Our clients have raised over $ 2.5 M in funding. Here’s what we actually do

My name is Vadym, and I'm the founder of Sollas, a design agency focused on product design for SaaS/AI companies. We care about metrics and results.

Our clients successfully raise funding because the design we've done works - it attracts and retains users, making the interaction between user and product seamless.

Design is the bridge between user and product

Not all designers and founders get this, so I've outlined 7 principles of our approach that actually delivers results. Took me 7 years to figure this out (started my design career 7 years ago).

Our service brings insane ROI to clients who order design from us. 80% of clients come back to work with us again. I'm happy to be building this kind of service business!

1. We don't "just design screens."

We work as a product + growth design partner.

For us, design is a tool for getting users and convincing investors, not just making things look pretty. Honestly, I love creating beautiful visual concepts and it brings me joy, but what brings me even more satisfaction is meaningful design that generates $$$ for clients.

We always set goals for the design we're creating - it points us in the right direction. Toward the client's success and their product's success.

2. We design for fundraising, not Dribbble

Our solutions are built for:

• user acquisition and retention
• traction storytelling
• clear product logic
• metrics, metrics, metrics

We do everything we can to help clients attract users and investors down the road. Having the right focus is already half the battle.

3. UX

We design UX to attract, activate, and retain users.

Every flow is built to:

• reduce friction in the first interaction
• get users to their first "aha moment" faster
• create clear feedback loops that keep them coming back

Good UX lowers CAC, increases activation, and compounds retention - all the stuff investors want to see.

Onboarding is like a first date - you don't get a second chance

4. Validation before launch

Before we hand off design to development, we test it. This gives us proof that our design decisions can actually work. We save our clients money because mistakes get caught early, at the design stage, and we don't waste developer time. Clients also get to see evidence through:

• A/B testing
• user testing in Figma
• surveys
• hypothesis validation

5. Simple gamification that drives retention

Gamification is my favorite thing. It's not for everyone (at least not right now), but where it fits, it works like magic.

Industry reports (UX Matters) show that adding gamification to digital products can boost engagement by up to ~48% and customer retention by up to ~22% (through loyalty mechanics and gamified flows) - https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2024/09/gamification-techniques-for-increasing-customer-engagement-and-loyalty.php

We don't make badges just to have badges - we build stuff that actually lifts DAU/retention, and you can see it in the numbers.

• Customization
• Leaderboards
• Rewards
• Levels
• Challenges

Everyone's still a kid inside

6. We speak investor language

We think in terms of:

• CAC / LTV
• funnels
• conversion

You can feel it in the product. We also help clients with their pitch decks.

7. Outcome > aesthetics

The priority is growth, clarity, trust. And the good news? This combines perfectly with good UI. Good UI makes things feel premium, and users trust products that look professional more. I'm not talking about crazy concepts here. Good visual design is simple - it's all about the details.

I've been studying this for 7 years, and it's what drives me - conversion and aesthetics. They work together, right now.

If you're building something and planning to raise - the right design helps you tell the right story, fast.

If you need help building an MVP or want to improve your existing product, hit me up. Book a call here

Thanks for reading. Wishing you success with your business.

Everyday Design
My Progress