the

Evolving communications
for a shifting landscape

THE
communications agency
‍that makes a point.

Contact Us

a note
FROM 
NEEDLE

We believe that great communications should inspire action.

‍
But getting anyone to pay attention, let alone take action, is harder than ever.

The number of companies, products, and founders competing for visibility has skyrocketed since the onset of LLMs. When mere ideas can become market-ready products in a flash, quality exposure requires sharper, nimbler strategies than even a few years ago.

The slop flooding reporters’ inboxes, investors’ LinkedIn feeds, and every channel in between is eroding trust across the board. Quality has long mattered more than quantity in comms, but with AI creating and spreading content at scale, the path to meaningful engagement has become steeper, rockier, and harder to predict.

Earned media placements, and the authentic attention that comes with them, are both more valuable to companies and harder for them to secure. LLMs prioritize credible news outlets when deciding which brands to recommend to users, but newsrooms have shrunk so much that the bar for coverage is higher and rising rapidly.

We could go on, but here’s the point: Speed and volume aren't enough to break through in this environment. Capturing attention, and sustaining it, requires writing a new playbook, then rewriting it again and again, in real time.

That's where our team of seasoned communications professionals—exceptional writers, strategic thinkers, and relentless executors who hail from careers in film, journalism, education, politics, and beyond—comes in.

We bring the breadth of experience, creativity, discernment, and craft now required to move the needle and set our clients apart in the AI era, along with an insatiable curiosity for what comes next.

If you’re interested in learning more about our approach (and dare we say, are inspired to take action), we’d love to connect.

Sincerely,
The Needle Team

a future-focused Approach

Evolving communications for a shifting landscape.

MINDSET & OFFERINGS

We help innovative clients solving meaningful problems, transforming who has capital, resources, rights, & ultimately, the ability to live a happy & healthy life.
We continuously adapt our methods to stay ahead of where communications is going, from owned content to AI-powered tools to emerging mediums.
We are a team of exceptional writers & creative thinkers, including campaign operatives, documentary filmmakers, former actors, reporters, & teachers.

Services

STRATEGY

Short-term campaigns that drive awareness, excitement, + FOMO around key moments
Long-term programs that establish trust, credibility, + category leadership
Crisis + reputation management to avoid or navigate difficult headlines

Messaging

Core narrative architecture to anchor all materials with a clear, consistent POV, so even LLMs can contextualize and repeat priority messages
Tailored talking points that adapt that narrative for every target audience + media vertical
Industry research + competitive landscape analysis to identify white space in crowded or emerging markets

Media Relations

End-to-end management of all media-facing communications, from strategy through execution
A close eye on the rapidly evolving media landscape to reach the right audiences across traditional newsrooms + emerging platforms
Relentless emphasis on influence over saturation, quality storytelling over volume

MEDIA TRAINING

One-on-one coaching to help founders + executives become leading industry voices
Group sessions to align teams on messaging + sharpen skills beyond media, from selling to customers to pitching investors
Interview strategies specific to the AI era

OWNED CONTENT

Original content development that complements earned media efforts by establishing company and executive authority
Op-ed + contributed byline pitching, executive ghostwriting that hones thought leadership
Writing, research, + planning support for company blogs, newsletters, case studies, + LinkedIn posts

SPEAKING + AWARDS

Strategic award submissions to build brand credibility
High-value speaking placements to reach + engage industry decision-makers
Event development, including roundtables, pop-ups, webinars, + more

Work

Clients trust us to deliver results that move the needle. 
01

SONAR

High visibility digital & print feature introducing a pre-seed startup to relevant audiences.
02

RUBI

Showcasing momentum on the path to commercialization across biz, tech & trade media.
03

PLURAL

Company profiles that join & catalyze timely conversations with expert exec insights.
04

MATTOBOARD

Driving customer acquisition with carefully curated podcast placements.
05

FLOAT HEALTH

Editorial content development to own the narrative & speak directly to high-priority stakeholders.
06

TWENTYEIGHT HEALTH

An exclusive Series A funding feature bolstered by 20+ unique pieces of announcement coverage.

LEADERSHIP

Ambitious, creative, nimble, sharp, & deeply strategic.

TeSs
Pawlisch

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
CONNECT
Tess Pawlisch

Dedee
Droege

Director of Content Development
CONNECT
Dedee Droege

ISABEL
HUGHES

Director of Media Strategy
CONNECT
Isabel Hughes
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