STRATEGIC communications, Content, & Connections
Articulating and amplifying the stories, insights, and personalities that drive credibility, influence, and growth for tech startups and scaleups, investors, and enablers across the innovation ecosystem.
WHO IS IGA?
A communications builder and leader and commercially-aligned partner to CEOs and founders in the innovation ecosystem for more than a decade.
I’ve worked in strategic communications in the technology sector since 2012, and specifically in the innovation ecosystem since 2016.
I build and lead commercially-aligned communications functions and programmes that move organisations from reactive output to proactive, narrative-led campaigning strategies. Combining earned and owned media with real-world connections, those programmes define positions, lead conversations, secure trust, and enable the achievement of fundraising, growth, and policy goals.
I’ve worked with startups, scaleups, and investors across a wide range of complex sectors — including AI/deeptech, space, health, fintech, climate, mobility, and more — and at all stages from seed to IPO. Ecosystem enablers I’ve worked with include accelerators, corporate innovation teams, and think tanks. I’ve also represented academic institutions, professional services firms, media brands, corporates, and listed tech companies.
My work spans the full range of communications and public relations, but with a particular focus on building foundational strategies, narratives, and thought leadership, and helping clients maximise the impact of milestone moments. I especially enjoy operating in the space between a technical breakthrough and its first contact with the public, translating complexity while retaining substance to secure “licence to operate” for innovators in high-stakes, high-scrutiny industries.
Communications functions I’ve led have: secured investment, customers, and talent for rapidly-scaling tech businesses; established VCs as thought leaders and in-demand investors in their sector and category; influenced Government policy; turned a potential reputational crisis into breakthrough positive brand-building; and platformed founders and investors on the biggest stages and in the most influential media outlets.
For five years before entering independent consultancy, I served on the senior leadership team of one of the UK’s leading specialist comms firms for the innovation ecosystem.
Iain ALEXANDER
COMMS IMPACT ACROSS THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Whatever your role in the ecosystem, make your story a strategic asset and communications a force multiplier.
Making complex technology and new business models relevant and understandable to key audiences — from investors and talent to policymakers, media, and the wider public.
Demonstrating unique domain expertise to shape conversations, build reputation and influence, and accelerate growth.
TECH STARTUPS & SCALEUPS
Demonstrating both fund-level and individual vision, insight, track record, and — in an increasingly competitive market — impact and value-add that goes far beyond the cheque book.
Becoming the first call for the best deal flow, LPs, and media and other stakeholders looking to understand the shape and direction the future is taking.
INVESTORS
Speaking the language of innovation authentically, and demonstrating both depth of understanding of the issues facing entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.
Showcasing a track record of delivering services, platforms, and connections that make a material difference to their success.
ECOSYSTEM ENABLERS
END-TO-END STRATEGIC COMMS
From finding your voice and articulating your story to building the platforms and processes that ensure it reaches the right people at the right time and provokes action.
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Defining your story – translating complexity while retaining sophistication and differentiation, establishing “licence to operate”, and presenting appropriately to different audiences.
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Turning data, insights, opinions, and experience into influence – making compelling arguments that demonstrate credibility, move conversations forward, and drive action and change.
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Developing long- and short-form content that carries insight and influence, in your voice, tailored to your audiences, across earned and owned platforms.
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Establishing, maintaining, and protecting reputations rooted in personality and unique expertise, across earned and owned media, events, and networks.
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Building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships and delivering the independent validation that amplifies the impact of milestone moments.
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Staking out your position on issues that shape your operating environment, and working to engage and influence policymakers and regulators.
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Mapping vulnerabilities and threats, building processes and assets, and responding with agility, authenticity, and discretion.
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Driving active participation and connection to reach and engage key stakeholders directly and grow your influence.
ENGAGEMENT MODELS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS
A flexible approach for fast-moving organisations with evolving requirements in an ever-changing operating environment.
Fixed-fee, time-bound engagement around a specific activity — developing corporate narrative and messaging, refining a pitch deck, handling a news announcement, creating a landmark piece of content, or building a framework for executive thought leadership, for example.
Ideal if — limited budget is best deployed on sprints around comms fundamentals and key moments.
PROJECT
Ongoing engagement for an agreed number of days per week or month, balancing CEO/founder and senior leadership advisory, strategy, and tactical execution as needed.
Ideal if — you have some internal resource to handle execution but need access to senior strategic consultancy without the expense of a full-time hire or a full-service agency.
FRACTIONAL
Full-time engagement for an extended period, balancing CEO/founder and senior leadership advisory, strategy, leadership of any existing team (or building one from scratch), and tactical execution as needed.
Ideal if — you need full-time in-house comms leadership through an important period.
EMBEDDED
READY TO TAKE THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
Whether you already know what you need, want to work out your options, or just want to find out more about IGA, send a message and let’s talk…