We had the good fortune of connecting with David Barkoe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I moved to Miami in 2013 for a change of pace. I got a job at a local PR firm and during that time, had met some of the early OGs of the Miami startup community. Having moved from NYC and its bustling tech scene, I was intrigued and realized there was no PR firm focused on startups and tech that could support this ecosystem.

So, I went to my boss at the time and said “Hey, we should get involved in this and find some clients and I’ll lead the effort.” Boss said no, forget about it, waste of time and money, don’t bother me get out of my office.

At the same time, I wasn’t very happy at my job. I felt like I was boxed in, so when he said “no,” I said “yes.” It was at that point, September 2014, that Carve Communications was born to be the agency of record for the Miami tech community.

I felt that there was a hole in the growing ecosystem, and founders shouldn’t have to call a firm in San Fransisco, NYC or Austin for high-quality PR. Now here we are 9 years later, we’ve represented nearly 100 startups in Florida, have clients based around the world, and more than 25 full-time employees based in Florida, NYC, Chicago, and elsewhere.

What should our readers know about your business?
Carve Communications is a PR firm that lives at the intersection of innovation and everyday life. Our clients cross consumer and enterprise technology–from toys to smart locks, to logistics software and content management platforms.

What makes us unique is our focus on executing sustainable PR campaigns, our team mentality, and our core belief that we are not an agency, but a partner to all our clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Sunset Harbor–Lucali pizza is there. Of course, Wynwood, and I have a huge soft spot for Surfside, a beautiful beach community away from the hustle and bustle (and weirdness!) of South Beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is not just one person to shout out, it’s multiple people including some of the OG Miami founders like Brian Brackeen, Rodolfo Saccoman, and Will Weinraub. There’s my old boss who didn’t believe. And there’s my wife, who’s supported me through all of the ups and downs of entrepreneurship–and there have certainly been some downs.

Website: https://carvecomms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carvecomms/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carve-pr/mycompany/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carvecomms

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