Startup growth can move at lightspeed, and it’s not uncommon for startup founders to be on the lookout for top-notch employees to aid in the company’s explosive development. This situation is especially true when searching for quality executives to join a C-suite team. Tech founders with backgrounds in engineering or software development may struggle to determine the best time to hire a Chief Marketing Officer, or CMO, to help their startup refine its company’s brand and increase revenue and public image.

As a tech PR and marketing agency that supports startups at all stages of funding and development, we’ve worked with a few CMOs in our day, and we’ve gathered some tips for making the right hire at the right time.

A notable series a funding round

For starters, hiring a CMO may be a good idea if your startup has raised at least $10 to $15 million in Series A funding. The trajectory of your company’s growth suggests that your team has or will be able to grow and support a solid team around an experienced executive at their salary.

Target market reached

A company’s marketing team has a greater responsibility when gaining traction in the market. Your product-market fit will attract both customers and top talent because that executive knows your startup has passed the discovery phase and is now laser-focused on its unique selling proposition in a competitive marketplace.

Having a strong CMO can help your startup gain a foothold in the market and begin attracting more prominent and respectable clients. If your startup utilizes a tech PR firm or an in-house team of strategists, your marketing efforts can make waves in the industry. The credibility you’re building through market traction will enable you to land placements in tier one news outlets and publications.

Accelerated growth

Accelerated growth can signal the right time for a leader to head the charge with effective marketing to capitalize on your success story, whether or not significant funding is provided to kickstart your startup. There are many opportunities for marketing and public relations to work together during a period of high growth, including case studies, webinars, and other forms of content creation.

Prepared to advance

If your startup has been around for a while, there’s a possibility that excitement or momentum is dwindling. At this stage, your startup could benefit from bringing in a C-level marketing executive to help it achieve its subsequent funding, acquisition, or IPO goal. A new CMO’s big-picture perspective will enliven the executive team and spur creativity at every stage of your startup’s development.

Marketing team expansion

It’s critical to have a senior manager in charge of the marketing team as your marketing efforts grow or lead generation shifts to the marketing team under a new company strategy. In addition to leading the marketing team, an experienced CMO with the appropriate credentials can help you reinvent your perspective to attract and retain customers.

Expanding geographically

Finally, as a company expands both domestically and globally, the need for a chief marketing officer becomes apparent. You’ll need the assistance of an experienced marketer to navigate the complexities of managing teams in multiple locations, each with its own set of policies and markets.

About Kennedy Nunez: Kennedy is a Business Development Associate for Swyft, which is a tech PR firm in Austin and Houston and a top digital marketing and PR agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft also has a small satellite office offering tech PR in San Francisco. Swyft has been listed as one of the top tech PR agencies in Texas for two years running by the B2B services review site, Clutch.co.