# Sparkpr

> Sparkpr is an independent San Francisco public relations and integrated marketing agency built for companies selling complicated technology. Founded in 1999 by former Netscape communicators Donna Burke and Chris Hempel, it serves clients from stealth startups to Fortune 1000 companies across AI, quantum, enterprise software, financial services, blockchain, consumer technology, climate, and life sciences. Its differentiator is a mix of long-standing technology-media expertise, full-funnel creative and paid services, and a proprietary AI intelligence engine called The Brain, which the firm says helps analyze sentiment, spot narratives, and improve media targeting.

- **Founded:** 1999
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Founders:** Donna Burke (Co-Founder), Chris Hempel (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 64 employees in the supplied company record; public directories range from 40 employees to a 51-200 band
- **Products:** Public Relations and Media Relations, Integrated Marketing, Creative and Digital Production, The Brain, Technology Sector Programs
- **Notable:** Named an Inc. Power Partner in 2022 and again in 2024., Named to Forbes' 2021 list of America's Best PR Agencies with a five-star average in the survey used for the list., Appeared on the Inc. 5000 eight times between 2007 and 2015, according to Inc.'s company profile.

## Products & services

- **Public Relations and Media Relations** — Strategic counsel, messaging architecture, journalist and influencer outreach, thought leadership, media appearances, press tours, media training, events, and awards programs.
- **Integrated Marketing** — Analysis, strategy, content development, organic social, social listening, community management, paid search, paid social, programmatic display, and marketing automation.
- **Creative and Digital Production** — Design and branding, graphics, web development, media production, and video production connected to campaign strategy.
- **The Brain** — A proprietary AI-driven intelligence engine that Sparkpr says analyzes engagement and journalist sentiment, detects emerging narratives, and refines media strategy.
- **Technology Sector Programs** — Specialist communications for AI and quantum, blockchain, climate tech, consumer tech, enterprise software, financial services, venture capital, life sciences, and biotech.

## Achievements

- Named an Inc. Power Partner in 2022 and again in 2024.
- Named to Forbes' 2021 list of America's Best PR Agencies with a five-star average in the survey used for the list.
- Appeared on the Inc. 5000 eight times between 2007 and 2015, according to Inc.'s company profile.
- Listed by O'Dwyer's among Newsweek's America's Best Public Relations Agencies 2024 in Technology, AI, and Telecommunications.
- Sparkpr says its client work has contributed to more than $17 billion in exits.
- Sparkpr reports helping more than 1,000 innovators and industry leaders since 1999.
- Its Typeface campaign generated coverage or syndication in 183 publications and helped produce inbound interest from a Fortune 500 company.
- Its Lucid Air campaign reported 169 original stories, 1.82 billion potential online readership, and more than 102,000 social shares.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Sparkpr described itself publicly as remote-first, with a team spanning time zones and markets.
- **2026-07** — The agency published social and digital marketing guidance focused on participation, authority, and AI-era discovery rather than vanity reach.
- **2024-11** — Inc. recognized Sparkpr as a 2024 Power Partner in public relations.
- **2022-11** — Sparkpr received Inc.'s inaugural Power Partner Award for B2B service providers supporting entrepreneurs.
- **2020-10** — Forbes included Sparkpr in its 2021 list of America's Best PR Agencies.

## Links

- Website: https://sparkpr.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparkpr
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sparkpr
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC93n5zCw4-WT0oQQ1ih79rA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkpr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SparkPR.Agency/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparkpr?lang=en

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sparkpr
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-14