Ketner Group
Ketner Group Communications is a privately held public relations agency that has served retail technology companies for over 20 years. With offices in Austin, New York, and Nashville, it provides PR strategy, media and analyst relations, content development, and lead generation campaigns to enterprise clients in the retail tech ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ketner Group does
Ketner Group Communications is a privately held public relations and communications agency founded in 2000 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional offices in New York City and Nashville. The firm specializes exclusively in the retail technology vertical, serving software vendors, SaaS platforms, and tech-enabled service providers across retail subsectors including grocery, fashion, hospitality, and specialty retail. It has operated in this niche for over 20 years and positions itself as a category specialist with deep relationships among retail industry media, analysts, and influencers.
The agency's offering consists of four core service lines: PR messaging and strategy, media and analyst relations, content development (eBooks, whitepapers, case studies, bylined articles, blog posts), and integrated lead generation campaigns that combine earned media with paid distribution. There is no proprietary technology platform, no software product, and no API surface; all work is delivered as professional services by a team of roughly 20–30 communications specialists organized in a layered account structure (Account Coordinator through Account Supervisor) plus a dedicated Senior Media Relations Specialist. Revenue is generated through custom-priced professional service retainers and project-based engagements, with annual billing and pricing tied to scope of work rather than published rate cards. Publicly named clients include PlumSlice Labs, NGC (12+ year tenure), Opterus (10+ year tenure), GK Software USA, Inspectorio, OrderDynamics, Symphony RetailAI, Mirakl, Kibo, Elo, DisplayData, and Columbus Consulting.
Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, with a heavy emphasis on the NRF Big Show and other retail industry conferences where the firm coordinates media meetings and booth presence for multiple clients. Founder Jeff Ketner transitioned to Senior Advisor in May 2023 with Catherine Seeds named CEO. The firm rebranded in 2018 from "Ketner Group PR + Marketing" to "Ketner Group Communications" to reflect broader service scope. There is no disclosed external investment, no parent company, and no funding history in the source material.
Ketner Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ketner Group
- Legal name
- Ketner Group Communications
- Website
- https://ketnergroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ketner Group Communications is a privately held public relations agency that has served retail technology companies for over 20 years. With offices in Austin, New York, and Nashville, it provides PR strategy, media and analyst relations, content development, and lead generation campaigns to enterprise clients in the retail tech ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ketner Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Relations Services
- NAICS
- Public Relations Agencies (541820)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology & B2B PR (BPAFADAI)
Keywords
Where Ketner Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ketner Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- PR and Communications Services: Strategic public relations programs for retail technology companies, including PR messaging and strategy, media and analyst relations, content development, and lead generation campaigns. Revenue generated through professional service retainers and project-based engagements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Custom enterprise pricing based on service scope |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Ketner Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ketner Group is a B2B public relations and communications agency that provides strategic PR programs exclusively for retail technology companies. Its core offerings include PR messaging and strategy, media and analyst relations, content development (eBooks, whitepapers, case studies, bylines), and lead generation campaigns, delivered via professional service retainers and project-based engagements.
Product overview
Ketner Group is a public relations and communications agency specializing in retail technology. The company offers a suite of professional services including PR messaging and strategy, media and analyst relations, content development, and lead generation campaigns. The agency does not offer a software product or platform; all offerings are professional services delivered by their team of communications specialists. Ketner Group has operated for over 20 years and works with retail technology clients across verticals including grocery, fashion, hospitality, and specialty retail.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PR Messaging and Strategy Services
- Media and Analyst Relations
- Content Development
- Lead Generation Campaigns Integrated marketing campaigns combining PR tactics with paid media to drive qualified leads and brand awareness for B2B retail technology companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Client achieved 400 inbound leads per month from initial 30, with 33% attributed to PR efforts
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ketner Group
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ketner Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ketner Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ketner Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Walker Sands: B2B PR and integrated marketing agency with strong technology and SaaS practices serving venture-backed and growth-stage clients; directly comparable as a mid-sized B2B tech PR competitor with similar service mix including PR, content, and demand generation.
- PAN Communications: B2B tech PR agency of comparable size specializing in technology, healthcare, and B2B clients; competes directly for tech-vertical PR retainers and offers similar media relations, content, and lead-gen capabilities.
- Hotwire: Global technology PR and marketing consultancy with deep B2B tech expertise; overlaps in technology-PR positioning, content development, and communications strategy for B2B clients.
- RH Strategic: B2B public relations firm focused on technology and innovation clients; directly comparable in offering PR strategy, media relations, and thought-leadership content for technology brands.
- Version 2.0 Communications: B2B technology PR agency serving enterprise software and tech clients; comparable in PR-and-content integration for technology buyers and use of analyst relations.
- ARPR: Tech-focused PR agency serving B2B technology companies with media relations and content; closely comparable mid-size tech PR firm with similar service model and tech-vertical focus.
- March Communications: B2B PR and content marketing agency for technology companies; closely comparable in positioning around tech PR, content development, and demand-generation programs for B2B tech clients.
Broad incumbents
- 5W Public Relations: Larger, full-service PR agency with notable technology and B2B practices; competes with Ketner for tech clients but also serves consumer and lifestyle brands at greater scale.
- FINN Partners: Large global integrated marketing and PR firm with significant technology practice; offers overlapping capabilities but as part of much broader industry coverage including health, education, and consumer.
- WE Communications: Global communications agency with deep technology sector expertise and significant resources; broader portfolio across consumer, healthcare, and corporate but a direct tech-PR competitor for enterprise clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ketner Group social profiles
Digital presenceKetner Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ketner Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ketner Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ketner Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ketner Group
What does Ketner Group do?
Ketner Group is a B2B public relations and communications agency that provides strategic PR programs exclusively for retail technology companies. Its core offerings include PR messaging and strategy, media and analyst relations, content development (eBooks, whitepapers, case studies, bylines), and lead generation campaigns, delivered via professional service retainers and project-based engagements.
Is Ketner Group a public or private company?
Ketner Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ketner Group founded?
Ketner Group was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ketner Group based?
Ketner Group is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ketner Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: PR and Communications Services.
Who are Ketner Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Walker Sands, PAN Communications, Hotwire, RH Strategic, Version 2.0 Communications, ARPR and March Communications. Broad incumbents are 5W Public Relations, FINN Partners and WE Communications.
Does Ketner Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ketner Group.
What industry is Ketner Group in?
Ketner Group's product category is Public Relations Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAI, Technology & B2B PR. Its NAICS code is 541820.