23 guides · Written by the team

Straight answers for founders.

What a startup website really costs, which platform to build on, when to rebrand, how to brief an agency. Practical guides written by the team that does the work.

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Original researchHow funded AI and SaaS startups' websites score: 2026 benchmark100 homepages, 12 criteria. Average 14.1 of 24; 53% show no customer proof. →

Websites8 min readSaaS homepage examples: what the best startup first screens do10 SaaS homepage examples from some of the best SaaS websites (Supabase, Mercury, Deel, Loom, Notion, Cursor, Vercel, Attio, Retool and ElevenLabs): the headline, subhead, proof and call to action on each, and the pattern you can copy.Read the guide →Brand5 min readHow we turned our logo into a type familyWe measured the Alterra wordmark, traced its five letters, and grew it into three display weights and a text companion. The grid, the rules and what we'd do differently.Read the guide →Websites8 min readHow to write startup website copy: headline, proof and calls to actionHow to write startup website copy that converts: a headline that says what you do and for whom, proof buyers believe, clear calls to action, and a before-and-after rewrite.Read the guide →Product8 min readDoes a startup need a design system? Cost, timing, what to buildWhen a startup needs a design system, what it costs in people and upkeep, what to build first (tokens, core components, states) and whether to adopt, adapt or build your own.Read the guide →Hiring design8 min readDesign Subscription vs Agency: Costs and When to SwitchWhen an unlimited design subscription is worth it, when an agency or design partner fits better, and what each costs per month, with sources.Read the guide →Brand9 min readStartup brand identity examples, and why they work10 startup brand identity examples from Linear, Vercel, Stripe, Figma, PostHog, Perplexity and more: the one specific choice each makes, why it works for its buyer, and how to brief your own.Read the guide →Product8 min readHow much does product design cost for a SaaS startup?What SaaS product design costs in 2026: Clutch, Upwork, BLS and Levels.fyi data on agencies, freelancers, retainers and in-house designers, what drives the price, a worked example and red flags.Read the guide →Hiring design8 min readBest Design Agency for Startups: 4 Types ComparedProject studio, Webflow studio, product designer or design subscription? The four kinds of design studio funded startups hire, compared by price, speed, scope and fit.Read the guide →Websites9 min readHow to redesign a website without losing SEOHow to redesign or migrate a startup website (Framer, Webflow, Astro, Next.js) without losing SEO: URL inventory, a 301 redirect map, launch checks and monitoring.Read the guide →Launches9 min readStartup Launch Checklist: Film, Page, Assets, SpecsWhat to have ready before launch day: a launch film with cutdowns, a landing page, share images and a press kit, each with its spec and timing.Read the guide →Brand8 min readIs your brand ready for a Series A? A pre-raise checklistIs your startup brand ready for a Series A? A pre-raise checklist across clarity, credibility, consistency and conversion, with research on first impressions and a timeline.Read the guide →Launches8 min readLaunch video specs for every platform (2026 reference)Launch video specs for YouTube, Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn and X in 2026: aspect ratios, resolutions, length and file limits from each platform's docs.Read the guide →Hiring design9 min readHow to choose a design agency: a checklist for startupsHow to choose a design agency for a funded startup: a checklist of questions to ask, good and bad answers, how to check reviews, and what the contract must say.Read the guide →Brand8 min readHow much does a startup rebrand cost in 2026?What a startup rebrand costs in 2026: Clutch market data, what drives the price, the costs founders forget (trademarks, rollout, SEO) and how to scope it.Read the guide →Launches8 min readHow much does a launch video cost for a SaaS or AI startup?What a SaaS or AI launch video costs in 2026: Clutch market data, the drivers that move the price (length, 3D, cutdowns), hidden costs and real results.Read the guide →Hiring design8 min readHow much does a design retainer cost? Subscription, partner or hireWhat a monthly design retainer costs in 2026, from Clutch market data, compared with a design subscription and the full cost of hiring a designer (BLS data).Read the guide →Brand7 min readBrand Refresh or Rebrand? When a Startup Should Do EachA startup should rebrand when its brand no longer matches the company it has become, and refresh when the core still fits. Seven signals, three bad reasons, and brand refresh vs rebrand compared.Read the guide →Launches7 min readProduct Launch Video: What Makes One Work (Hook, Demo, Cutdowns)What makes a SaaS or AI product launch video work: a strong first-3-second hook, the product as the hero, sound-off design, channel cutdowns and a distribution plan.Read the guide →Hiring design7 min readWhat is a design partner, and when does a startup need one?What is a design partner? How an ongoing senior design team differs from a project agency, a design subscription or a hire, and when a startup needs one.Read the guide →Hiring design7 min readHow to brief a design agency (with a template you can copy)How to brief a design agency: why business context beats a deliverables list, what to include, common mistakes, and a copyable design brief template.Read the guide →Websites7 min readHow Much Does a Startup Website Cost in 2026?How much a startup or SaaS website costs in 2026, new build or redesign: price ranges by provider type, what drives cost, and how to scope it properly.Read the guide →Websites7 min readFramer vs Webflow vs Next.js: which should your startup site use?Framer vs Webflow vs Next.js for a startup website: an honest comparison of launch speed, editing, CMS, animation, SEO, integrations and cost of ownership.Read the guide →Hiring design7 min readDesign agency vs freelancer vs in-house: what should a startup choose?Design agency vs freelancer vs in-house designer for a funded startup: costs, speed, hidden coordination costs and a decision guide by stage.Read the guide →

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