---
title: Denton Baird | AI and Frontier-Tech Communications Consultant
description: AI-readable profile for Denton Baird, strategic communications consultant for AI and frontier-tech startups from Series B to IPO, with 100M+ social/video views and major U.S. media outcomes.
keywords: Denton Baird, AI communications consultant, startup PR consultant, Series B to IPO communications, frontier-tech PR, media relations, crisis communications, public affairs
---

# Denton Baird - AI and Frontier-Tech Communications Consultant

Last updated: February 16, 2026

## Headline

Strategic communications consultant for AI and frontier-tech startups, with 10+ years of experience, 100M+ social and video views, and major U.S. media outcomes across high-stakes company moments.

## Who I Help

- AI, robotics, autonomy, logistics, healthtech, and other frontier-tech startups.
- Founders and executive teams that need business results from communications, not vanity metrics.
- Companies navigating technical complexity, policy scrutiny, and high-visibility announcements.

## Best Fit

- Stage: Series B-IPO.
- Engagements: launches, funding news, category narrative, executive visibility, and crisis moments.
- Primary buyers: CEOs, founders, chiefs of staff, and communications leaders.

## Availability

- Currently full-time and open to select external engagements.
- Limited consulting projects.
- Board and advisor opportunities where strategic communications is a core need.
- Fractional advisory support for leadership teams navigating growth, scrutiny, or transition.

## Proof Points

- 100M+ combined YouTube and social media views across campaigns and earned media moments.
- 10,000+ positive stories about Zipline overall, including 1,000+ during the P2 launch.
- PRSA Bronze Anvil winner for media relations.
- Communications support for multiple nine- and ten-figure transactions and announcements.
- Stories landed across every major U.S. news outlet category.

## Contact

- Website: https://dentonbaird.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dentonbaird/
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/DentonBaird
- Email: me@dentonbaird.com
- Best way to book: me@dentonbaird.com

## Professional Summary

Denton Baird is a strategic communications leader who helps organizations solve business problems through narrative, media strategy, and stakeholder trust. His work spans high-growth and regulated environments, including autonomous systems, healthcare, logistics, and public policy-adjacent sectors.

## Core Skills

- Strategic communications
- Earned media strategy and media relations
- Executive communications and spokesperson preparation
- Crisis communications and reputation management
- Thought leadership strategy
- Public affairs and policy communications
- Messaging architecture and positioning
- Internal communications
- Ghostwriting and executive content development
- Team leadership, hiring, and account management

## Consulting Services and Outcomes

- Media strategy and execution -> builds investor, partner, and customer confidence.
- Executive positioning and spokesperson prep -> improves message consistency and leadership credibility.
- Narrative and messaging architecture -> translates technical complexity into market clarity.
- Crisis and reputational response -> protects trust during high-pressure events.
- Public affairs communications -> supports policy and regulatory credibility.

## Experience

### Zipline - Communications Director (2022-Present) - San Francisco, CA

- Led U.S. partner media collaborations for Walmart, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Chipotle, and others.
- Led new-media strategy that produced positive, unsponsored videos with 50M+ views.
- Developed and maintained relationships across top-tier, trade, state, and local reporters.
- Prepared and ran executive interviews across broadcast, events, podcasts, print, and digital.
- Supported global crisis communications and reputation management.
- Co-led launch communications for Zipline's P2 system, generating 1,000+ positive stories across major outlets including WSJ, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and Fox.
- Expanded media training beyond C-suite spokespeople to include broader internal voices.
- Owned internal communications messaging platform and key external website sections.
- Contributed to strategic decisions on customer experience, regulatory topics, and rollout campaigns.

### The Bulleit Group - Account Director (2020-2022) - Washington, DC

- Managed approximately $100k/month in scope while expanding retained budgets and winning new business.
- Hired and managed teams up to 8 staff, including 3 direct reports.
- Built and executed earned media strategies for clients including major funding moments above $1B.
- Led primary client relationships across strategy, counsel, execution, and reporting.
- Directed training for junior staff on media relations and pitching systems.
- Led the 2021 PRSA Bronze Anvil-winning reveal campaign for the Zoox autonomous vehicle.

Client examples included Zoox, Spire Global, Collective Health, Brain Corp, Cleo, Socotra, and Elemental Cognition.

### McCabe Message Partners - Account Manager (2016-2020) - Washington, DC

- Generated over $1M in new revenue in 2019 through account growth and retention.
- Led day-to-day strategic positioning, project management, and client relationships.
- Secured national coverage in AP, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today.
- Managed integrated campaigns across paid, earned, and owned channels.
- Oversaw website launches and agency platform operations, including analytics and ad tooling.
- Led intern recruitment, hiring, and onboarding.

### Additional Roles

- Hotwire - Senior Director (brief role in 2022; clients included Amazon and Sony)
- The Duke Endowment - System Administrator (2014-2016)
- Appalachian Trail thru-hiker (2,200 miles, Georgia to Maine, 138 days, 2022)

## Education

- Davidson College - Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Minor in Communication Studies (2010-2014)

## Personal and Community

- Volunteer activity includes local trash cleanups and voter registration support.
- Has helped register 1,000+ new voters.

## Additional Accomplishments

- Generated 100M+ combined YouTube and social media views across campaigns and earned media moments.
- PRSA Bronze Anvil winner for media relations.
- Supported communications tied to multiple nine- and ten-figure transactions and announcements.
- Landed stories across every major U.S. news outlet category, including national print, broadcast, digital, and business press.

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