Member Spotlight: Kimberley Waldron, Managing Director, Started PR

Introduce yourself:

I’m Kimberley Waldron, Managing Director of Started PR, a PR and marketing agency based in Manchester that supports fintech brands and entrepreneurs driving meaningful change. For the past 15 years I’ve built and led agencies focused on tech and fintech, working with some of the most exciting startups and founder-led businesses. Together with my brilliant team, we help companies refine their message to tell their story with the clarity, impact and purpose needed to reach the audiences that matter most to them.

Career highlight:

Launching Started PR was a huge moment in my career and something I’ll always be proud of. I saw a clear gap in the market for focused PR support that aligns with the key milestones and growth priorities of emerging fintech businesses. It’s been just over a year since we launched and already the response we’ve received from the fintech ecosystem has been incredible. The feedback we’ve garnered has already confirmed what we believed from the start: there’s a real need for the kind of strategic, impactful PR we deliver.
Anyone who’s started a business knows it comes with challenges you can’t always predict. It’s a labour of love, but once you push through, it becomes one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. I’m incredibly grateful for the work my team delivers every day—it gives me a real sense of accomplishment. Now, I’m just excited to see what’s next and how we continue to make an impact across the fintech space. We’re at the beginning of a journey that could be really special.

Name three words that describe your personality:

Tenacious, friendly and passionate

What’s the best thing about pro-manchester?

Manchester is fast becoming one of the brightest spots in the UK’s business landscape, and organisations like pro-manchester play a vital role in that success. As an emerging business, the networking opportunities they provide have been incredibly valuable. Over the years, we’ve made countless connections through their events, talks and conferences; each one helping us grow and stay plugged into the region’s thriving business community. It’s something our whole team is actively involved with.
I’m also a big supporter of the SME Club programme, which offers practical and accessible resources for small and medium-sized businesses like ourselves. Over the years, we’ve contributed several articles to the blog and always keep an eye out for new posts as they go live. Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, yet they’re often overlooked. Having a platform that champions them is incredibly important. I know I speak for the community when I say we’re grateful to pro-manchester for helping to shine that spotlight.

What are your priorities for 2025?

One of our top priorities for 2025 is to support the launch of our Started Advisory Board. The board comprises some of the most influential voices in fintech, including founders, strategists, media leaders and policymakers, with the purpose of helping to shape the future of fintech communications. Together, our focus is on using that collective expertise to elevate the conversations that matter, support the next wave of fintech innovators, and spotlight the moments that drive meaningful growth.
Ultimately, it’s about cutting through the noise and making sure great ideas are clearly communicated and reach the right audiences. Over the next 12 months, the board will support the fintech community by taking part in virtual trend discussions, contributing to high-profile PR campaigns, and serving as judges for our annual fintech start-up pitch day. They’ll also join a dedicated WhatsApp group to offer ongoing advice and insight, creating a collaborative space that encourages knowledge-sharing.

What do you think are the most important things going on in Manchester at the moment?

There’s a real buzz around Manchester right now, and not just because of the Oasis reunion. For years, the UK has needed to build meaningful centres of innovation beyond London. While there have been some false starts, the momentum we’re now seeing from businesses across Manchester and the wider North West shows that progress is finally taking hold. For me, it’s vital we continue to nurture that growth, and part of that means making sure these companies have access to the right support services, including strategic PR that helps them tell their story and scale with confidence.

Favourite meeting place in Manchester?

One of the great things about Manchester is the variety of venues it offers for business meetings. Different meetings call for different settings, and the city really delivers on that front. For something more formal, we’ll often use one of the many co-working spaces across the city, which are ideal for growing businesses that need flexibility. For something a little more relaxed, we might head to places like the Anthologist or the Brotherhood; spots where you can have a good conversation and wind down at the same time.

Are there any particular types of businesses that you would like to meet?

We’re always keen to meet businesses across the fintech spectrum; whether they’re in payments, embedded finance, ecommerce, regtech, wealthtech, fraud prevention, digital banking or insurtech. We particularly enjoy working with founders and innovators who are looking to raise their profile, connect with influential communities, and communicate their story with real clarity. If you’re building something ambitious in fintech, we’d love to hear from you to see how we can help take it to the next level.