From Series B to Unicorn to National Expansion: How PR Powered BuildOps’ Rise

At a Glance

• Coverage Volume: 679 Pieces
• Audience Reach: 7.81M Views
• Backlinks: 579
• Media Value: $6.4M AVE

The Partnership

Salient PR began working with BuildOps in February 2024, when the company was preparing for Series C conversations. We've since supported their $127M raise, $1B valuation, and expansion into Raleigh with 291 new jobs.

The Challenge

BuildOps operates at the intersection of vertical SaaS and skilled trades—two categories that don't naturally command mainstream tech coverage. Before investor meetings, CEO Alok Chanani needed credibility beyond trade press. After the unicorn milestone, the company needed to prove the valuation wasn't a peak—it was a launchpad.

The Strategy

• Executive Positioning: We placed Alok in Newsweek and ran his contributed columns in Forbes and Entrepreneur, with bylines on workforce modernization and military leadership—establishing him as an authority around the Series C
• Unicorn Launch: We secured TechCrunch, Reuters, The Information, LA Business Journal, and many more for the $127M announcement, framing BuildOps as validation for the construction tech category.
• Raleigh Expansion: In June 2025, Governor Josh Stein announced BuildOps' East Coast HQ at a press conference. In October, Mayor Janet Cowell attended the ribbon cutting. Alok appeared on NYSE TV. Coverage hit Axios Raleigh, Triangle Business Journal, ABC11, WRAL, and regional outlets across the Southeast

The Results

BuildOps went from Series B startup to unicorn to a company with government officials cutting ribbons. Recognition includes Wharton Magazine's Fall/Winter 2025 spotlight, Forbes America's Best Startup Employers, and the Inc. 5000 top 100 fastest-growing private companies.