U.S. communications firm 5W Public Relations has been named a finalist in the 2026 North America edition of the SABRE Awards for its B2B marketing campaign with enterprise AI platform provider AISquared. The nomination highlights a communications strategy that helped elevate the AI infrastructure startup’s profile within the rapidly expanding enterprise artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Recognition from the North American SABRE Awards places the campaign among the public relations industry’s most visible examples of strategic B2B communications. Organized by PRovoke Media, the awards program honors campaigns that demonstrate measurable impact in branding, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.

The finalist nomination recognizes a campaign titled “Putting AI Squared On The Map,” which focused on establishing AISquared as a visible voice in enterprise artificial intelligence discussions. The company develops software designed to operationalize AI systems within enterprise environments—particularly where machine learning models must integrate with complex data pipelines, compliance frameworks, and business workflows.

The campaign was led by 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned public relations firms in the United States. According to the agency, the strategy emphasized executive thought leadership, targeted media outreach, and rapid-response commentary tied to evolving discussions around AI adoption in enterprise settings.

In practical terms, that meant positioning AISquared executives in conversations around workforce transformation, data infrastructure modernization, and the broader shift toward production-scale AI deployment.

Elevating Visibility in the Enterprise AI Market

Enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence has accelerated significantly over the past two years. Organizations across sectors are attempting to move beyond experimental machine learning projects toward operational AI systems that directly support decision-making, automation, and customer engagement.

This transition—from pilot projects to production AI—has created demand for infrastructure platforms that connect models with enterprise data environments. Companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have expanded their enterprise AI ecosystems, while startups and specialist vendors are focusing on orchestration, governance, and data integration layers.

AISquared positions its platform within this infrastructure category. The company’s software is designed to embed machine learning insights directly into operational workflows—such as CRM platforms, data dashboards, or internal applications—without requiring users to interact directly with model outputs.

For enterprise marketing and analytics teams, this type of integration can allow predictive models or AI-driven recommendations to appear directly inside tools already used by analysts and decision-makers.

Industry research suggests demand for this type of operational AI capability is rising rapidly. According to Gartner, more than 55% of enterprises are expected to move AI models into production environments by 2026, compared with fewer than 30% just a few years earlier.

Media Strategy and Campaign Execution

Within that evolving landscape, the communications campaign led by 5W focused on positioning AISquared executives as subject-matter experts in AI adoption challenges.

The program combined thought leadership placements, proactive media relations, and rapid commentary tied to breaking AI news cycles. The agency reported securing 165 media placements during 2025, with coverage appearing in outlets such as:

• The Wall Street Journal
• Fast Company
• Barron's
• Fortune

The approach relied heavily on “newsjacking,” a communications tactic in which companies respond quickly to emerging industry news with expert commentary.

In AI-related sectors—where regulatory debates, product launches, and ethical discussions frequently dominate headlines—timely commentary can significantly increase visibility for emerging technology vendors.

Business Impact and Growth Metrics

The visibility generated by the campaign coincided with a year of rapid expansion for AISquared.

According to the company, annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew by 1,100% in 2025, while net revenue retention exceeded 115%. The firm also reported expanding its customer base by four times across commercial, regulated, and federal sectors.

While growth metrics in emerging AI companies often reflect broader market demand, increased media exposure can play a meaningful role in enterprise sales cycles—particularly in categories where buyers rely heavily on credibility signals.

Enterprise technology procurement decisions frequently involve months of vendor evaluation, proof-of-concept testing, and executive approval. Media visibility and thought leadership can therefore function as an early trust-building mechanism.

The Role of PR in the AI Economy

The nomination also reflects a broader shift in how AI companies approach communications.

In earlier technology cycles, product announcements often drove media attention. In the current AI market, however, the conversation increasingly revolves around strategy, governance, and real-world impact.

As a result, companies that can articulate how AI fits into enterprise workflows—rather than simply highlighting algorithmic capabilities—tend to attract stronger engagement from business audiences.

That dynamic is particularly relevant in sectors intersecting with marketing technology and customer data infrastructure. Platforms used by marketing teams increasingly incorporate machine learning features ranging from predictive segmentation to automated content generation.

Large enterprise platforms such as Salesforce and Adobe have embedded AI capabilities across marketing clouds, analytics suites, and customer data platforms. As those ecosystems expand, specialized AI infrastructure vendors are emerging to bridge gaps between models, data, and operational tools.

Industry Recognition and Upcoming Awards

The winners of the 2026 North America SABRE Awards will be announced on May 5 during a ceremony at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.

The awards are widely considered among the public relations industry's most prestigious recognitions, evaluating campaigns across criteria including creativity, execution quality, and measurable business outcomes.

For agencies working in technology communications, finalist recognition often reflects the increasing importance of strategic storytelling in shaping how emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—are understood by enterprise audiences.

Market Landscape

The enterprise AI market is rapidly evolving as organizations seek ways to integrate machine learning models into real-world operations rather than isolated data science projects.

Research from IDC estimates that global spending on AI-centric systems could exceed $300 billion by 2026, driven largely by enterprise automation, predictive analytics, and AI-powered decision tools.

In marketing technology specifically, AI is becoming a core component of modern digital infrastructure—from predictive audience segmentation to automated campaign optimization. As a result, vendors that can bridge AI models with operational data systems are increasingly positioned as strategic infrastructure providers.

For communications agencies working with AI startups, this environment creates opportunities to frame companies not simply as software vendors but as contributors to broader discussions about workforce transformation, governance, and enterprise data strategy.

Top Insights

• 5W PR’s campaign for AISquared earned finalist recognition at the 2026 SABRE Awards, highlighting how strategic communications can elevate emerging enterprise AI platforms within competitive technology markets.

• The campaign centered on executive thought leadership and rapid-response media engagement, positioning AISquared within broader discussions around AI adoption, enterprise data infrastructure, and workforce transformation.

• AISquared reported significant business growth during the campaign period, including 1,100% ARR growth and a fourfold increase in customers across commercial and regulated markets.

• Enterprise demand for operational AI infrastructure is accelerating, as companies move from experimental machine learning models toward fully integrated AI-powered workflows.

• The nomination underscores the growing role of strategic PR in the AI economy, where visibility, credibility, and narrative positioning increasingly influence enterprise adoption decisions.

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