Short answer: network. One client was a VC. Another did PR for corporations who did startupish events (hackathons, incubators, go to market events). 80% of sta

Short answer: network. One client was a VC. Another did PR for corporations who did startupish events (hackathons, incubators, go to market events). 80% of startup projects came from there. Billion dollar company was a client of a friend. He delivered a major project for them, got first notice for the new one, and assembled people for it. Networking isn't just going around meeting people. You have to put in the work and deliver over expectations every time before they'll recommend you to bigger people.