resonance, backlink quality, marketing-qualified-lead attribution and campaign ROI, updated monthly.
Where are the main offices?
San Francisco HQ with staffed offices in New York, Boston and Chicago, plus distributed remote teams in 25+ U.S. states.
