CASE STUDY: Valyant AI
The Challenge
Launch the first real-world deployment of enterprise-level conversational AI technology from an unknown startup while capturing investor attention ahead of an upcoming funding round.
The Work
Strategy/Messaging: Developed differentiated messaging for investors, media and customers and rolled it into a cohesive communications strategy built to support scale.
Targeted Earned Media: Developed and executed a pitching strategy centered on Valyant’s first real-world deployment of its transformative drive-thru ordering technology. We targeted both industry-specific and top-tier outlets, using timely announcements and reactive pitching to keep Valyant consistently visible across the news cycle. Coverage focused on customer experience, employee efficiency, AI adoption and the fast-food labor shortage, maximizing impact in the outlets that matter most.
Award Submissions: Identified key industry and technology awards and crafted submissions on Valyant’s behalf, earning several impactful wins: Best Emerging Technology ICX: ICX Association Elevate Awards, Robotics + AI Pitch Competition Winner: TechCrunch, Best In-Store Technology: Modern Retail Awards.
The Results
In addition to the award wins, the campaign dramatically increased Valyant’s visibility and attracted press, investors and customers.
The first earned placement was a feature in The Washington Post, establishing mainstream awareness and credibility.
70 earned media features in just one year, including an interview with Stuart Varney on Fox Business Network
More than 825,000 actual online views of coverage
Impact ahead of Valyant’s $4.3 million funding round
The campaign didn’t just drive visibility; it cemented Valyant AI as a serious player in AI-driven QSR solutions, putting the company on the radar of some of the largest fast-food chains in the world. That momentum opened doors to meaningful partnerships and accelerated growth in a crowded, competitive category.
In 2024, that trajectory culminated in ConverseNow’s acquisition of Valyant AI, uniting both companies around a shared mission to scale voice AI across the quick-service restaurant industry.
“Right out of the gate, the team got us a home run... that really gave us a national and international presence. That generated investor interest and customer interest and took us from not visible to highly visible.” — Rob Carpenter, Founder & Former CEO, Valyant AI
This campaign was led by Vigilante PR Chief Alchemist, Melissa Christensen, as part of her work before founding Vigilante PR.
