Building a startup is war. And in a battlefield flooded with predictability, branding is your armor and artillery. In this cutthroat market, only those who dare to be distinct survive and thrive. It’s not just about having a logo, it’s about crafting a voice, a soul and a market presence that gets people to feel something. You need a branding agency that doesn’t play safe. You need a solid game changer. This list is for the bold, the ambitious, the unapologetic startup founders looking to align with branding agencies that don’t just make brands look good but they make them unforgettable.
Startup ecosystems are fast-paced, noisy and overcrowded. The only way to cut through the clutter is with bold, standout branding. Strategic brand development gives startups a fighting chance to own a niche, speak a unique language and dominate mindshare. Think Airbnb, Notion, Stripe; these aren’t just companies, they’re culture.
Without a distinctive brand voice development, a magnetic color palette selection and thoughtful brand positioning, even the most innovative products risk getting ignored. Startups must move fast, but not at the cost of their identity. That’s why choosing the right branding agencies for startups is non-negotiable.
Finding the right branding agencies for startups can feel like navigating a minefield. If you choose poorly and you burn the runway and if you choose wisely and you rocket ahead of the pack. We scoured every continent, weighing branding agency pricing, creative firepower, strategic depth and real‑world wins in startup branding to compile this definitive roster. Each agency here masters everything from disruptive brand voice development to bulletproof brand positioning, giving you the clarity, confidence and swagger to own your category.
At Brandemic, we don’t just build brands, we create movements. We are on a mission to transform startups into iconic forces in their industries. Through our design-first approach, we blend creativity with strategic brand thinking to craft identities that don’t just look good but leave a lasting impression. Whether you are launching a new product or scaling to new heights, we ensure your brand punches way above its weight. With offices in India and Dubai, we’re proud to serve clients globally, delivering results with unmatched ambition and precision.
We are not just another branding agency but we are your dedicated partner, relentlessly focused on making a true impact. Our expertise lies in cutting-edge, memorable branding that resonates with your audience and makes your startup unforgettable.
Website:https://brandemic.in/
Location: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Year Founded: 2020
Key Clients: Paper boat, Book my show, Mahindra, Eximius ventures, Urban ladder, Freakins.
Services: Branding, web development, packaging, UI/UX design, product photography, SEO
Awards: Foxglove Awards – 2020 and 2022, Marketers Excellence Awards – 2022, Big Bang Awards – 2021
Pentagram is a heavyweight in the world of branding. While they traditionally focus on legacy brands, their recent work with startups and cultural initiatives proves their relevance across verticals. Every identity they touch becomes iconic. Their multidisciplinary approach means every output is deep, deliberate and disruptive.
Website: https://www.pentagram.com/
Location: London, New York, Berlin, Austin
Year Founded: 1972
Key Clients: Citibank, Oppo, United Airlines, Slack, Warner Bros.m etc.
Services: Branding, visual identity, digital experience, campaign and film, typography and sound
Collins takes branding into the realm of art and magic. Their identities are visceral, human and intensely strategic. Best known for their bold transformations and digital-first brand worlds, they turn startups into icons in the making.
Website: https://www.wearecollins.com/
Location: New York, San Francisco
Year Founded: 2008
Key Clients: Spotify, Dropbox, Nike, Facebook Gaming, Mailchimp, Figma, Ford etc
Services: Branding, brand architecture, visual design, packaging and retail design, Web design and UX
Based in London, Ragged Edge is known for fearless storytelling and high-impact branding that dares to be different. Their work with challenger brands has made them a go-to for startups looking to punch above their weight.
Website Link: https://raggededge.com/
Location: London
Year Founded: 2007
Key Clients: Papier, Wise, First Choice, Kili, Homa and Eagre, etc
Services: Brand strategy, UI/UX Design, Messaging, campaigns and content, Film, photography and environment branding, Employer branding
Clay is a premium branding agency that specializes in creating transformative brand experiences. With a focus on strategic thinking and creative design, they help brands craft authentic, disruptive identities. Their expertise spans brand strategy, identity creation and digital experiences, helping startups and established brands resonate deeply with their audiences across various industries.
Website: https://clay.global/
Location: San Francisco, New York, Austin, Denver, Lisbon, Belgrade
Year Founded: 2009
Key Clients: Wealth, CafePay, Streetbeat, SpeedTest, Rapid Robotics
Services: brand strategy, brand architecture, verbal & visual identity, brand guidelines, brand experience
Mission Control is a new-generation branding agency built expressly for high-growth startups. Calling itself “the human creative company for the AI age,” it fuses senior-level design talent with AI-accelerated workflows to launch brands and digital products at speed. The studio offers three engagement tracks; Launchpad (fixed-fee brand + site builds), Orbit (retainer-based design support) and Alliance (cash + equity partnerships), giving founders flexible ways to scale their creative firepower.
Website: https://missioncontrol.co/
Location: San Francisco CA (remote-first, “Planet Earth”)
Year Founded: 2025
Key Clients: Select early-stage and growth startups
Services: Brand strategy, visual & verbal identity, web design, UX & product design, brand assets, ongoing design retainers, creative-capital partnerships
Motto blends brand strategy with cultural intelligence. They help startups define what they stand for before designing what they look like. Their thought leadership around vision and values is unmatched.
Website: https://wearemotto.com/
Location: Dallas, New York, London
Year Founded: 2005
Key Clients: Google, Virgin, Tally, Hopscotch etc
Services: Brand strategy, Brand identity, Brand culture and brand experience
Studio Dumbar is a Dutch branding powerhouse with a strong global reputation. Known for their visually experimental style, Studio Dumbar is a creative haven for startups looking to break aesthetic conventions.
Website: https://studiodumbar.com/
Location: Rotterdam
Year Founded: 1977
Key Clients: Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Mozilla, Alzheimer Nederland etc.
Services: Strategic positioning, Visual identity, Motion identity, Sound identity, Integrated branding
Studio Mast is nimble, clean and deeply intentional. With a heavy emphasis on design systems and digital presence, they are ideal for startups that want their identity to breathe across platforms.
Website: https://studiomast.co/
Location: Denver
Year Founded: 2015
Key Clients: Basecamp, Wistia, InVision, etc
Services: Brand identity, logo design, packaging design cost consultancy, UX
Koto is a multicultural, multi-continent branding studio that delivers crystal-clear brand positioning and design systems. Their startup work is vibrant, global and system-driven.
Website: https://koto.studio/
Location: London, Berlin, LA, Sydney
Year Founded: 2014
Key Clients: Airbnb, Netflix, Meta, Venmo, Discord, Fiverr, The Washington Post, UberEats, Polkadot, Coca-Cola etc
Services: Brand identity, strategy and guidelines, Naming and brand frameworks, Photography, illustration and typography, Campaign and web design
With a dual presence in the US and Europe, How&How combines data-driven strategy with playfully audacious design. Their work with purpose-led startups stands out for its integrity and flair.
Website: https://www.how.studio/
Location: London, Lisbon, LA
Year Founded: 2020
Key Clients: Hometree, Yango Maps, SauceLabs, BioZeroc, emm and Veriff etc
Services: Brand building and identity systems, Brand guidelines and frameworks, Digital brand execution using modern Headless CMS platforms
Superside is a creative as-a-service platform that empowers teams with high-quality design at scale. Serving as a flexible extension to in-house design teams, Superside offers access to a global network of expert designers and creatives. They specialize in a wide range of design services, including branding, UX/UI, digital advertising and more, all delivered with precision and speed. Superside’s subscription-based model allows businesses to scale their design efforts efficiently while maintaining high standards of creativity and innovation.
Whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise, Superside provides on-demand, enterprise-level design support that helps brands stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Their clients include well-known brands across various industries, making Superside a trusted partner for businesses looking to accelerate their design output without compromising quality.
Website: https://www.superside.com/
Location: USA, Oslo (NO) and Toronto (CA)
Year Founded: 2015
Key Clients: Google, Amazon, Shopify, Meta, Red Bull, colgate, figma etc
Services: creative design services, specialised production services, AI services, marketing services
Wolff Olins is a storied global brand consultancy famous for pioneering transformative brand experiences that move businesses, people and the world forward. Since 1965, the agency has set the benchmark for bold, boundary-pushing identities, blending brand strategy, design, verbal and digital experience to help category leaders from Uber to the London 2012 Olympic Games, redefine what a brand can be.
Website: https://wolffolins.com/
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Year Founded: 1965
Key Clients: Google, Airbnb, LG, Uber, London 2012 Olympic Games, NHS
Services: Brand strategy, visual identity, verbal identity, digital experience, brand architecture, culture & EVP, motion & experience design
Wolff Olins is a storied global brand consultancy famous for pioneering transformative brand experiences that move businesses, people and the world forward. Since 1965, the agency has set the benchmark for bold, boundary-pushing identities, blending brand strategy, design, verbal and digital experience to help category leaders from Uber to the London 2012 Olympic Games, redefine what a brand can be.
Website: https://wolffolins.com/
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Year Founded: 1965
Key Clients: Google, Airbnb, LG, Uber, London 2012 Olympic Games, NHS
Services: Brand strategy, visual identity, verbal identity, digital experience, brand architecture, culture & EVP, motion & experience design
Lippincott is a pioneering global brand consultancy that coined the very idea of “corporate identity” back in 1943. The firm blends rigorous business strategy with boundary-pushing design to help companies unlock growth, reimagine experiences and build brands that endure. From Starbucks cups to Delta jet livery, Lippincott’s work has shaped some of the world’s most recognizable icons for more than eight decades.
Website: https://www.lippincott.com/
Location: New York, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney
Year Founded: 1943
Key Clients: Starbucks, Delta Air Lines, Samsung, Walmart, Coca-Cola, 3M, Hyatt
Services: Brand strategy, visual and verbal identity, naming, brand architecture, innovation strategy, customer and employee experience design, content strategy, digital products & service design
When you are building from zero to one, every decision counts. Choosing one of these top branding agencies for startups could be the most strategic decision you make this year. Whether you are looking for clarity in your brand voice development, precision in your color palette selection or power-packed packaging graphic design, your agency partner will define your brand’s future. But if you want to not just compete but dominate, Brandemic is your go-to.
We are not just about making your brand look great, we are here to create a brand that becomes a force to be reckoned with. Our team thrives on turning ambitious startups into iconic brands with solid strategies and bold design. From ideation to execution, we help you shape an identity that resonates with your audience and captures attention in all the right ways. We not only brands, we create legacies. Choose Brandemic, and let’s make something unforgettable.
It ranges from $10,000 to $150,000 depending on scope, region and agency reputation. Agencies like Brandemic offer startup-friendly pricing.
Typical services include naming, logo design, visual identity, brand strategy, UI/UX, packaging and brand positioning.
Anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months depending on complexity.
Costs can range from $1,000 to $20,000 based on materials, format and design complexity.
Consider industry specialization, past clients, pricing, cultural fit and your desired positioning. Look for alignment on ambition, not just budget.
