Cecilia Uhr

On embedding design in company culture

“From day one of your company, you need to get people caring about design. It needs to be a part of the culture and the DNA of the company from the very beginning, because that will help you scale and grow. I do think the easiest and best way to do this is have a designer be a part of the founding team. That way, you just have person who embodies those values and is able to amplify that across the team.” (from Designer Fund)

On fundraising as a designer

“One of the most important things for fundraising as an early stage startup is storytelling. You’re going to be the industry expert in the room, so it’s your job to paint the picture about what problem you’re solving, and how the world will change through your company. As designers, I think we have a unique advantage when it comes to storytelling with empathy. I would encourage designer founders to lean into that and just keep honing in your pitch.” (from Designer Fund)