Entrepreneurs probably had better luck securing a hug at one of the raucous healthcare town hall meetings than raising venture capital in 2009. But with evidence of a thawing funding climate, 2010 promises a healthier diet of notable startup launches and, potentially, more opportunities for PR to play a key role for these companies.

The PR strategy for early stage companies has often involved a period where the startup operates in stealth mode, followed by a big PR splash at launch. ...