Coffee With: Rahme Mehmet, MD and Founder of TechComms
Q: Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and TechComms?
A: TechComms is a B2B tech marketing and communications agency. We’re a multinational and multicultural team of experts. We specialise in helping tech companies get their message out through a variety of services. We offer traditional communications services like media relations and messaging, but we also provide analyst relations, which is my personal background. Beyond that, we offer content creation and, more recently, we’ve expanded into digital marketing for demand generation, and organic social strategy.
We’ve also added share of voice analysis, measurement and competitive insights to our services. It’s important for us to offer data-driven analysis on what’s working for our clients. We’ve even started providing video and podcast content for clients, so it’s fair to say we’ve evolved into a full-service agency over the years (actually, we’ve got our own podcast; you should take a listen!).
Q: Traditionally, PR agencies have focused mainly on media relations, but you seem to be offering much more. How did that come about?
A: When I first started TechComms, it was a solo consultancy focused on analyst relations. But, clients began asking for additional services. It was an organic evolution based on my clients’ needs. We did well with analyst relations, so they asked, “Can you handle PR? Can you help with content or social strategy?”
At the same time, the market itself has changed. Clients in the UK expect agencies to offer a mix of services that align with their broader business objectives. It’s not just about getting media coverage anymore; it’s about integrating PR, content, digital, and social strategies to drive business outcomes. So, we adapted and expanded to meet our clients’ needs.
Q: Was running your own agency always part of your career plan, or did something specific push you in that direction?
A: It wasn’t part of a grand career plan, to be honest. The agency came about after I was made redundant from a larger tech agency where I was the sole in-house analyst relations consultant. When one of their large accounts moved on, I was let go. Instead of seeing it as a setback, I saw it as an opportunity. I had built relationships and expertise over the years, and I thought, why not continue doing what I’m good at, but on my own terms? So, I started TechComms. It was definitely a brave move at the time, but I’m glad I made it. It’s been an incredible journey so far.
Q: Fast forward to today, what does your role at TechComms look like? Are you still hands-on with clients, or has your role shifted more to the business side?
A: My role has evolved a lot. I check in with the team daily – every morning – to support them and help set priorities, but I’m more focused on business development now—attending industry events, meeting with clients, creating proposals and growing the business. I still have a passion for analyst relations, so I dip in when I can.
Recently, I’ve been more involved in shaping our marketing strategy, ensuring that our values and the work we do are communicated effectively. We held some internal workshops to re-define our core values. Our core values are essential to our approach: we are a creative agency and back that up with a data-driven approach; we’re committed to our clients and to each other. We strive for excellence, consistently aiming for high standards, especially in content, as our clients will confirm! Adaptability and accountability are also key, reflecting our agile, growing team. Our accountability ensures open, honest communication with clients, taking responsibility for outcomes and explaining any challenges when necessary.
Q: Speaking of your team, can you give us an idea of how TechComms is structured?
Rahme: We’re a small but growing team, and we operate across multiple service lines. Lisa Perry is our senior account director, with experience in both PR and analyst relations. She has been with us for more than 8-years. We also have Avani Gill, our senior account manager who focuses on media relations traditionally, but is broadening into analyst relations, and a great pool of content creators with backgrounds in journalism, in-house product marketing, and technical writing. On the digital side, Paula Morris heads up our demand generation programmes for our clients. Recently, we’ve also brought in expertise on organic social strategy to ensure we’re promoting our clients—and ourselves—effectively.
Q: With such a senior team, where do you see the agency’s sweet spot in terms of clients? Are you more focused on large tech brands or smaller startups?
A: Our expertise lies more with scale-ups and larger tech brands, although we’ve worked with startups too. Startups can be exciting because you get to see them grow, but larger clients typically need a broader range of services. That’s where we excel—we can offer everything from PR to analyst relations to digital marketing, helping them with their entire marketing and communications needs.
Q: You launched TechComms back in 2006. What’s been the best year for the agency so far?
A: I’d say 2023 was our best year yet. We achieved exceptional results for our clients, got them into key analyst reports, and started integrating more of our services across the board. As a result, we recently won the PRCA Small Agency of the Year award, which was a huge honour. We were also nominated for several others, such as the CIPR and IIAR awards. It was a year of both great results and recognition.
Q: Finally, if a tech company came to you tomorrow, what’s the one thing you’d want them to know about TechComms?
A: I’d want them to know that we’re passionate about what we do and who we work with. We love partnering with companies that are making a real difference, whether that’s in stopping fraud, combating cyber threats, or improving peoples’ lives through technology. We’re also data-driven and creative, so we ensure that the work we do delivers real, measurable impact.
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