Designed for start-ups: Helping you launch, scale, and get funded
Bringing a start-up to life is hard. We get it! You’re wearing a dozen hats, racing to build your product, prove traction, and impress investors, all while trying to keep your brand, UX, and messaging cohesive.
That’s where Designed for Humans comes in.
We’re not just a service — we’re a strategic partner
We partner with start-ups at all stages to help you shape clear, compelling, and user-driven experiences that make you stand out in a crowded market and get taken seriously by funders, customers, and your future team.
We help start-ups to
Launch fast with clarity and confidence
Look polished and credible from day one
Connect deeply with users and investors
Build brands and products designed to last
Why work with us?
We’re not an agency that disappears after the handoff. We work lean, listen deeply, and challenge thoughtfully. We bring over 40+ years of leadership experience across tech, comms, and design — and we’ve sat where you’re sitting. That means we adapt quickly, think holistically, and push for impact.
What we bring to the table
UX that saves you money (and mistakes)
We help you avoid expensive wrong turns by designing with users from the start.
UX strategy and research
Rapid prototyping and validation
Accessibility and inclusive design
End-to-end product design
UX audits and site "roasts"
Persona development and journey mapping
We help you build what users actually need, not just what looks good on paper.
Branding and design that speaks volumes
First impressions count especially when pitching, demoing, or going live. We shape bold, thoughtful, and inclusive design systems that grow with you.
Visual identity design
Digital branding and guidelines
Web design and build
Custom illustrations and component libraries
Design systems
Pitch decks and investor collateral
Whether you’re prepping for funding, launching your MVP, or refining your pitch, we bring strategic clarity, standout design, and user-first thinking to every touchpoint.
Messaging and marketing that cuts through the noise
We help you find your voice and tell your story in ways that resonate with users, investors, and team members.
Brand messaging and positioning
Website and product copy
Campaign planning and growth marketing
Content strategy and development
Vision, mission, and values launches
Leadership communications coaching
We translate your vision into powerful stories that investors and customers can get behind.
Product strategy that moves the dial
Need clarity on what to build next? Or how to scale without losing your product soul? We help you stay laser-focused on what matters most.
Product vision and discovery
MVP planning and roadmapping
Go-to-market strategy
Team workshops and innovation sprints
Strategic consulting
We help you to create innovative, intuitive products to help you to increase revenue, grow and retain users, and stand out from the crowd.
"The personal touch was the most impressive aspect of working with Designed for Humans”
Branding and logo client testimonial
Sam Crowe, Co-Founder, BigByte Digital
Our start-up work
"Even with some unusual requests, nothing felt like too much trouble—they just got on with it and made things happen”
Branding and website development client testimonial
Liam Brennan, Founder, GhostPosts.ai
Start-up and scale-up FAQs
Why should a start-up invest in UX and design early on?
Design isn’t just about how something looks, it’s how it works. Investing in UX early helps you avoid wasted development, spot gaps fast, and create products people actually want to use. It can also make your start-up more investable by showing you understand your users and the market.
What makes Designed for Humans different from other design or UX agencies?
We bring together strategy, storytelling, and design, creating joined-up experiences that make sense for your users and your business. We don’t overcomplicate things. We focus on clarity, inclusivity, and long-term impact, and we work as partners, not suppliers — helping your team think, design, and communicate with purpose.
Can you help us refine our idea or MVP before launch?
Absolutely. Whether you have an idea, a prototype, or a live product, we’ll help you identify your biggest opportunities through discovery, user insight, and quick wins. From shaping your MVP to refining your brand story, we’ll help you build strong foundations that scale.
We have helped founders test assumptions, validate ideas, and shape their first product or service. That might mean mapping user journeys, prototyping, or creating a lightweight brand or story that attracts early users and investors.
How can design help our start-up become more inclusive or sustainable?
Inclusive, sustainable design doesn’t just tick boxes, it creates better, longer-lasting products. We build accessibility and sustainability into every stage, from how interfaces are designed to how messages are communicated. It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing better.
What kind of results can we expect from working with Designed for Humans?
We measure success by clarity, adoption, and impact. That could mean a more intuitive product, stronger engagement, better conversion, or clearer messaging that resonates. Most of all, you’ll gain confidence that your design decisions are driving your business forward. Read our testimonials to see our five star reviews on Clutch.
Can you work alongside our in-house team or developers?
Yes of course, collaboration is what we do best. We often embed with start-up teams, working alongside developers, founders, and marketers to bring strategy and design together. We speak your language, understand constraints, and make design work in the real world.
Do you offer flexible pricing or phased projects for start-ups?
Yes. We know cash flow can be tight in the early stages, so we offer phased approaches, fixed-price packages, and strategic sprints that deliver value fast. We also have a suite of exclusive Founder offers which we can explain during a discovery call. We are happy to start small and scale your design support as your business grows.
The scale-up sprint toolkit
Download our free toolkit to uncover the UX, brand, and messaging mistakes that are slowing your start-up down, and find out how to fix them before your next funding round.
Let’s work together
Read our start-up blogs
