How we helped Augment raise $12M in the seed round

Turning complex fintech into a product investors trust.

Augment is a fintech company redefining how private company shares are traded. Their platform enables investors, shareholders, and brokers to trade private equity with the speed and transparency of public markets -- solving one of the biggest bottlenecks in the financial world.

The opportunity was massive. But for us the challenge was just as big: intuitive flow & complex design.

The Problem

When Augment’s co-founders reached out, the product was already gaining traction -- but design wasn’t keeping up. Their development team was handling the visuals, which meant there was no structured design process, no dedicated ownership, and no system for consistency.
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As a result, the product worked -- but it didn’t feel cohesive or intuitive. User journeys were fragmented, visual hierarchy was unclear, and the interface didn’t reflect the sophistication of a fintech company preparing to raise capital.
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The mission was clear: Build a design foundation that could scale with the product -- one that communicates trust, speed, and expertise.

The Approach

We approached the project using our founder-first model: clarity, speed, and execution without the overhead. The goal wasn’t to make Augment look better. It was to make it work better -- for users, investors, and the internal team.

1. Headstart: Day 1 momentum

We started by understanding the business fundamentals: how private share transactions work, who the users are, and what makes Augment different.
Instead of long workshops, we focused on what matters -- what the product needs to communicate to build trust.

2. Understand: Simplifying complexity

Fintech is dense. So we stripped away everything unnecessary. We analyzed the full user flow -- from logging in to executing a trade -- and identified where users hesitated or got lost. Our design philosophy was simple: complex product, simple experience.

3. Make: Designing trust into every pixel

We built a visual system grounded in clarity and credibility. Neutral tones, confident typography, and structured layouts created a sense of control and precision.
Micro-interactions added momentum -- subtle motion that guides users without distracting them.

The interface needed to say: “You can trust this platform with your money.”

4. Build: Working like part of the team

We didn’t operate like an external agency. We integrated directly with Augment’s internal developers and product managers -- adapting tools and communication to match their workflow. No ticket systems. No bureaucracy. Just focus. Every day brought new iterations, updates, and refinement until the product looked and felt investor-ready.

5. Launch: Design that sells

Once the redesign went live, the difference was immediate. User confidence improved. Conversions increased. And most importantly -- the product was now presentation-ready for investors.

The Results

Within years of our collaboration, Augment successfully raised $12 million in funding. Their product became a key differentiator during investor conversations -- a tangible reflection of the company’s readiness and professionalism.
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Internally, the design system we built allowed their team to move faster, stay consistent, and onboard new developers without losing quality. Externally, the refreshed UI elevated Augment’s credibility in a market where trust is everything.

What Made It Work

• Founder-first collaboration: We worked at the same speed and intensity as the founding team.
• No wasted cycles: Direct communication, no meetings that don’t move the needle.
• Clarity over decoration: Every design choice supported trust, usability, and scale.
• End-to-end thinking: We didn’t just hand over Figma files -- we helped build a product ecosystem that lasts.

Key Outcomes

✅ $12M raised in funding
✅ Clear, cohesive product design built for scale
✅ Improved investor and user trust
✅ Internal design process established from scratch
✅ A long-term foundation for growth

Why It Matters

Fintech users don’t buy features -- they buy confidence. And confidence starts with design.

The Augment project is proof that good design isn’t about adding more -- it’s about removing friction, building clarity, and inspiring trust at every level.

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