Scrappy Strategies: Public Relations for Startups - How Founders Can Win Customers and Credibility Without Big Budgets [Paperback]

Every startup founder knows the struggle. You have a great product, a bold vision, and the passion to succeed, but not the kind of budget that big brands throw at advertising. So how do you compete for attention, win trust, and get your story out there without burning through limited resources?

That’s exactly what Scrappy Strategies: Public Relations for Startups is about.

Written by Jonah Solomon—journalist turned PR strategist, and co-founder of SquirrelPR, a public relations platform for Africa—this book delivers the playbook every founder needs to survive and thrive. Jonah has lived through the realities of building visibility on a shoestring, managing crises with limited tools, and turning scrappy PR strategies into brand-building wins.

This isn’t theory. It’s battle-tested advice for founders who can’t afford million-dollar agencies but still need world-class results.

Why This Book Matters

PR is often misunderstood as something to consider only during fundraising or launches. The truth is, PR is your startup’s secret weapon. It builds trust when you’re still unknown, wins media coverage that advertising can’t buy, and creates credibility that makes customers, investors, and partners take you seriously.

Without PR, even the best product risks invisibility. With PR, your startup can:

• Get featured in top local and international media.
• Attract investors and customers faster.
• Build resilience against rumours, crises, and competition.
• Position your founders as thought leaders.

Inside the Book

Scrappy Strategies is practical, relatable, and written in simple language that founders can apply immediately. Inside, you’ll discover:

• PR as a Startup’s Secret Weapon – why it’s more effective than advertising in your early days.
• The PR Landscape in Emerging Markets – navigating trust deficits, regulatory hurdles, and cultural sensitivities.
• Crafting a Winning PR Strategy – from messaging to audience targeting.
• Media Relations that Work – how to pitch, build journalist relationships, and secure coverage.
• Digital PR & Social Media – leveraging LinkedIn, TikTok, and podcasts.
• Trend Riding & Newsjacking – using cultural moments to get noticed.
• Crisis Communication – protecting your reputation when things go wrong.
• PR on a Budget – step-by-step strategies for founders without big marketing teams.

Backed by case studies of startups like LifeBank, Flutterwave, and Anakle, Jonah shows how scrappy PR has propelled African startups into the global spotlight.

Who Should Read This

• Startup founders & entrepreneurs who want visibility without blowing their budget.
• PR professionals & agencies supporting startups.
• Students & academics eager to understand PR in emerging markets.
• Investors & accelerators looking to equip portfolio companies with survival tools.

Why Jonah Solomon?

Jonah has lived both sides: as a journalist who covered startups for years and as a PR practitioner who helped early-stage companies win credibility, raise funding, and scale. He understands how the media works, what journalists look for, and how startups can cut through the noise—before founding SquirrelPR, a PR management software. As both storyteller and founder, he knows firsthand the uphill battle of implementing PR strategies with limited resources—and how to win it.

He’s seen what works, what doesn’t, and what founders must do differently to succeed.

Pre-Order Today

Pre-ordering Scrappy Strategies puts you ahead of the curve with practical insights that could change your startup’s trajectory. This is more than a book—it’s a toolkit, a mentor in print, and a battle plan for visibility and survival. Don’t wait until your startup is overlooked or swallowed by bigger competitors. Your story deserves to be heard. Your brand deserves credibility.

Order your copy now and give your startup the PR advantage it needs to win.