Together with

Hey and welcome back to a new week!

Before we start today two things:

1. I completely relaunched Open Doors this last weekend which led to disruptions of service but I’m fully back and there is A LOT of new things for you to discover on the platform. Give it a look.

2. I recently sat down with Gene Kamenez (CEO Uxcel) to talk about the impact of AI on our industry and I think there is A LOT of relevant points for juniors in there. Give it a read and / or listen here.

In this issue:

• Good Portfolio ≠ Interviewing Well: Interviews are a challenge of their own. Once you land them, make sure to nail them with my guide.

• Looking to Upskill?: Make sure to check DesignerUp — one of the best courses around. Level up in UI, UX and Product skills!

• Lana’s Portfolio: Be ready for an absolute master class when it comes to case studies.

Thank you for reading!

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👉🏽 Understand technical constraints and implementation

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✅ 74+ Self-paced, on-demand video lessons

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Startups for Designers: How to Speak Their Language and Create Your Own Opportunities 🧪

Many junior designers start their careers in startups. I did. In fact, I’ve never worked anywhere else.

Startups can be intense, messy, and occasionally chaotic. But they can also accelerate your growth in a way that few other environments can. You get responsibility early. You see the direct impact of your work. You work closely with founders. You’re often closer to real product decisions than you would be in a larger company.

What most designers underestimate, however, is that the startup world operates on a different logic. If you understand that logic, you can position yourself far more effectively — whether you’re applying through a job post or creating your own entry point.

And in 2026, with the tools now available to you, that leverage is stronger than it was even a year ago.

Understanding How Startups Actually Work

If you want to be taken seriously in a startup environment, you need to understand the business context. Not in theory — in practical terms.

VC-Backed vs Bootstrapped

A venture capital (VC)–backed startup has raised money from investors in exchange for equity. That money is meant to fund growth: hiring, product development, marketing, expansion. These companies often operate with aggressive growth targets and are comfortable taking calculated risks.

A bootstrapped startup, on the other hand, is funded by its founders or by revenue from customers. There are no outside investors expecting rapid scale. Hiring decisions are usually more cautious because every salary is directly tied to cash flow.

This distinction matters for you.

At a VC-backed company, design is often seen as a growth lever. At a bootstrapped company, design must clearly justify its business impact. If you apply to both with the same framing, you’re missing context.

Funding Stages

Startups move through funding stages: pre-seed, seed, Series A, Series B, and beyond. Each stage reflects a different level of maturity.

Pre-seed and seed companies are often still validating their product and market. Roles are broad. Responsibilities are fluid. Structure is minimal.

By Series A and B, companies typically have more clarity around product-market fit, clearer team structures, and more defined expectations.

For junior designers, seed to Series B is often a strong entry point. Early enough to make a meaningful impact, but structured enough to learn within a team.

Product-Market Fit (PMF)

Product-market fit means that a product solves a real problem in a way that customers actively want. Retention improves. Word of mouth increases. Growth becomes more predictable.

Many startups are still searching for it.

As a designer, this is highly relevant. Usability affects retention. Onboarding affects activation. Clarity affects conversion. If you understand this relationship, you’re not just talking about UI — you’re talking about business performance.

Being able to discuss PMF intelligently in an interview signals maturity far beyond “I like fast-paced environments.”

Equity: What It Actually Means

Many startups offer equity as part of compensation, usually in the form of stock options.

Stock options give you the right to buy shares in the company at a fixed price (called the strike price) after a vesting period. Vesting typically happens over four years, often with a one-year cliff. That means you need to stay at least one year before any portion becomes yours.

A few important realities:

• Equity only has value if the company becomes valuable.

• Most startups fail.

• If the company never exits or goes public, your options may be worth nothing.

• Equity is not liquid. You can’t just “cash it out” whenever you want.

It can be meaningful upside, but it should not replace fair salary, especially early in your career. Treat it as potential long-term upside, not guaranteed compensation.

Understanding this prevents you from overvaluing shiny compensation packages and helps you ask informed questions.

Most Startup Opportunities Are Never Posted

One of the biggest misconceptions is that startup hiring primarily happens through job boards.

It doesn’t.

Founders are busy. Hiring is risky. Posting jobs creates noise. Many roles emerge through referrals, networks, and proactive conversations.

This is where things become interesting.

Creating Opportunities Instead of Waiting for Them

The proactive approach has always worked in startups. What has changed in 2026 is how powerful your execution can be.

I’ve seen mentees land internships, freelance gigs, and full-time roles by researching startups carefully and reaching out with thoughtful, concrete ideas. One example that still stands out is Jack Bernstein, who systematically researched companies, crafted tailored outreach, and followed up consistently. It worked because it was deliberate, not random.

The basic structure is simple, but it requires discipline.

1. Research Properly

Use platforms like Wellfound, Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and founder social media profiles to identify early-stage companies. Look at recent funding announcements. Look at team size. Look at whether they already have a design function.

You’re looking for signals: growth, movement, product evolution, visible gaps.

2. Identify a Specific Opportunity

Don’t approach a founder with “I’d love to help.”

Approach them with a concrete observation.

For example: “I spent some time looking at your onboarding flow and noticed that the value proposition is only introduced after account creation. I explored an alternative sequence that might reduce early drop-off.”

That shifts the conversation from abstract interest to demonstrated value.

3. Build a Focused Mini Case Study

A mini case study should be tightly scoped. One clear problem. One clear hypothesis. Structured thinking.

Timebox it. Two to four hours is enough.

In 2026, you have leverage previous designers didn’t. You can prototype flows quickly. You can use tools like Lovable or Framer to simulate realistic interactions. You can create functional demos without engineering support.

The goal is not perfection. It’s clarity of thought.

Even if the startup never replies, you’ve created material that can strengthen your portfolio and sharpen your thinking.

4. Reach Out Intelligently

Keep your message concise and specific. Show that you’ve done your homework. Offer to share your idea rather than attaching a massive unsolicited redesign.

If they’re interested, go deeper. If not, move on.

The key is momentum, not obsession.

The Downsides (Without Sugarcoating It)

Startups can be extraordinary learning environments, but they are not stable by default.

They can involve long hours, unclear processes, shifting priorities, and occasional leadership inexperience. You may be the only designer. You may report directly to a founder. You may need to advocate for design constantly.

Some people thrive in that. Others prefer structure and predictability.

Neither preference is wrong. But clarity about your own tolerance for ambiguity will help you choose more intentionally.

Why 2026 Is Different

The barrier to demonstrating value is lower than it has ever been.

You can:

• Prototype real functionality quickly.

• Model product improvements convincingly.

• Simulate feature concepts without backend access.

• Validate ideas with small experiments.

That changes the dynamic between you and a startup.

You are no longer just applying for a role. You can show how you think about product, business, and user behavior in tangible ways.

Most designers still wait for permission.

The ones who stand out show initiative with structure.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re serious about working in startups, don’t just polish your portfolio and hope.

Understand funding stages. Understand product-market fit. Understand equity. Learn how founders think. Research intentionally. Create focused, relevant mini case studies. Reach out with clarity rather than noise.

Startups reward initiative, but only when it’s thoughtful.

And in 2026, you have more leverage to demonstrate that thoughtfulness than ever before.

✨ CATCH-UP WITH AI

Become An AI Expert In Just 5 Minutes

If you’re a decision maker at your company, you need to be on the bleeding edge of, well, everything. But before you go signing up for seminars, conferences, lunch ‘n learns, and all that jazz, just know there’s a far better (and simpler) way: Subscribing to The Deep View.

This daily newsletter condenses everything you need to know about the latest and greatest AI developments into a 5-minute read. Squeeze it into your morning coffee break and before you know it, you’ll be an expert too.

Subscribe right here. It’s totally free, wildly informative, and trusted by 600,000+ readers at Google, Meta, Microsoft, and beyond.

👀 Portfolio Showcase

Today: Lana Farkas

Lana Farkas is a Carnegie Mellon HCI graduate with a portfolio that, quite literally, takes off into space.

Yes, the surface is playful. Yes, there’s stardust that follows your cursor. Yes, there’s a subtle cosmic theme running through everything.

But the real strength of Lana’s portfolio isn’t the surface.

It’s the substance.

And more specifically: the case studies.

Let’s get into it.

That’s it for this week—thanks so much for the support! ♥️

Do you want your own portfolio reviewed in-depth with a 30-minute advice-packed video review? Or do you require mentoring to figure out a proper strategy for your job search?

I got you!

• Book an in-depth portfolio or resume review with me

• Book a mentoring session with me

• Book a quick 15 min chat to ask a question and see if we vibe

Keep kicking doors open and see you next week!
- Florian