What we do

We believe entrepreneurs and designers are best placed to solve the world’s most challenging problems. That’s why we partner with early-stage founders who want to make the world a better place and are unafraid to challenge the status quo.

As founders ourselves, we’re accustomed to working under high levels of uncertainty. We recognise untapped opportunities are often lurking in the unknown. Venture design is our approach for identifying and exploiting the highest potential ideas.

How we add value

Translate early ideas into tangible product concepts
Find unsolved customer problems
Rapidly explore solutions
Validate concepts with real customers
Put shape on a unique value proposition
Prototype a minimum desirable product
Create a distinctive brand and product experience
Help raise initial funding

Translate your initial ideas into tangible product concepts
Examine an opportunity space to find unsolved problems
Rapidly explore a broad range of potential solutions
Validate concepts with real customers
Shape a distinctive value proposition
Prototype a minimum desirable product
Create a unique brand and product experience
Help raise initial funding

"My partnership with Berst has been like having on-demand access to the co-founder I never had. James is deeply invested in my business and is always there to support when I need it—whether that’s visioning something, sense checking, getting hands on with some key design work, or just a well timed bit of confidence boosting! I’m not sure where I’d still be on this journey without them."

Jonathan Garner, Founder & CEO, Mind over Tech

Got a hunch about the next big thing?

Let's talk Or see some or our Founder projects

We love using our experience to guide startups through significant moments of growth. Think of us as an interim design team that gets down in the trenches and supercharges you and your team.

For pre-seed teams, this could be zeroing-in on a distinctive brand and product experience. Or even raising your first seed round. For later stage companies, unifying your growing team around purpose, vision and strategy. Or exploring new areas of market opportunity.

How we add value

Get you to market faster
Guide you towards true product-market fit
Develop distinctive brand language and product experiences
Identify untapped opportunities for innovation
Prototype your next big release
Build internal design capability
Partner on your next investment round

Spotted an opportunity to accelerate your growth?

Let's talk Or see some or our Startup projects

We want to bring the spirit of a startup into your organisation. By freeing employees from entrenched processes, we give them confidence to challenge status quo and explore new opportunities.

Our team gives you the help you need to scout, prototype, and validate new ventures, using fresh, entrepreneurial thinking and then unite teams around a shared vision.

How we add value

Find new opportunities for innovation and spin outs
Prototype new business ideas & pivots
Build the business case for innovation
Validate new ideas with the target market
Grow internal design and entrepreneurial expertise
Respond to big market shifts and mergers
Balance innovation and improvement

Know where design could add value?

Let's talk Or see some or our projects for Leaders

Investors play a pivotal role in backing companies who want to make real change in society. We’re excited to work with purpose-driven teams, seeking a positive societal impact alongside financial return.

Using design thinking and doing we guide promising portfolio companies through pivotal moments, stacking the odds of success in their favour and helping you realise the potential in your portfolio.

How we add value

Bring clarity and confidence on where to focus
Add design expertise into early stage companies that lack dedicated resources
Build a culture of continuous design and customer thinking
Spot new opportunities for innovation, pivots and growth
Accentuate unfair advantage and unique value
Prepare for the next investment round
Advise on new investment opportunities
Identify underserved markets and latent needs
Carry out ‘design due diligence’ on potential investments

"Love partnering with Berst. It’s super rare to find a design team who can understand business needs and create high quality solutions at such high pace."

Sagi Shorrer, serial entrepreneur and angel investor.

Know where design could add value?

Let's talk Or see some or our projects with Investors

How we do it

With deep expertise in design, research and strategy, we take ownership of complex challenges so you don’t have to. Whether through a standalone project or an ongoing partnership, our approach enables you to stay focused on scaling your business and confident that your digital experience is in expert hands.

Vision

Define the vision for your next leap

As your organisation grows, teams can become siloed and more focused on parts of the product than the whole customer experience. Because digital excellence is at the heart of your success, this leaves space for your competitors to move in.

We work with you and your teams to co-create a shared vision for the next leap in your digital experience. Along the way, everyone reconnects with your organisation’s real value and finds a renewed sense of purpose.

How we helped fast-growing health-tech Una shape the three-year vision for their patient experience

Innovation

Get your innovation engine purring again

As startups mature, the need for stability and process can stifle innovation. Bold bets that once propelled growth get sidelined in favour of optimising the status quo.

We help you uncover new insights and create a safe space to explore new ideas. And we turn what emerges into inspiring prototypes that deliver differentiated value and growth.

Read James’ take on Why Innovation Stalls in Scale-ups and how to break the cycle

Digital strategy

Bring clarity and focus to your digital strategy

Growing a business can lead to competing goals that leave teams paralysed and chasing conflicting objectives. At times, it can feel closer to chaos than coordination, frustrating your best people and concerning investors.

Counterintuitive as it may seem, this is the moment to ‘slow down to speed up.’ We help you reflect on what makes your business unique – your purpose, mission and unfair advantage – and clarify where to focus your strategy and what to leave behind. This sharpened perspective inspires action and new momentum.

Culture

Embed innovation into your company’s OS

A compelling vision, innovation engine, and clear strategy are each valuable on their own. But when blended and embedded into your company’s culture and behaviours, they fuel long-term success.

We partner with your teams to integrate design and innovation into your organisation as it scales. This becomes an ongoing, strategic advantage that drives continuous growth.

Are we a good fit for your business?

We know how important it is to work with the right people. Like you, we see trust and transparency as essential for creativity and meaningful change. If you recognise yourself here, we’re likely to be a great fit.

The quality of your digital experience is crucial to your success and you’re willing to invest in it as a key differentiator.
You’re willing to make hard choices to stay laser focused on what your business does best.
You’re willing to change your technology and even how your business runs to deliver meaningful progress.
You and your leadership team can commit your time and expertise to work with us.
You're happy to let experienced professionals like us lead the project and trust us to bring you in at the right moments.

What you can expect when working with us

Quiet authority

You can trust us to work independently and carve our own path in your organisation. This helps us move fast and build momentum from day one.

Connection at all levels

We’re just as happy working with leaders as with product and engineering teams. This confidence helps create clarity and momentum at all levels of your business.

Strategic but tangible design

We’re not fans of innovation theatre or the abstract spreadsheets of traditional consultancies. Instead, we bring visionary thinking to life so it can be experienced and challenged by everyone.
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Infectious energy

Most of all, we love what we do and we naturally bring our energy and optimism to the teams we work with. This leads to invention that thrives even after we’ve left the building.

Got a challenge you’d like to talk over?

Get in touch