Funding rounds are defining moments. They signal validation, growth and market confidence.
Whether it’s a $20 million Series B or a larger late-stage raise, and whether venture capital firms or private equity is involved, these milestones and funding announcement PR strategies represent a shift in trajectory. Smart PR teams want to announce a funding round and amplify it.
For many companies, that amplification conversation quickly leads to one place: the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square.
Nasdaq provides a market for innovators and industry leaders, with over 5,000 listed companies and 70% of S&P 500 companies representing over $40 trillion in market value.
Appearing on that screen is symbolic and, for some, the pinnacle of amplification. After all, hundreds of thousands of people visit Times Square every day, and it is universally recognized. An appearance on the tower signals an official arrival and signifies relevance. It turns a press release into a visual statement for the financial and technical world to see.
But to get your money’s worth when you’re featured on the tower, you need a plan.
Here’s how to approach it.
Start by Understanding Eligibility: How to Qualify for NASDAQ Tower Placement
Before you begin designing creative and reaching out to the right people, you need to determine whether your company qualifies for complimentary NASDAQ support.
Companies at Series B and above, most often raising $50 million or more, may qualify for:
- Complimentary tower shots captured by NASDAQ’s remote camera
- On-site photo opportunities with a NASDAQ photographer
- Relationship-building engagement tied to long-term IPO readiness and ongoing supportive collaboration
NASDAQ has been proactive in cultivating relationships with high-growth, tech-forward companies well before they formally list. If your company is on that trajectory, there may be opportunities to leverage the tower as part of that broader engagement.
Whether it’s Live from MarketSite, participation in a Nasdaq-hosted webinar series or as a Nasdaq TradeTalks conversation, featured companies can be amplified well beyond inclusion and promotion on the Nasdaq Tower.
Be Aware That Opportunities Do Exist for NASDAQ Tower Paid Placement
If you don’t qualify? That’s not the end of the road. There are other options you can consider.
Paid placements are available through NASDAQ’s exclusive partner, Branded Cities. Options range from one-minute-per-hour share-of-voice placements to high-impact roadblocks lasting 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes. The investment can scale depending on duration and frequency.
Know the Landscape: Funding Round Amplification Strategy for Series B Companies, Others
While both NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) offer visibility opportunities, their positioning and relationship strategies differ.
NASDAQ tends to engage earlier with growth-stage and technology-forward companies, including international firms preparing for potential U.S. listings. Engagement can extend beyond listing day and include tours, events, executive roundtables and IPO preparation discussions.
That distinction matters. If a company sees public markets as part of its long-term roadmap, a tower moment can serve as more than a celebratory gesture. It can open doors and begin conversations that stretch beyond a single funding announcement.
Understanding that ecosystem helps you frame the activation correctly, not as a one-off stunt, but as part of a larger strategic trajectory.
Where PR Becomes Strategic: More Than a NASDAQ Tower Photo Opportunity for Startups
A NASDAQ Tower placement is not a PR tactic. It’s a multiplier and an inventive way to make a splash and enhance the impact of a funding announcement.
Too often, teams treat the tower as an isolated asset: a logo on a screen in Times Square and a good photo opp. But when integrated properly, it becomes:
- A hero image across social channels
- A headline visual in media outreach
- A recruiting asset for top-tier talent
- A slide in investor decks
- A website takeover moment
- A validator for the big work that has led to the moment in time
- A morale boost internally
Strategic PR is about orchestrating timing, visuals, messaging, executive positioning and campaign cohesion so the tower activation amplifies momentum rather than standing alone.
Formatting and Execution Matter More Than Most PR and Marketing Teams Realize
There’s a practical production side to this that can’t be overlooked.
NASDAQ requires creative assets to meet very specific technical and formatting standards, so visuals must be purpose-built for the tower (not repurposed at the last minute) to ensure they display correctly and make the intended impact.
Final creative assets must be approved by NASDAQ and well thought out with the above strategic benefits in mind and delivered at least two full business days prior to posting.
These creatives should be purpose-built for visibility at scale, legible from a distance and consistent with your company brand standards while being bold enough to command attention in Times Square. Don’t be afraid to be memorable and fun. This marks a big moment in a company’s history. Live it up!
This image will live on in your sales decks and online as a validation and recruiting tool. Treat it as a validator with a lasting impact, and remember that it can’t be changed later on.
Let the Celebration – and Earned Media Strategy Results – Begin!
Companies seek milestone moments to shape how people view them, build speed and momentum, and create an avenue for lasting PR and business impact.
A funding announcement should be celebrated as a big growth moment.
A NASDAQ Tower activation is the culmination of long hours and tons of work. When that hard work is paired with cohesive messaging and a disciplined public relations strategy, the result is a perception shift, where a company goes from a promising startup to a market mover.
