Launching or growing a startup is one of the toughest challenges entrepreneurs face. Whether you're building a B2B or B2C business, creating a powerful brand that attracts and converts is essential to your success.
As branding expert Marty Neumeier puts it:
“Only one competitor can be the cheapest. The others have to use branding. The stronger the brand, the greater the profit margin.”
With countless agencies offering branding services, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming and time-consuming. To simplify your search, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 startup branding agencies for 2024. This ranking focuses on the specific needs of tech startups, evaluating agencies based on their strategic branding approach, online reviews, and areas of expertise. Compare the options and find the one that best aligns with your vision.
These are the best startup branding agencies of 2024:
1. The Branx
Overview: The Branx is the #1 startup branding agency. Founded in 2019, we have worked together with more than 70 tech startups from the US, UK, Canada, and Europe. We create powerful brands and websites with a strategic approach.
Location: Spain
Team size: 10
Services: Brand identity, Brand strategy, Web design & development, Illustration & Animation, Naming, UX/UI design, Rebranding
Notable clients: North, AstrumU, Gooten, JoinMyTrip, Siddha Meditate, Rheom
Online reviews: Clutch (24 reviews, 4.9/5), G2 (4 reviews, 4.8/5), Google (9 reviews, 5/5)
Focus: The Branx offers a strategic approach to startup branding, focusing on tech startups including Early stage, Series A and Series B from B2B and B2C sectors.
Why choose The Branx?
If you're a tech startup looking for an agency that truly speaks startup, we could be the right fit for you: Startup founders ourselves, we dedicate 100% of our time to creating brands and websites for tech startups. Combining the strategic approach of small design studios with the swift and high-quality design of big agencies, we base our design decisions on strategy, not solely on design preferences.
2. Collins
Overview: Collins has been transforming B2C brands since 2008. In line with their mission to “break with the mundane and pursue the extraordinary”, they are known for creating bold and visionary brands. They offer nine programs tailored to different types of business and brand transformation.
Location: US
Team size: 60
Services: Graphic design, Branding, Web design
Notable clients: Sustana, Andmore, Guild, Free
Online reviews: Clutch: 0 reviews, Google: 6 reviews (5/5), G2: no profile
Focus: Business transformation for consumer-focused companies, including brand and design
Why choose Collins?
If you are looking to transform your visual identity on digital and offline communication channels, Collins can be the right fit. Focusing on the consumer, their multidisciplinary team creates bold identities, each with the right transformation strategy in mind.
3. DesignStudio
Overview: DesignStudio is a branding and design agency that applies a strategic approach to its projects. Their unique practice of having team members physically experience a brand's environment (e.g., becoming Deliveroo riders) shows their commitment to gaining deep insights into their clients' audiences.
Services: Brand strategy, Employer brand strategy, Visual and verbal identity, Naming, Motion identity, Motion design, Brand campaigns, Interactive experiences, Environmental design
Location: UK, US, AU
Team size: 51-200 employees (LinkedIn)
Notable clients: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Borussia Dortmund, Eurostar Group
Online reviews: Clutch: 0, Google: 9 reviews (4.9/5), G2: 2 reviews (3.8/5)
Focus: DesignStudio has worked together with later-stage startups and big companies, realizing big branding projects with a creative approach led by strategy.
Why choose DesignStudio?
DesignStudio has completed a large number of projects for today's unicorns. They realize a deep dive into their clients' services and products to create brand experiences. If you are looking for close, offline collaboration with innovative outcomes, DesignStudio can be the right choice.
4. Wolff Olins
Overview: Wolff Olins is a global brand consultancy that works with large corporations and startups alike. They are known for helping brands navigate complex digital transformations, focusing on comprehensive, streamlined company communication including branding, company culture, and brand experience.
Location: US, UK
Team size: 141
Services: Brand strategy, architecture, verbal and visual identity, brand activation, employee branding, workplace branding, brand experience
Notable clients: NYBG, Decathlon, LG Electronics, TikTok
Online reviews: Clutch: 0, Google: 8 reviews (4.9/5), G2: no profile
Focus: With a strategic approach, the brand consultancy helps corporations and startups looking for long-term scalability.
Why choose Wolff Olins?
Wolff Olins doesn't provide information on pricing, but looking at their branding projects for companies like Decathlon and TikTok, one can assume that startups need a larger budget here. However, they are really good at creating long-term strategies on a company-wide level that could in the future pay back the investment.
5. R/GA
Overview: Founded in 1977, R/GA is a full-service agency at the intersection of design, technology, and marketing. Focusing on an array of services from branding to venture programs, they are a versatile partner for businesses seeking digital transformation.
Location: HQs in US, 18 offices worldwide
Team size: 1k-5k (LinkedIn)
Services: Brand design, Product and experience design, Campaign and content design, CRM and relationship design, R/GA Ventures
Notable clients: Android, Moncler, Verizon MyPlan, Ponos Outcats
Online reviews: Clutch: 0 reviews, Google: 66 reviews (4.7/5), G2: 6 reviews (3.1/5)
Focus: They work with product-centered businesses that need services that go beyond branding,
Why choose R/GA?
R/GA has a global talent pool that will design your brand. Their expertise in product and experience design is clearly visible in their portfolio; Android caught our eye. If you need a global perspective on your startup and a comprehensive pack of strategic services, R/GA might be the right fit for you.
6. Teamtown
Overview: Teamtown offers subscription-based design services with a limited number of requests per month. This model allows businesses to plan their monthly design costs.
Location: Canada
Team size: 9 (Source: LinkedIn)
Services: Branding, ad creatives, social media, email, UI/UX, web, presentation, print, illustrations
Notable clients: Built, Farmhouse, Staples, Cherry Bomb
Online reviews: Clutch: 0, Google: 6 reviews (5/5), G2: 3 reviews: (5/5)
Focus: They offer design support for marketing teams for tech and consumer sectors.
Why choose Teamtown?
Teamtown provides cost-effective branding solutions, which makes them a good fit for companies that are still in the very early stages but need digital as well as print solutions. The three different pricing plans provide different options for different needs, ranging form the Starter with 1 request at a time to Studio with 4 requests at a time.
7. Pentagram
Overview: Pentagram may be out of reach to some startup budgets, but their broad experience in a variety of tech-fields makes them for sure a trustworthy partner. Founded 1972, they offer comprehensive branding services such as packaging, signage, environmental design, and digital product design.
Location: UK
Team size: key team members: 22, associates: 33
Services: Brand identity, signage & environmental graphics, book design, data-driven design, digital design, editorial design, exhibition design, industrial design, packaging, sound design, naming, strategy
Notable clients: Paypal, Isomorphic Labs, Reddit, Mastercard, American Express
Online reviews: Clutch: 0, Google: 26 reviews (4.7/5), G2: 16 reviews, (4.5/5)
Focus: Pentagram has worked with the world's leading Fintech companies. They focus on big players, offering a wide range of services.
Why choose Pentagram?
Pentagram is one of the most iconic design agencies, especially for technology, arts, entertainment, education, and publishing. Their comprehensive branding services are the perfect fit for companies that look for comprehensive (re)branding across various media and are on the same level as the world's leading companies.
8. Duck.Design
Overview: Duck.Design is a design agency for a broad range of industries, ranging from blockchain to culture and from hospitality to news. They specialize in branding, web design and development for businesses that have a rapid go-to-market timeline.
Location: UK
Team size: 13
Services: Graphic design, web design and development, UI/UX, animation and video graphics
Notable clients: Photonic, Lumara, HULO, YLOODrive, Poke23
Online reviews: Clutch: 29 reviews (4.9/5), Google: no profile, G2: no profile
Focus: Companies in fast-moving industries that need to go to market quickly, looking for rapid branding execution.
Why choose Duck.Design?
If you are in a rush to launch, Duck.Design is a solid partner. Their experience in a variety of industries makes them adaptive to your needs, also providing necessary support for the implementation of the project. Also, unlike other subscription-based agencies, they communicate in an approachable manner, allowing you to get to know their team members.
9. BrandMe
Overview: BrandMe is a branding agency with over 30 years of experience. However, compared to other established agencies, their web gives off startup vibes with bold colors and an approachable flair, putting their London-based team in the focus. They focus on branding and packaging design for food and beverage startups.
Location: UK
Team size: 22
Services: Brand strategy, brand identity, packaging, visual assets
Notable clients: Sainsbury's, nakd., Biscoff
Online reviews: Clutch: 0, Google: 6 reviews (4.7/5), G2: no profile
Focus: They focus on the visual identity and packaging for consumer and product-centric companies.
Why choose BrandMe?
If your business focuses on fast-moving consumer goods such as food or beverages, BrandMe's rich portfolio will convince you. Their experience in working with major consumer brands, their strategic approach, and their fresh appearance make them a good fit for the sector.
10. Superside
Overview: Superside offers creative-as-a-service, meaning that you pay a monthly subscription for the design services. Their model allows businesses to scale design resources based on their growth and branding needs.
Location: US
Team size: +700
Services: Ad design, social media, email, web design, presentation, packaging & merch, ebook, print, motion, digital marketing
Notable clients: Reddit, Bolt, Webflow, Collabera, Synthego
Online reviews: Clutch: 6 reviews (2.8/5), Google: -. G2: 69 reviews (4.6/5)
Focus: Teams with an elaborated visual identity that need help with implementing the brand no matter the sector.
Why choose Superside?
If you already have a brand identity with brand guidelines that can be employed easily, you could consider a partnership with Superside. They are an option for companies that need continuous branding and design support but do not want to build an in-house team.
The bottom line: The best startup branding agencies of 2024
The startup branding agencies we explored in this article offer a variety of expertise and approaches; from a holistic brand experience for a diverse range of companies such as Wolff Olins and Pentagram to agencies that specialize in startups such as Collins and The Branx. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. So take your time, explore their portfolios, client reviews, processes, pricing, customer services, and—what is often neglected—the cultural fit.
For an in-depth analysis of the criteria for making the final decision, visit our guide for finding the right branding agency for your startup.
By the way, we asked ChatGPT about the top 10 startup branding agencies and this was the outcome (September 30th, 2024).
