SutherlandGold Group

What SutherlandGold Group does

SutherlandGold Group is a San Francisco-based, privately held (LLC) public relations and strategic communications agency founded in 2002. The firm provides B2B communications services — including media relations, executive thought leadership platform development, digital campaigns, influencer programs, brand positioning, and crisis communications preparation — organized around a proprietary four-pillar "Communications Playbook" framework (Insight, Imagination, Influence, Inspiration). Its client base spans venture-backed startups (Brex, Marble, Forethought), growth-stage private companies (Gusto, Xendit, Doctor On Demand), and publicly traded enterprises (Cloudflare, SurveyMonkey, Zendesk, Udemy), with concentration in technology, fintech, AI, and cybersecurity verticals.

The business operates as a professional services consultancy with no software product, API, or proprietary technology platform. Revenue is generated through agency retainers and project-based engagements priced on scope, client size, and campaign complexity; no public pricing is disclosed. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, with inbound routed through a dedicated new business inbox and contact form. Marketing the firm's own services relies on an organic content/blog presence ("Inspiration" section), active social channels (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram), and an email newsletter.

Operationally, the firm is co-founded and led by Lesley Gold (CEO) and Scott Sutherland (co-founder), with recent leadership additions including Vice President Linda Walsh and Senior Director Lisa Langsdorf. The 2019 acquisition of Astro Media and Co-Founder Gold's advisory role with the Common Crawl Foundation indicate selective inorganic and ecosystem-building activity. The firm holds WBENC Women's Business Enterprise certification and operates as an independent boutique with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or subsidiaries.

Name

SutherlandGold Group

Legal name

SutherlandGold Group, LLC

Website

https://sutherlandgold.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SutherlandGold Group is a San Francisco-based B2B public relations agency providing strategic communications, media relations, and thought leadership services to technology, fintech, AI, and cybersecurity companies ranging from startups to publicly traded enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. PR and Communications Services: Professional services revenue from providing public relations, communications strategy, and branding services to B2B technology companies. Services include media relations, thought leadership platform development, digital campaigns, and influencer programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SutherlandGold Group provides integrated public relations and strategic communications services to technology, fintech, AI, and cybersecurity companies. Its core offering is a service-based consultancy delivered through a Communications Playbook framework (Insight, Imagination, Influence, Inspiration) covering audience research, brand narrative development, media relations, executive thought leadership platforms, digital and influencer campaigns, and crisis communications preparation. The firm sells retainer and project-based engagements directly to corporate clients ranging from startups to publicly traded companies.

Product overview

SutherlandGold Group is a public relations and communications agency that provides strategic communications services to emerging leaders and changemakers. Their offering is a service-based consultancy model rather than a software product or platform. Services include a Communications Playbook framework comprising four pillars: Insight (audience research and understanding), Imagination (brand narrative and beliefs shaping), Influence (audience targeting and engagement strategy), and Inspiration (authentic storytelling collaboration). The agency works with clients across various industries including fintech, AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, and technology, helping them develop and execute communications strategies, executive thought leadership platforms, digital campaigns, and influencer programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communications Playbook Engagement

Quantifiable outcome

• Cloudflare 1.1.1.1: 350+ stories and 1M+ downloads in under 3 months
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• KearneyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Global management consulting firm that sponsored the Common Crawl "Right to Learn" AI event where SutherlandGold co-founded involvement was noted.
• Tola CapitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Investment firm that sponsored the Common Crawl "Right to Learn" AI event.
• Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Trade association that sponsored the Common Crawl "Right to Learn" AI event.
• City University of New York (CUNY)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY hosted the Common Crawl "Right to Learn" AI event.
• Common Crawl FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder Lesley Gold serves as an advisor to Common Crawl and helped craft the "AI & The Right to Learn on an Open Internet" event in New York. Common Crawl provides open web crawl data critical for AI/LLM training.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Walker Sands: Mid-sized B2B tech PR and marketing agency serving SaaS, fintech, and enterprise software companies. Highly comparable business model, client mix, and team size to SutherlandGold, with overlapping service offerings in media relations and thought leadership.
• PAN Communications: B2B tech and healthcare PR agency with similar mid-market positioning, vertical focus on technology, and integrated communications offering. Overlaps directly with SutherlandGold on tech/fintech client profile and integrated campaign execution.
• Highwire PR: Tech-focused PR agency serving enterprise software, cybersecurity, and AI companies. Comparable boutique model with strong cybersecurity and developer-tool client base that mirrors SutherlandGold's vertical targeting.
• RH Strategic: Boutique B2B PR firm specializing in technology, cybersecurity, and healthcare clients. Similar scale and service model to SutherlandGold, with overlapping strength in policy-adjacent and emerging-tech communications.
• Inkhouse: Integrated PR and communications agency serving technology, healthcare, and consumer brands. Comparable boutique-to-mid-size scale with similar enterprise tech client profile and integrated campaign offerings.
• Bateman Group: Boutique tech and consumer PR agency serving venture-backed and growth-stage technology companies. Direct comparable in client segment (emerging tech leaders) and storytelling-first positioning.
• 5W Public Relations: Independent mid-sized PR agency with strong B2B technology, consumer, and digital practice. Comparable client mix in tech and consumer startups and similar integrated campaign model.
• Mission North: Boutique PR and communications agency focused on enterprise technology and B2B clients. Directly comparable in business model, tech vertical focus, and mid-market positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global communications holding company and the largest independent PR firm. Competes with SutherlandGold for enterprise tech mandates but operates at much greater scale with full-service global capabilities.
• Weber Shandwick: Global PR and communications network within IPG, with a strong technology and B2B practice. Represents the upper end of the competitive set that SutherlandGold encounters when enterprise clients scale beyond boutique capacity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sutherlandgold
• Facebookfacebook.com/SutherlandGoldGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/56821
• Instagraminstagram.com/sutherlandgold

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SutherlandGold Group