About

VineSprout, Inc. is a privately owned Chicago public relations firm that specializes in growing startups by getting them in the news. We’ve carved a niche in helping startups garner attention of users, customers and investors via public relations, social media and marketing efforts. We’ve been privileged to work with so many top startups in Chicago, Atlanta and Miami. We choose to work with entrepreneurs that we believe in and startups that do something better than anyone else. We have strong relationships with journalists and know how to approach them with unique, compelling, and newsworthy angles. We invest time and effort getting to know reporters, what beats they cover, and understanding what kind of story ideas appeal to them and their individual audiences. As a result, we have built trust, credibility and a positive reputation with the media and are go-to sources for many journalists.

Nicole Duhoski, Founding Partner

Nicole launched VineSprout with Ben Pavlovic in 2010. Prior to taking the leap into entrepreneurship, Nicole worked for Sears Holdings Corporation and was responsible for launching the social media marketing strategy for Sears Home Services. She also spent 5 years at Cision, the global industry leader in PR software and services. While there, Nicole managed and oversaw a 30-person client services department and created and implemented its corporate social media strategy. Nicole entered the field of public relations over ten years ago with her first of many public relations internships. With a B.A. in Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University’s prestigious James Madison College and a double major in Communication, Nicole moved to Chicago and interned at Weber Shandwick, the largest public relations firm in the world. A Michigan native, Nicole enjoys traveling, researching, cooking, crossing restaurants off her bucket list, and brainstorming with startups.

Ben Pavlovic, Founding Partner

Benjamin Pavlovic, founding partner of VineSprout, a social media & public relations firm in Chicago, has both west & east coast ties. Ben was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Boston University. After interning for Congressman Kennedy in Charlestown, MA, Ben made for the Windy City where he has been working in media and marketing since 2001. He has led public relations campaigns for numerous multi-million dollar home video releases including the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, George Carlin’s All My Stuff and A Moment In History: The Inauguration of Barack Obama. Ben serves on the board of the Boston University Alumni Club of Chicago, plays soccer and tennis, loves watching the New York Yankees and is currently contemplating running the Chicago Marathon for a second time.