Startup founders have unique branding needs. They must build not just a company logo but a personal brand that inspires trust, attracts investors, and fuels growth. In fact, studies show 86% of customers trust a company when its leadership is active on social media, and as much as 45% of a company’s value can be tied to its CEO’s reputation. At the same time, about 90% of startups fail within the first year – meaning founders must stand out quickly. A strong founder brand (thought leadership, clear messaging, and digital authority) can be a make-or-break factor. 

Agencies play a vital role in this process. They help founders craft a clear narrative and consistent messaging across channels, align the founder’s personal profile with the company brand, and boost visibility in media and search engines. As Bhavik Sarkhedi of Ohh My Brand explains, “Your company’s name, the CEO’s personal profile, and the brand’s persona all need to sync seamlessly.” The right agency combines strategy, creative design, content, and PR to elevate a founder’s visibility and credibility. Below are 22 leading agencies (global in scope, serving English-speaking markets) that excel at startup and founder branding in 2025.

Ohh My Brand

Ohh My Brand is a personal branding consultancy founded by Bhavik Sarkhedi (Forbes Global Personal Branding Expert 2025). It specializes in founder branding and thought leadership for startup CEOs worldwide. The agency’s signature approach is personal storytelling combined with digital authority, which helps align the founder’s voice, social content, and company identity. For example, Ohh My Brand crafts founder-led content strategies (LinkedIn articles, website copy, media pitches) so the CEO’s vision shines through every channel.

Niche Focus: Founder/CEO personal branding (storytelling, LinkedIn, media relations)

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Approach: “Voice-of-founder” strategy: building a consistent narrative across website, social, and PR. The in-house team creates content that “sounds like you” and optimizes online reputation.

Success Stories: Founder Bhavik has placed clients in Forbes, Inc., Yahoo Finance, and other top outlets. (Clients are often tech founders and thought leaders.)

Value Proposition: Helps founders achieve clarity and visibility. By aligning the CEO’s personal profile with the startup brand, Ohh My Brand amplifies authority and trust for startup growth.

Blushush

Blushush (London, co-founded by Sahil Gandhi and Bhavik Sarkhedi) is a full-service branding agency for startups and founders. Its niche is web design and brand identities with personality. They use Webflow and bold visuals to make founders stand out. Blushush’s approach is highly creative and data-informed, combining brand strategy, Figma UI/UX design, Webflow development, and on-page SEO. The team is all in-house, ensuring consistency from concept to launch.

Niche Focus: Founder-focused branding (Webflow websites, brand strategy, SEO) for tech, fintech, and consumer startups.

Approach: Bold, personality-driven brand builds. Emphasis on “strategy + Figma + Webflow + SEO” to create cohesive sites that rank. They integrate storytelling and identity design with performance metrics.

Success Stories: Founder Sahil Gandhi (“The Brand Professor”) works with Forbes-profiled leaders. Blushush’s portfolio includes high-growth tech startups and SME founders. (They’ve launched sites like fintech apps and community platforms.)

Value Proposition: Blushush helps founders articulate their unique brand personality online. By marrying design with SEO and content, they ensure new startups get visibility and credibility from day one.

Brand of a Leader

Brand of a Leader (Canada) is a boutique agency co-founded by Marina Byezhanova and Stefano Faustini. It focuses on Gen-X founders and seasoned entrepreneurs, helping them become market leaders. Their methodology centers on deep storytelling and thought leadership: intensive interviews to discover a founder’s unique vision, then scaling that narrative through content (articles, podcasts, LinkedIn, etc.)

Niche Focus: Personal branding for global entrepreneurs (tech startups, B2B coaches, lifestyle brands).

Approach: Collaborative storycrafting. The agency conducts extensive brand interviews and then produces multi-format content that elevates the founder’s voice. In-house branding guides then place content in major media.

Success Stories: They’ve secured coverage in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, and Success Magazine. Founders get featured thought leadership pieces to boost reputation.

Value Proposition: Brand of a Leader turns startup founders into recognized authorities. By highlighting the founder’s story and expertise, they build trust with customers and investors, giving the startup instant legibility in the market.

Claire Bahn Group

Claire Bahn Group (Los Angeles) is a boutique strategic communications and PR firm for executives and founders. Founded by journalist-turned-PR Claire Bahn, it blends personal branding with media relations. They work with tech and finance CEOs to craft a strong public narrative and get it into the press.

Niche Focus: CEO/Executive branding and PR (tech, finance, media, non-profits).

Approach: Integrated positioning + earned media. The in-house team (strategists and PR pros) develops a founder’s unique positioning and secures features and interviews in top business and tech outlets.

Success Stories: Claire Bahn herself is featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes and MarketWatch, and her clients have been spotlighted in major media.

Value Proposition: Ideal for founders who want to shape public perception quickly. Claire Bahn Group offers high-end PR coupled with strategy, helping startup leaders build credibility and excitement around their vision.

Influence & Co.

Influence & Co. (Kansas City) is a content marketing agency that extends into personal branding. Co-founded by John Hall, it helps businesses and founders grow through content. Their specialty is strategic content placement: ghostwritten articles, whitepapers, and SEO-optimized thought leadership.

Niche Focus: Content marketing and personal branding for B2B/SaaS founders.

Approach: Content-as-influence. They produce high-volume, high-quality content under the founder’s name and place it in major industry publications and media. The in-house editorial team handles everything from writing to distribution.

Success Stories: Influence & Co. has published over 10,000 articles in outlets like Forbes and Inc. on behalf of clients. Their portfolio includes startup founders who now rank as go-to experts in their niche.

Value Proposition: For founders who see thought leadership as a growth engine. Influence & Co. provides the pipeline for consistent expert content, boosting SEO and establishing the founder as a trusted voice in the industry.

BrandYourself

BrandYourself (New York) is a reputation management and personal branding company. Founded by Pete Peterson, it began with DIY SEO tools and evolved into full-service online brand management.

Niche Focus: Online personal brand and reputation for executives and professionals.

Approach: SEO-driven brand building. They clean up or suppress negative content, optimize LinkedIn and Google results, and publish positive content under the founder’s name. They combine proprietary software with an in-house team.

Success Stories: BrandYourself gained fame after being featured on Shark Tank and honored by the White House. They’ve been written about in Inc., Forbes, and Entrepreneur.

Value Proposition: Startup founders who worry about online image turn to BrandYourself. They ensure the founder’s name ranks for the right stuff, erasing negative search results and surfacing positive bio/profile content so the founder’s online presence builds trust.

ReputationDefender

ReputationDefender (Seattle) specializes in online reputation management and executive privacy. Co-founded by Michael Fertik (who later sold the company to NortonLifeLock), it is geared toward high-profile individuals.

Niche Focus: Global executives’ and celebrities’ online reputation.

Approach: Data-driven reputation therapy. They use technical tools and content strategies to suppress negative links, manage social profiles, and protect privacy.

Success Stories: Featured in Wired, WSJ, NYT and on 60 Minutes for their work. Clients span tech, entertainment, and politics.

Value Proposition: For founders who are or may become public figures, ReputationDefender instills confidence that negative press or info can be managed. Protecting and curating a founder’s digital footprint safeguards the brand image as the startup grows.

The Narrative Group

The Narrative Group (Charlotte) is a creative agency with a strong PR and storytelling wing. Founded by Jackie Lann Brockman, it excels in turning a CEO’s story into compelling brand content.

Niche Focus: Story-driven branding and PR (tech, healthcare, consumer products).

Approach: Creative storytelling + earned media. The Narrative team crafts multimedia content (articles, videos, social narratives) around an executive’s personal journey, then uses PR tactics to publish it widely.

Success Stories: They have generated over $10M in earned media for clients. Their campaigns often feature startup founders in major industry outlets and niche trade publications.

Value Proposition: Startup founders with bold stories benefit here. The agency not only shapes the founder’s brand story but also earns coverage in press and social media, increasing visibility and trust for the emerging company.

Pinnacle PR

Pinnacle PR (London) is a UK-based agency at the intersection of PR and personal branding. It has a niche in high-level executive visibility, though it also serves startups.

Niche Focus: Executive/Founder branding and media relations (tech, finance, retail).

Approach: Media outreach + brand story development. A fully in-house PR team builds a tailored narrative for the founder and pitches it to top-tier media. They have strong links to British and global press.

Success Stories: Tens of thousands of media placements in UK national and trade press. Clients include tech entrepreneurs and C-suite leaders in international firms.

Value Proposition: For European or global founders seeking press clout, Pinnacle PR offers a strategic, high-touch PR engine. They make startup founders into visible thought leaders, leveraging media to amplify the founder’s personal brand.

Kurogo

Kurogo (London) bills itself as “the UK’s #1 personal branding agency” for founders and CEOs. Founded by Sam Winsbury, it combines branding, PR, and social media.

Niche Focus: Founder and CEO personal branding (especially fintech/tech).

Approach: Niche positioning + gradual expansion. Kurogo first refines a founder’s unique position in the market, then expands reach via targeted social media campaigns, PR, and content marketing. Their in-house “stagehands” team executes all aspects, from copywriting to media relations.

Success Stories: Kurogo has built over 100 personal brands from the ground up. They have strong connections with tech and business media, regularly placing clients in sector outlets.

Value Proposition: Kurogo helps startup CEOs find their niche and broadcast it. Their step-by-step process is ideal for founders who want a clear, systematic path to becoming recognized industry voices.

Prestidge Group

Prestidge Group (Dubai/London/NYC) is a luxury PR and personal branding firm. Founded by Briar Prestidge, it caters to high-net-worth entrepreneurs and executives.

Niche Focus: Executive branding and media relations for HNW individuals (tech founders, royals, celebrities).

Approach: Bespoke, high-touch branding. They offer 24/7 PR counsel, speaker management, crisis PR, and global reputation campaigns. Every strategy is ultra-customized for the individual.

Success Stories: Briar herself is featured in Forbes, WIRED, and Fast Company. The agency’s clients include tech CEOs and government officials around the world.

Value Proposition: Prestidge is for founders who need a premier, concierge-level branding partner. They provide polished, world-class campaigns (media tours, executive profiles, keynote placements), ensuring a startup’s founder brand is synonymous with prestige and trust.

Delightful Communications

Delightful Communications (Seattle/London) is a B2B marketing and personal branding agency, founded by tech marketing veteran Mel Carson. It serves high-tech executives, especially in SaaS and enterprise tech.

Niche Focus: Tech executives and startup founders (B2B SaaS).

Approach: Personal brand coaching + digital PR. They offer one-on-one coaching to refine an executive’s online presence, social media strategy, and public persona. Mel Carson brings expertise from Microsoft and runs thought leadership workshops.

Success Stories: Clients include tech companies and executives; Mel Carson frequently speaks at industry conferences and media events.

Value Proposition: Delightful helps founders transition from “just a CEO” to visible leaders. By combining strategic social content, networking, and PR, they boost a founder’s profile, attracting customers and investors who trust that voice.

Valuables (formerly Waller & Co)

Valuables (London) is a personal branding consultancy known for its data-driven approach. Founded by Dr. Talaya Waller, it uses AI and analytics in the branding process.

Niche Focus: Data-informed personal branding (finance, tech, and education sectors).

Approach: AI + human strategy. Valuables’ platform measures engagement, sentiment, and competitive benchmarks to shape the founder’s brand positioning. The in-house team of data scientists and strategists refines messaging based on real performance metrics.

Success Stories: Talaya has been featured in Bloomberg, Fast Company, and Forbes. Notable projects include work with the UN, Google, and the NBA.

Value Proposition: For founders who want a measurable strategy, Valuables offers clarity and accountability. They tie branding efforts to data (views, links, sentiment), so entrepreneurs see exactly how their visibility and authority grow.

SimplyBe. Agency

SimplyBe. Agency (Chicago) is a premier personal branding firm for entrepreneurs and executives. Founded by branding expert Jessica Zweig, it handles full-stack brand development.

Niche Focus: Entrepreneur and executive personal branding (tech founders, coaches).

Approach: 360° brand creation. Services include positioning, brand photography, professional bios, website copy, and PR outreach. The fully in-house team covers social media, publicity and creative.

Success Stories: Jessica Zweig is a Forbes contributor. The agency has secured placements for clients in Forbes, CNBC and Inc. They’ve built over 500 personal brands (CEOs and thought leaders) since inception.

Value Proposition: SimplyBe delivers polished, media-savvy founder brands. Startups working with SimplyBe get the benefit of high-profile media mentions and curated visual branding, helping the founder break through the noise quickly.

Rewrite Strategy

Rewrite Strategy (UK) is a boutique agency focused on LinkedIn and content-first personal branding. Founded by Steph, it specializes in helping small business owners and startup CEOs refine their LinkedIn presence.

Niche Focus: LinkedIn branding and content strategy for founders and small CEOs.

Approach: Founder-led, authentic storytelling. Rewrite provides one-on-one coaching and content creation, optimizing the founder’s LinkedIn profile and producing targeted posts. The goal is a relatable, consistent narrative rather than flashy PR.

Success Stories: Clients include tech founders and solo entrepreneurs in the UK. Many have grown their inbound leads by sharing their startup journey in bite-sized posts.

Value Proposition: For founders who want a grassroots thought leadership strategy, Rewrite provides an affordable, founder-centric approach (starting around £1,200/month). It builds authority through genuine, regular content rather than big-budget campaigns.

Superside

Superside (Global) is a creative services platform that also offers full branding support. It operates a distributed team of 700+ designers and creatives around the world.

Niche Focus: Brand design for startups and scale-ups needing agile creative (from logo to brand refresh).

Approach: Subscription-based creative. Clients get on-demand access to top designers for brand assets, websites, and marketing materials. Superside’s unique “always-on” model means quick turnarounds for brand work.

Success Stories: As a sister brand, Superside points to projects like a food delivery app rebrand and a fintech brand launch. Their in-house case studies (e.g. for Salt Financial Services) showcase dramatic identity transformations.

Value Proposition: Superside is perfect for founders who need fast, professional brand design at scale. With a monthly retainer model, startups get enterprise-level creative talent to build and iterate their brand identity as they grow

Ruckus

Ruckus (New York/Allentown) is a full-service marketing and branding agency that loves working with startups. They emphasize launching brands that “disrupt their market.”

Niche Focus: Startup branding and marketing (all sectors).

Approach: Structured startup programs. Ruckus offers a startup launch package covering branding, marketing strategy, and business strategy. They collaborate closely with founders to find a unique market angle and then build the brand identity around it.

Success Stories: Clients include high-tech wearable companies and B2B software providers. They also created the branding campaign for the NYC Ferry system. Their broad portfolio spans restaurants to tech firms, showcasing adaptability.

Value Proposition: Ruckus works as an extension of the startup team. For founders, Ruckus provides a data-driven, holistic branding solution, not just a logo design, but the full business story and go-to-market plan.

Condensed

Condensed (Brooklyn) is a small, agile brand design studio on a mission to make people “talk about brands.” They focus on clean, modern brand identities and messaging.

Niche Focus: Boutique brand design for startups and SMBs.

Approach: Collaborative brand building. Condensed believes in simplicity, creating brands that resonate. They work directly with founders in a workshop style to clarify brand vision, then produce logos, websites, and guidelines.

Success Stories: Condensed’s own site highlights clients of various sizes. (As a small agency, their success is largely reflected in word-of-mouth and local tech community endorsements.)

Value Proposition: Condensed offers founders an intimate partnership. Its hands-on creative process yields memorable brands without the overhead of a large agency. Startups benefit from direct access to senior designers and strategy in a tight scope.

Murmur Creative

Murmur Creative (Portland) is a values-based branding agency. They specialize in helping mission-driven startups articulate their brand purpose.

Niche Focus: Brand strategy and design for socially minded startups.

Approach: “Branding with heart.” Murmur’s process starts with a deep dive into a founder’s values and company culture, then translates that into emotional design and messaging. They handle everything from strategy workshops to website design.

Success Stories: Murmur’s case studies include collaborations with eco-tech startups and community initiatives. They pride themselves on turning brand stories into websites that resonate with users.

Value Proposition: For founders who value authentic storytelling, Murmur provides a personal touch. They ensure that a startup’s mission and ethics shine through the brand, helping forge genuine connections with customers.

Ramotion

Ramotion (San Francisco) is a digital branding and UI/UX design agency popular with tech startups.

Niche Focus: Web/app design and digital branding for technology-focused startups.

Approach: High-end design expertise. Ramotion works with startups to create polished digital experiences. From custom logos to website interfaces, they aim to elevate the startup’s image to match Silicon Valley standards.

Success Stories: They have designed for brands like Salesforce Ventures, Mozilla, and Social Impact startups. Ramotion’s portfolio includes slick, narrative-driven websites and apps.

Value Proposition: Founders who want to match big-tech branding turn to Ramotion. The agency makes a startup look as professional and cutting-edge as an established tech brand, giving credibility in user and investor eyes.

NoGood

NoGood (New York, Los Angeles, Miami) is an award-winning digital marketing agency. It specializes in “performance branding” – blending brand development with growth hacking.

Niche Focus: Digital marketing and brand storytelling for growth-stage companies.

Approach: Data-informed brand strategy. NoGood “gets personal with your brand” to uncover what customers want. They craft social ads, landing pages, and email flows that tell the brand’s story. Everything is tracked with analytics, and campaigns are continuously optimized.

Success Stories: As a TechCrunch-verified growth expert, NoGood has boosted major SaaS and consumer brands. They use performance analytics to drive improvements, often citing successful campaigns that doubled engagement or conversion for clients.

Value Proposition: Startup founders benefit from NoGood’s blend of creative and analytical: you get scroll-stopping visuals and measurable ROIs. For tech-savvy founders, they deliver branding strategies that are as focused on growth metrics as on aesthetics.

Interbrand

Interbrand (global) is one of the largest brand consultancy firms in the world. With offices in New York, London, Sydney and beyond, Interbrand works on transformative branding for companies of all sizes.

Niche Focus: Global brand strategy and design (iconic brands, corporate rebrands).

Approach: Transformative brand building. Interbrand’s philosophy is “Iconic Moves” – bold brand actions that turn customers into advocates. Their process is rooted in deep market research and innovative brand experiences.

Success Stories: Interbrand’s portfolio includes household names like Microsoft, Nissan, and Samsung. They’ve led multi-year brand overhauls that reposition companies for the future.

Value Proposition: Though more corporate-focused, Interbrand still offers lessons for founders. They exemplify big-picture thinking: founders learn the importance of aligning mission, product, and visual identity at every scale. For resourceful startups, taking a page from Interbrand means pushing the brand to be daring and customer-centric.

Conclusion: Actionable Tips for Founders

Brand building is a journey, and a specialized agency can serve as your guide. Here are key tips for founders taking their personal brand to the next level:

Clarify Your Story

Define what makes your startup unique and how your personal journey ties into it. Develop a consistent narrative (the “origin story” of the company and founder) that runs through your website, LinkedIn, and PR

Be Authentic and Consistent

Audiences trust authenticity. Use your authentic voice in posts and media, and ensure your brand visuals (logo, site design, headshots) match that tone. Consistency in messaging and design builds recognition.

Create Thought Leadership Content

Position yourself as an expert. Write articles, share insights, or start a podcast about your industry. Agencies like Ohh My Brand or Influence & Co. can help place this content in major outlets, driving visibility and SEO.

Leverage Social Media Strategically

Focus on platforms where your customers and investors spend time (often LinkedIn or Twitter for B2B tech). Regular posts about your field, lessons learned, or company milestones can humanize your brand. If social media isn’t your strength, consider coaching or content help from agencies like Rewrite Strategy.

Invest in Professional Branding Support

If possible, bring in experts. Even a short engagement with a branding agency can clarify your brand strategy and speed up growth. An agency ensures your branding is polished and aligned from the start, avoiding costly pivots later.

Ready to stand out? Begin by auditing your current brand presence: Google yourself, review your profile, and ask trusted mentors for feedback. Then take one step, maybe write an article or redesign your website. Remember, building a founder brand is a marathon, not a sprint. With persistence and the right agency partner, you’ll turn your personal brand into one of your startup’s greatest assets.

FAQ: Founder Branding & Agency Selection

Q: What is founder personal branding and why does it matter?

A: Founder personal branding is the practice of shaping and promoting the public image of a startup’s leader. It goes beyond a logo; it’s about your story, expertise, and values. Strong personal branding matters because investors and customers often bet on people as much as ideas. As one study notes, if a leader is active and respected, customers are far more likely to trust the company. A well-crafted founder brand can attract early adopters, media attention, and even talent, giving the startup a competitive edge. 

Q: How do I choose the right branding agency for my startup?

A: Consider your needs: Are you rebranding the company image or building your personal visibility? Look at an agency’s niche (e.g. PR vs. design vs. content). Review their case studies and client list. Have they worked with startups in your stage or industry? Budget and chemistry matter too; some agencies offer retainer-based programs (with subscription creative or PR counsel), while others do project work. Finally, ensure the agency has a clear process that involves you – as Bhavik Sarkhedi of Ohh My Brand notes, founder and company branding must “sync seamlessly,” which means the agency should understand both you and your business. 

Q: What services does a startup/branding agency typically offer?

A: Services vary but often include brand strategy (defining mission, messaging, and values), visual identity (logo, website, and collateral), content creation (blogs and thought leadership articles), social media management, PR/media outreach, and SEO optimization. For founder branding specifically, agencies may offer LinkedIn profile makeovers, ghostwriting (writing articles or speeches under your name), interview media coaching, and reputation management. For instance, an agency like ReputationDefender focuses on search visibility and suppression of negative content, while a firm like BrandYourself works on SEOing your personal profiles. 

Q: Can I build my personal brand without an agency?

A: Yes, but it’s often slower and riskier alone. Founders can take initial steps themselves: writing a blog, engaging on social media, or doing local PR. However, agencies bring expertise and networks that accelerate results. They can ensure professional polish (graphic design, media PR) and avoid common mistakes (like inconsistent messaging). If the budget is tight, consider hybrid approaches: hire a consultant for strategy and handle execution, or use freelance specialists for tasks like logo design. The key is consistency and strategy; even small teams benefit from having a plan like a larger agency would develop. 

Q: How do branding and company growth correlate?

A: A strong brand attracts customers and talent, which fuels growth. For example, if your founder becomes known as an industry expert, journalists and customers come to you. Agencies that build thought leadership (like Influence & Co. or Ohh My Brand) help founders gain media mentions and search visibility, which can directly lead to partnerships or funding. Branding also influences culture – a clear brand attracts employees who share your vision. In short, investing in branding early gives you momentum; as Superside notes, developing brand identity is a top priority to “grab attention and close deals.”

By understanding these principles and leveraging the right agency partner, startup founders can turn personal branding into a powerful engine for growth.