Spark PR: San Francisco Tech and Consumer PR Agency Profile
Spark PR is a San Francisco tech PR agency founded in 1999 by Netscape alumni Donna Burke and Chris Hempel, now remote-first with Inc. and Forbes honors.
Region
U.S. Regional Markets — PR Firms by State & City
Specialty
Technology & B2B
Updated
Nov 2, 2026
Desk
EPR Editorial Team
Firm summary
Spark PR (Sparkpr) is an independent San Francisco public relations and integrated marketing agency for companies selling complicated technology, founded in 1999 by Netscape alumni Donna Burke and Chris Hempel. It describes itself as remote-first, serves clients from stealth startups to Fortune 1000 companies across AI, quantum, enterprise software, financial services, blockchain, consumer technology and climate, and has been recognized by Forbes and Inc.
Originally published January 2016. Updated November 2, 2026.
In this profile
- What are the key facts about Spark PR?
- How did Spark PR start?
- Who leads Spark PR?
- How has Spark PR grown?
- What does Spark PR do?
- Which clients has Spark PR worked with?
- What recognition has Spark PR received?
- What is the latest Spark PR news?
- How does Spark PR compare with other technology PR firms?
How did Spark PR start?
Hempel and Burke met in the PR department at Netscape, according to Spark's 20-year anniversary page, and started the firm in 1999. Wikipedia says its early clients were Silicon Valley start-ups and former Netscape colleagues, and that it signed one-year contracts for launches and IPOs in exchange for equity. In the first weeks the founders reportedly built desks from doors bought at Home Depot, working in an old locksmith shop after starting in the back room of Hempel's house. Spark says Alan Soucy was a client, running a micro-fuel cell company, before he joined as CEO.
Who leads Spark PR?
| Name | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Donna Sokolsky Burke | Co-founder | Former Netscape communicator; named a PR News Top Woman in PR |
| Chris Hempel | Co-founder | Former Netscape communicator who helped launch the first commercial web browser |
| Alan Soucy | Chairman emeritus and board member | Named CEO in 2006, with day-to-day leadership split between him and Burke as managing partners. See EPR's Alan Soucy and Spark |
| Cameron McPherson | Chief financial and operating officer | Listed by O'Dwyer's |
| Ellen Edelman and Amy Packard Berry | Executive vice presidents | Listed by O'Dwyer's |
How has Spark PR grown?
- 1999: Burke and Hempel found Spark in San Francisco after leaving Netscape.
- 2006: Alan Soucy is named CEO.
- 2007: The firm founds the London-based affiliate SPR Europe.
- 2008: It opens in South Africa.
- 2012: It opens in New York.
- October 2014: The Holmes Report describes Sparkpr as a 15-year-old tech boutique with more than 50 people and 2013 revenue just over $11 million, up 2.5 percent, when it buys the Bay Area digital shop Socialarc for its social analytics and design capabilities.
- November 2024: Inc. recognizes Sparkpr as a 2024 Power Partner in public relations.
- July 2026: The agency describes itself publicly as remote-first, with a team spanning time zones and markets.
Spark's anniversary page says the firm has helped launch nearly a thousand technology companies and assisted in close to twenty billion dollars in exits. Those figures are the firm's own.
What does Spark PR do?
- Public relations and media relations for technology launches, funding and IPO moments
- Integrated marketing, including creative and digital production
- Messaging, outreach, thought leadership and media training
- Events and awards programs
- Social and digital marketing focused on participation, authority and discovery rather than vanity reach
Its case studies include Personal AI, whose co-founder and CEO Suman Kanuganti credits Spark with sharpening the company's message. For related disciplines, see EPR's technology PR page.
Which clients has Spark PR worked with?
| Client | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning AI, Sandbox AQ, Ocient | AI, quantum and data infrastructure | O'Dwyer's |
| GrowthLoop, Questa Capital | Marketing technology and financial services | O'Dwyer's |
| OnePlus | Consumer technology | O'Dwyer's |
| Bit Bio | Life sciences | O'Dwyer's |
| Personal AI | AI, case study with a client quote | Spark case study |
These are clients reported by O'Dwyer's and the firm, not a current roster, so confirm references with the agency.
What recognition has Spark PR received?
| Year | Recognition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Crunchie Award for best overall technology PR agency in the U.S. | SourceWatch |
| 2010 | Ranked number 6 largest independent technology PR firm worldwide, and number 1 largest privately held communications agency in San Francisco, by O'Dwyer's | SourceWatch |
| 2011 | Top 50 agency in PRWeek's annual agency report | SourceWatch |
| 2017 | Burke named to PR News' Top Women in PR | PR News |
| 2021 list | Forbes America's Best PR Agencies | Wikipedia, PR Newswire |
| 2024 | Inc. Power Partner in public relations; Newsweek's America's Best PR Agencies in Technology, AI and Telecommunications | O'Dwyer's; YesPress |
What is the latest Spark PR news?
| Date | News | Source |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Spark describes itself as remote-first and publishes social and digital marketing guidance focused on authority and AI-era discovery | YesPress |
| November 2024 | Inc. names Sparkpr a 2024 Power Partner in public relations | YesPress; O'Dwyer's |
| October 2014 | Acquires Socialarc, a Bay Area digital shop | Holmes Report |
EPR updates this table when Spark announces a client win, hire or honor.
How does Spark PR compare with other technology PR firms?
Spark is an independent technology specialist, so compare it with Racepoint Global and InkHouse, and see EPR's San Francisco PR firms directory and technology PR pages.
| Firm | Focus | EPR profile |
|---|---|---|
| Racepoint Global | Technology and healthcare PR | Racepoint Global |
| InkHouse | Integrated agency | InkHouse |
Related: San Francisco PR firms · California PR · Technology PR · Alan Soucy and Spark · PR agency profiles directory · 5W, a PR, creative and AI Visibility agency
Spark PR: San Francisco Tech and Consumer PR Agency Profile FAQ
Who founded Spark PR?
Donna Sokolsky Burke and Chris Hempel founded Spark in San Francisco in 1999, after working in the PR department at Netscape.
Is Spark PR independent?
Yes. It is an independent, privately held agency.
Where is Spark PR based?
San Francisco, with staff in New York, Los Angeles and other markets. The agency describes itself as remote-first.
Who leads Spark PR?
Donna Burke is co-founder, and Cameron McPherson is chief financial and operating officer, per O'Dwyer's. Alan Soucy was named CEO in 2006 and is now listed as chairman emeritus and board member.
What does Spark PR specialize in?
PR and integrated marketing for complicated technology, including AI, quantum, enterprise software, financial services, blockchain and consumer technology.
Which clients has Spark PR worked with?
O'Dwyer's lists Lightning AI, Sandbox AQ, Ocient, GrowthLoop, OnePlus, Bit Bio and Questa Capital.
What recognition has Spark PR received?
It has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's best PR agencies in technology, named a 2024 Inc. Power Partner, and earlier won a 2009 Crunchie Award as the best technology PR agency in the U.S.
How big is Spark PR?
The firm's anniversary page cites more than 50 employees, and directories list figures from about 40 to the 51-200 band. Sources: Wikipedia, the Holmes Report, SourceWatch, Craft, O'Dwyer's, PR News, YesPress and Spark's own anniversary page. Editorial assessment by Everything-PR based on public record, with no firm-supplied marketing copy and no paid placement.
Editorial assessment by Everything-PR, based on public record and archive coverage. No firm-supplied marketing copy, no paid placement.
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