Case Study:
Io.net - Brand Growth &Founder-First Marketing
In 2025, over a 6-month campaign, our mandate with Io.net was not just to secure press coverage; it was to shape the brand's positioning and elevate its founder as a visionary in decentralised computing. Io.net is a Web3 startup offering a decentralised GPU computing network that allows anyone with spare GPU power to provide it to AI companies. This concept positioned Io.net at the intersection of two hot trends: artificial intelligence (a market projected to grow from approximately $184 billion in 2024 to approximately $826 billion by 2030) and distributed Web3 infrastructure addressing AI's compute bottlenecks.
We crafted a founder-first media strategy to capitalise on these trends. Instead of pushing product updates alone, we positioned Io.net's founder as a thought leader in the emerging field of decentralised cloud computing, weaving the company's story into wider conversations about AI and the DePIN movement (Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Networks). For example, Io.net was framed not just as a tech startup, but as a pioneer 3 assembling a global network of 1M+ GPUs to decentralise the AI stack and challenge Big Tech's dominance in AI computing. By aligning Io.net's narrative with these broader themes (AI, distributed infrastructure, and DePIN), we made the brand part of future-shaping discussions in the Web3 ecosystem rather than just another product launch.
Io.net's vision of an "Internet of GPUs" is being discussed during a crypto podcast interview (Brave New Coin's Crypto Conversation), illustrating the founder-first approach that gave Io.net a voice in long-form industry dialogues. To execute the strategy, we deployed several PR tactics in parallel:
We secured long-form podcast appearances and in-depth interviews for the founder on influential platforms 3 including The Defiant, Delphi Digital, When Shift Happens, Messari, and DePIN State. These hour-plus conversations allowed Io.net's leadership to delve into the project's vision and share domain expertise. For instance, on The Defiant podcast, the founder explained how Io.net aggregates over a million GPUs worldwide to democratise AI compute, solidifying his credibility as a leader in decentralised tech. This founder-centric exposure helped humanise the brand and inject Io.net's perspective into high-level debates on AI and crypto.
We balanced top-tier and niche press to reach both investor and builder audiences. Our team secured Tier 1 coverage in mainstream financial and crypto news outlets (9 placements in outlets like Yahoo Finance, Benzinga, Bitcoin.com, TheStreet, MSN, etc.), ensuring Io.net's story reached broad investor circles. Simultaneously, we placed features in Tier 2 trade and regional media (8 placements, e.g. Brave New Coin, Idaho Statesman, Capacity Media) and Tier 3 specialist crypto publications (3 placements, e.g. The Defiant's news site, CoinRank). This mix meant Io.net was visible on high-authority platforms (average Domain Authority of 71) while also engaging the technical community. Each article was guided by our core narrative 3 emphasising how "Io.net isn't just building tech, it's redefining how compute power is accessed and owned." By spreading this message across media tiers, we captured the attention of VCs, industry analysts, and grassroots developers alike.
We worked closely with reporters and podcast hosts to frame Io.net as a category-defining project. Key talking points highlighted Io.net as the first and only GPU-based DePIN project in the market, offering a "fundamentally different approach to cloud computing" via decentralisation. Rather than focusing on incremental product updates, coverage stories were pitched around bigger-picture themes 3 such as the decentralisation of AI infrastructure, the concept of an "Internet of GPUs," and communityowned computing. This ensured that even in shorter news pieces, Io.net was described in transformative terms. One crypto news article, for example, noted that Io.net's distributed model "sets io.net in its own league of decentralised providers". Such positioning reinforced the idea that Io.net is reshaping the landscape, not just launching a service.
This founder-first, narrative-driven approach yielded impressive results and significantly boosted Io.net's share of voice:
pieces of coverage secured in six months, spanning written
articles, news features, and podcast interviews.
The average Domain Authority of outlets, reflecting a focus on
high-credibility publications. Io.net's story hit premier news sites and respected industry blogs, lending substantial legitimacy.
An estimated impressions were generated, with a total audience
reach of about 193 million (through syndication and aggregate readership figures). This broad exposure introduced Io.net to potential investors, partners, and community members globally.
In summary, the founder-first PR strategy for Io.net delivered strong growth in both brand visibility and credibility. By
orchestrating high-impact media placements and positioning the company at the forefront of industry trends, we achieved
coverage that extended well beyond product news. Io.net is now firmly embedded in the broader dialogue about the
future of computing, with its founder recognised as a voice driving that conversation. This case demonstrates how a
savvy narrative and tiered media outreach can transform a Web3 startup from an unknown name into a thought leader
with influence across mainstream and niche channels.
AKT Ventures LTD | THE PR GENIUS are specialized in driving brand awareness through specialized press and media releases for all types of projects. Our services are backed-up by the experience of our experts.
