Design Partner for Startups

I help early-stage teams design their first product, build a brand that lands, and hire their first designer — supafast.

01 2-Week Sprint

$15K–$20K + optional equity Move fast and get results. Perfect for tightening up your UX, landing page, or pitch deck. → UX or conversion audit → Landing page or key flow design → Investor or demo deck polish

02 3- 6 Month Partnership

Plug me in as your first or erly stage designer — I’ll help shape the product, polish your brand, and help you hire the next one. → Brand, product, and GTM audit → UX flows, UI design, design system → Hiring brief + help finding your first designer → Final handoff + onboarding support

03 6mo Partner Lockedin

$125K–$175K + 2–3% equity For teams that need a founder-caliber design lead across MVP, launch, and growth. → Everything in the 3-month offer → Growth and retention UX → Investor collateral, experiments, onboarding → Weekly working sessions or async reviews

I’m not for everyone — I move fast, speak directly, and expect momentum.

Testimonials

“Phil is one of those rare hybrid talents — a founder-minded designer who brings both strategy and taste to the table.”

William Ganser

CEO at Stack Influence

“We brought Phil in as a fractional partner and within weeks he transformed our landing page, clarified our UX, and helped us hire our first designer. A game changer.”

Brandon

Founder at Paragon

"I had the pleasure of working alongside Phil and can confidently say that he is an exceptional Design & Entrepreneur. Phil consistently demonstrated his expertise in user experience and design. And was always willing to lend a helping hand to ensure the success of our projects in Manhattan Venture Research. He is an outstanding collaborator and communicator, making him an invaluable asset to any team. It has been a joy to witness his growth, and I have no doubt Phil will continue to excel."

Santosh Rao

Head of Research at MVP.VC

“Collaborating with Jacob on the React-based design system was a game-changer for our team. His attention to detail ensured a smooth rollout that saved us countless hours.”

Evelyn Brooks

Lead Engineer at Wait

“Collaborating with Jacob on the React-based design system was a game-changer for our team. His attention to detail ensured a smooth rollout that saved us countless hours.”

Evelyn Brooks

Lead Engineer at Wait

“Jacob doesn’t just design solutions—he builds experiences that users genuinely enjoy. His work on the multi-tenant admin panel set a new standard for our products.”

David Smith

UX Researcher at Theta

“Jacob doesn’t just design solutions—he builds experiences that users genuinely enjoy. His work on the multi-tenant admin panel set a new standard for our products.”

David Smith

UX Researcher at Theta

“Working with Jacob on the crypto payment gateway was a privilege. His ability to maintain accessibility compliance while delivering a sleek interface is unmatched.”

Samuel Davis

Designer at Omega

“Working with Jacob on the crypto payment gateway was a privilege. His ability to maintain accessibility compliance while delivering a sleek interface is unmatched.”

Samuel Davis

Designer at Omega

Why Me

I’m a design founder and product operator who’s worked across Apple, SAP, and multiple venture-backed startups. I’ve built and sold companies, advised early-stage teams, and led design through MVP, launch, and growth.

→ Former Apple + SAP designer

→ 5× Accelerator alum (Antler, On Deck, Techstars…)

→ Built/sold multiple startups

→ EIR at a VC — I speak founder

→ Helped dozens of teams go 0→1 with design