Design Match
About the Company
Design Match focuses on connecting startups with designers, catering to a range of clients from first-time founders to large enterprises. The company distinguishes itself by emphasizing the importance of design in bridging the gap between a product's value and its customers. Danielle’s extensive experience as a product designer for startups globally fueled the vision behind Design Match. The company’s core mission is to ensure that startups can easily find the right designer to meet their specific needs, without the usual hurdles associated with global talent hiring.
Idea Behind Company
Danielle’s journey began when she realized her potential for more while working as a product designer. Seeking discomfort to grow, she traveled the world, discovering that her income as a freelancer was steadily increasing. During this time, she identified a gap in the market—many creators lacked access to the opportunities she had. This led her to start Design Club, an online school for designers, which eventually evolved into the idea for Design Match. The need for a service that could connect startups with skilled designers became apparent as she began matching clients with designers from her network.
Creating the Company
The initial development of Design Match was driven by Danielle's design expertise. She built the front-end of the platform with a focus on simplicity and user experience. When faced with high development costs, Danielle opted for a no-code solution using Bubble, which significantly reduced expenses. The client side of the platform was designed to offer a seamless, asynchronous sales cycle, which proved to be successful despite skepticism. The company's early success was evident when their monthly recurring revenue (MRR) reached over $20,000 in the first month, validating the business model.
Launching the Business
Design Match was officially incorporated in December 2021, with low startup costs funded by Danielle’s consulting income. A significant early decision was to hire a brand strategist, which helped differentiate the company’s identity from Danielle's personal brand. The company’s organic growth was driven by SEO and content marketing, with AI tools playing a key role in the creation of evergreen content. While email marketing did not yield expected results, LinkedIn automation and a focus on being present where founders congregate proved effective. The business's success relied heavily on understanding and fulfilling the existing demand for designer services rather than creating new needs.
Earnings
Ellwood’s YouTube channel generates substantial income through ad revenue, with additional earnings from Patreon, Fiverr, brand deals, and affiliate marketing. His most successful video, focusing on Amazon FBA, has garnered significant views and revenue. By leveraging various income streams and maintaining a focus on authenticity and practical advice, Ellwood has built a profitable business model around his YouTube presence.
