Choosing the right design partner can be tough, especially for early-stage hardware and digital product companies. It’s not uncommon for Whipsaw to be left off initial shortlists in those early stages. We understand the rationale: we’re a well-established firm with a long track record, a high degree of polish, and experience that spans everything from consumer electronics to medical devices.
But while we’re known for our larger engagements, many of our collaborations actually begin with small ideas that grow through the design process. In fact, nearly half of our projects are with early-stage startups. We want to clarify where Whipsaw truly fits, and why some common objections may deserve a second look.
At Whipsaw, we believe design is a strategic differentiator. Our rates reflect the depth of our experience, the caliber of our team, and the quality of our outcomes. That said, we work with clients of all sizes, including startups operating under significant budget constraints.
We often tailor engagements to meet early-stage needs, whether through focused discovery phases, rapid prototyping, or concise, actionable design outputs. For select companies, we also offer venture-style partnerships through our internal studio model, aligning incentives and investing in long-term success. High quality does not have to mean out of reach.
When we partnered with Dropcam, they were a lean startup with a bold vision for connected home security. Together, we transformed that idea into a product that defined a new category and ultimately led to acquisition by Google, then spun out as Nest. It’s a reminder that world-changing companies often begin small.
Whipsaw delivers large-scale, technically complex programs across global markets. But that’s not all we do. We also take on early-phase product development, pre-seed prototypes, and single-feature innovations, provided there’s meaningful value to unlock through thoughtful design.
What we seek are projects with purpose, not just scale. If your idea addresses a real user need and can benefit from rigorous design and engineering, we’re well-positioned to help shape it and enthusiastic about partnering with ambitious founders.
Take Tonal, for example. The founders arrived with a breakthrough idea: using electricity—not gravity—to generate resistance in strength training. The technology was promising but raw. Our role was to transform that spark into a complete product experience, resolving the ergonomics, mechanics, and interface so it felt intuitive and at home on a wall. The result was a category-defining system that turned a bold experiment into a household name.
Some assume that larger firms necessarily move more slowly. We disagree. Our team structure is designed for agility. We build quickly, test early, and iterate often. Our in-house prototyping capabilities in San Francisco allow us to compress feedback loops and reduce time to decision.
We also believe deeply in partnership. The name Whipsaw stems from the idea that the best outcomes come from dynamic back-and-forth collaboration. We respect process, but never let it become a barrier to progress. Clients who value speed and efficiency without compromising quality often find us to be an ideal partner.
Our collaboration with Ohm, a startup developing a resonance-based breathing lamp for mindfulness and focus, demonstrates this flexibility. We began with industrial design—defining a physical direction that balanced emotional warmth with technical precision—and connected the founders with mechanical engineers to move efficiently toward manufacturing. As the product evolved, our partnership expanded to include brand strategy, visual identity, website design, and development, ensuring every touchpoint reflected the same calm, resonant experience.
We’ve made tradeoffs, adjusted scope, and gone above and beyond to help Ohm bring their vision to life, not just because we believe in the product, but because we’re equity partners ourselves. While a small stake, that investment reflects how deeply we’re aligned with their success. Ohm is a prime example of how Whipsaw supports founders holistically, serving as their full design resource across physical, digital, and brand experiences.
While we aren’t exclusively focused on any one vertical, we’ve developed deep expertise across healthcare, consumer electronics, robotics, and wearables. This breadth gives us a unique advantage: we can draw insights across categories, recognize emerging patterns, and bring unexpected solutions to bear.
If your product requires specialized regulatory knowledge or niche material science, we’re transparent about our capabilities and will partner as needed. But in most cases, the combination of our core team and extended network provides robust, industry-relevant support.
In healthcare, we’ve designed surgical tools for Silkroad Medical and Imperative Care, diagnostic equipment for PacBio and Standard BioTools, and wearables for Ceribell and Empatica. These projects demand regulatory rigor, usability under pressure, and seamless integration into clinical workflows. By collaborating closely with medical experts and applying disciplined, user-centered design, we help ensure that innovation translates into meaningful outcomes for patients and practitioners alike.
Design sensibility matters, but it should not be mistaken for rigidity. We don’t impose a signature aesthetic. Our role is to understand your vision, your audience, and your business objectives, then translate those into tangible, high-impact design outcomes.
We are collaborative, intellectually curious, and focused on creating lasting value. If your team brings a strong point of view, we’ll meet it with respect and a shared commitment to excellence.
For Ohm, that meant creating a cohesive design language across every interaction—from the sculptural breathing lamp itself to the soft gradients of the brand identity to the meditative rhythm of the website. The result is a unified ecosystem that feels thoughtful, calm, and deeply human—a reflection of both their vision and our partnership.
Whipsaw may not be the right partner for every situation. No firm is. But if you’re building a product that demands both innovation and execution and you value design as a strategic differentiator, we should be in the conversation.
We’re open to early-stage projects, responsive to timeline needs, and grounded in a long history of successful outcomes. Before assuming we’re too large, too specialized, or too expensive, we encourage you to speak with us directly. You may find the fit is stronger than expected.
To learn more or request examples aligned with your product space, contact us at newbusiness@whipsaw.com.
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