why deep tech
Brand and website design for deep tech startups
Upspire Labs run brand and Webflow sprints for companies in cybersecurity, biotech, developer tools, hardware, energy tech, privacy infrastructure, and AI — most of them seed through Series A, most of them backed by funds that expect the company to look like it belongs in the room.
Deep tech companies have a branding problem that looks different from everyone else's.
The product is the hard part, and usually the most interesting part, but it's also the part that's hardest to explain to anyone outside the lab. By the time most deep tech founders think seriously about how the company looks and sounds, they've already raised a round, hired a team, and built something real — and the brand has to catch up fast.
Where our design sprints work
AI tools
We built Atsign's brand around clarity and connectivity, not hype — see how in the case study.
Biotech and life sciences
We helped Kascaid launch a complete website in two weeks — see how in the case study.
Cybersecurity
We built Quokka's identity to match that rigor — see how in the case study.
Energy tech
We built QuantumScape a brand to match the ambition of next-generation battery technology — see how in the case study.
Where you are right now
The brand and website work looks different depending on what stage you're at, and we've built our process around that rather than treating every engagement the same.
Early/Seed
If you just closed a seed round, the gap is usually between what the product can do and what the website says it does. The fix here is usually fast — a brand sprint and a new site, built in parallel with whatever else is happening, so the public-facing version of the company catches up to the real one.
Series A
If you're Series A and raising again soon, the brand work usually has to happen without slowing anything else down. We typically run these as a combined sprint — 8 weeks, fixed scope — so the team isn't pulled off product work for long.
Series B or later
If you're Series B or later, the questions get more specific: what's the process, what does it cost, what do we actually get.
How the sprint works
We offer three ways to work together, and most deep tech clients land in one of the first two:
Brand Sprint
Two weeks, $10,000. Brand strategy, positioning, and visual identity. Built for companies that need the brand foundation in place before — or instead of — a new website.
Website Sprint
Four to six weeks, $25,000. A full marketing website built on Webflow, using your existing brand or one we've just built together.
Beyond the Sprint
Retainer support, messaging, marketing, and design on your terms. Tell us what you're working through and we'll scope it to fit, whether that's a few hours a month or a longer build.
For VC-Backed Startups
Not ready for a full sprint yet? We offer a complimentary brand and UX audit to VC-backed deep tech startups — a working session plus a written summary on what's helping and hurting your conversion right now, no engagement required. Move forward with a sprint within 45 days of delivery and the audit fee credits toward the project.
What this has looked like for other deep tech companies
FAQs
How do you use AI in your work?
At specific stages of a project. We use Gemini for market research and comparison data, Claude for strategy, ideation, and planning, Claude Code for code snippets and complex web animations, and Flora for image generation, product reference, and animation.
A person is involved in every AI interaction, and no deliverable goes to a client before a person has reviewed it. We don't automate client deliverables. Confidential material doesn't go into these tools without being abstracted first, we run paid accounts only with privacy settings configured against model training, and you own everything we deliver. If you'd rather we not use AI on your project, tell us and we'll work without it. The full details are in our Responsible AI Use Terms.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes. We sign an NDA whenever a client requests one.
How much of our team's time does a sprint take?
A 1-2 hour kickoff, short check-ins, and quick reviews at key milestones. We cap the core decision-making group at three people, so most of your team never needs to be in the room.
Why a sprint instead of a traditional agency engagement?
Every sprint has a fixed scope, timeline, and price: $10,000 in two weeks for brand, $25,000 in four to six weeks for the website, $30,000 in six to eight weeks for both. There's no open-ended billing, and we cap decision-makers at three on your side so feedback stays quick.
Is it too early to invest in brand?
Pre-seed companies shouldn't skip it. You're making first impressions on investors and recruits whether you're ready or not, and rebranding at Series A, when everything has scaled, costs far more than getting the foundation right early.
How do you build one brand for investors, engineers, and enterprise buyers?
The Brand Sprint starts with a messaging foundation that sets who you're talking to and what each audience needs to believe. The visual identity is built on top of it, so the same brand holds up in a pitch deck, a technical page, and a procurement review.
What if our product isn't built yet, or we're in stealth?
That's a common starting point. We've worked with pre-product companies building in stealth, and the sprint is designed to give you a credible identity before the product is public.
Do you understand technical products?
About 80% of our roster is AI, cybersecurity, biotech, developer tools, hardware, and energy tech, so a brief that starts with a whitepaper is normal for us. Kickoff is a working session with your technical team. Send whatever research and docs you already have.
What funding stage do you typically work with?
Most of our clients are seed through Series A, usually backed by well-known investor groups. We've also worked with later-stage companies on time-sensitive rebrands tied to a raise or product announcement.
Let’s talk about what you’re building
Whether it’s a full project or a creative pinch-hit, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch
