Upright Position Communications

What Upright Position Communications does

Upright Position Communications is a boutique public relations agency founded in 2012 by Paul Wilke and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area (Vallejo, California). The firm operates with 1-10 employees and serves three core client segments: venture capital firms, companies preparing for IPOs or major capital funding rounds, and B2B technology and innovation companies. Its client roster has historically included enterprise and growth-stage companies such as Anaplan, FireEye, Garmin, Pandora, Rivian, Druva, Tableau (now Salesforce), and Virta Health, among others.

The firm's service offering is organized around strategic PR counsel, core message development, media outreach, crisis communications, social media engagement, product and funding announcements, media training, and event support. It has developed proprietary methodologies including the 'Slow PR' 10-tenet approach and the 'PR Triangle of Dysfunction' framework, and claims particular expertise in IPO quiet period management. The firm is affiliated with Walking Duck, a production company for video and multimedia content development. There is no technology platform or software product — the business is a pure professional services operation.

Upright Position Communications generates revenue through custom-quoted professional services engagements, typically structured as ongoing retainer relationships or project-based work, with multi-year contracts cited as the billing cadence. Its go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct engagement through the company website, referrals, and thought-leadership content marketing via the company blog and CEO media appearances. The firm is founder-owned, privately held, and has not raised external institutional funding.

Name

Upright Position Communications

Legal name

Upright Position Communications, LLC

Website

https://uprightcomms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Upright Position Communications is a boutique Bay Area public relations agency founded in 2012 that provides strategic PR counsel, IPO communications, and media relations to venture capital firms, B2B technology companies, and enterprises preparing for major capital funding events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAMALAO

PR, Reputation Management & Earned Media Platforms

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Advertising, Marketing & Creator Monetization Platforms

SECONDARYBPAFADAM

Social Media & Community Management (PR-led)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYBPAFADAG

Thought Leadership & Executive Visibility

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYBPAFADAO

Event PR & Communications Support

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYEDABANAE

Executive Presence & Communication Coaching

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Executive Coaching Services

Keywords

• Public relations services
• IPO communications
• Media relations
• Crisis communications
• Strategic communications counsel

Headquarters

HQ city

Vallejo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. PR Strategy and Communications Services: Professional services revenue from providing strategic PR counsel, media relations, messaging development, and communications support to companies. Services are delivered through ongoing retainer relationships or project-based engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Upright Position Communications is a boutique public relations agency that delivers strategic PR counsel, core message development, media outreach, crisis communications, media training, social media engagement, and content/video production for startups, emerging-growth, and blue-chip technology companies. Services are organized around three practice areas — Venture Capital, IPOs & Capital Funding, and B2B Tech & Innovation — and are grounded in the firm's proprietary "Slow PR" methodology and "PR Triangle of Dysfunction" framework. Engagements are delivered on retainer or project basis via senior practitioner involvement.

Product overview

Upright Position Communications is a boutique public relations agency based in Silicon Valley/Bay Area, founded in 2012. The company offers a unified suite of PR and communications services organized around three core practice areas: Venture Capital communications, IPOs & Major Capital Funding support, and B2B Technology & Innovation. Services span strategic PR counsel, core message development, media outreach, crisis communications, social media engagement, product/funding announcements, event support, media training, and video production. The agency is affiliated with Walking Duck, a production company for content development. The firm specializes in serving startups, emerging growth companies, and blue chip companies, with particular expertise in IPO communications and PR strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic PR Counsel & Communications Services Full-service strategic PR counsel for startups, emerging-growth, and blue-chip technology companies, encompassing core message development, corporate narrative writing, media outreach, crisis communications, social media engagement, product and funding announcements, industry commentary placement, marketing integration, event support, media training, and video production. Delivered through retainer or project-based engagements.
• Venture Capital Practice Area PR and communications services tailored for venture capital firms and their portfolio companies, balancing promotion of both the VC firm and its investments with visionary positioning.
• IPOs & Major Capital Funding Practice Area Communications strategy and support for companies preparing for IPOs and major capital funding rounds, including stakeholder messaging, investor communications, and IPO quiet-period management.
• B2B Technology & Innovation Practice Area PR services for B2B technology and innovation companies, including communications infrastructure development, messaging strategy, and media coverage strategies.
• Walking Duck Production Company Affiliated production company supporting content development and video/multimedia creation for Upright Position Communications clients; led by Mark Halperin as partner, mentor and friend.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 15 successful IPOs under counsel
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Walking DuckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated production company for content development. Led by Mark Halperin as partner, mentor and friend. Content development is positioned as part of PR's evolution, with Walking Duck supporting Upright's efforts in solid messaging and great content creation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Walker Sands: B2B-focused integrated marketing and PR agency with deep technology practice. Comparable in serving B2B technology clients with media relations, messaging, and communications strategy — overlapping directly with Upright's B2B Tech & Innovation practice area.
• Codeword: B2B technology PR and communications agency serving enterprise software, AI, and developer-focused companies. Direct peer in the tech PR space with overlapping service offerings around media relations and strategic messaging.
• PAN Communications: Mid-sized B2B tech PR and marketing agency with deep technology, healthcare, and industrial tech practices. Comparable in serving B2B technology clients across growth stages with integrated PR and content services.
• 5W Public Relations: Full-service boutique-to-mid-sized PR agency offering strategic communications across consumer, tech, B2B, and corporate practice areas. Directly comparable in service mix (strategic counsel, media relations, crisis) and in serving both startups/emerging growth and established companies.
• The Hoffman Agency: Global B2B technology PR agency with Silicon Valley roots and offices worldwide. Comparable in targeting B2B tech and enterprise clients, though at larger scale; overlapping in messaging and media relations capabilities.
• Bateman Group: Silicon Valley-based PR firm focused on technology, consumer, and enterprise companies. Directly comparable as a Bay Area boutique PR agency serving venture-backed and enterprise technology clients with strategic media relations.
• Highwire PR: B2B technology and cybersecurity-focused PR agency with strong enterprise tech positioning. Comparable to Upright in serving cybersecurity (Arkose, FireEye, Pindrop) and enterprise B2B tech clients with strategic media programs.
• ARPR (Aim High Reach Power Relationships): Tech-focused PR agency serving B2B technology companies from startups to public enterprises. Directly comparable in core audience (B2B tech, growth-stage companies) and service mix of strategic PR counsel and media relations.
• LaunchSquad: Tech and consumer PR agency with offices in San Francisco and other major tech hubs. Comparable in serving startups through enterprise tech companies with media relations, story development, and brand-building communications.

Broad incumbents

• Horn Group: Historic Silicon Valley B2B tech PR firm now operating under FINN Partners. Comparable in original positioning (B2B tech PR for enterprise and growth-stage clients), though it now operates as part of a larger global agency network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uprightcomms
• Facebookfacebook.com/UprightComms
• Instagraminstagram.com/uprightcomms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2738402

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Upright Position Communications