Best COLLINS Alternatives for Startups (2026)

The short answer

COLLINS is a strong choice when a company wants its brand to change how the whole business is valued. If you want an agency like COLLINS with a different fit, the best COLLINS alternatives for startups are Studio Huncho, Pentagram, Koto, Wolff Olins, Ragged Edge and Red Antler. Pick by what you need most: brand, website and launch film from one team (Studio Huncho), an identity led by a named partner (Pentagram), a global studio for fast-growing companies (Koto), a large brand transformation (Wolff Olins), a bold brand with a campaign to launch it (Ragged Edge) or branding and advertising under one roof (Red Antler).

About COLLINS

COLLINS lists eight Agency of the Year titles on its site: seven from Ad Age and one from D&AD. It sells its work as eleven programmes, including Brand Refresh, Reposition, Scale-Up, Brand Creation and Exit (IPO/Sale), and says it partners with leaders who are ready to move their companies upmarket. Case studies on its site include Robinhood, Bose, Figma, Dropbox, Mailchimp, Spotify and Twitch.

Founders who look for agencies like COLLINS usually want the same ambition with a different fit on one of four things:

• Stage: a studio whose everyday work is seed to Series B companies.
• Scope: the brand plus the website build, product UI and launch film from one team.
• Speed: a raise or launch that is weeks away.
• Focus: a team that works mainly with AI and B2B software.

How we picked

We've included ourselves. Every other agency here was checked on its own website and had to meet three tests:

• Brand work on show. Named identity and repositioning projects in the public portfolio.
• Tech clients. Software, AI or venture-backed companies among the work.
• A clear difference. A real reason to choose them over COLLINS, whether stage, scope, speed or focus.

The list isn't ranked. Each entry says who the agency is best for.

The alternatives

1. Studio Huncho (Bengaluru, India)

Best for: funded AI and B2B SaaS startups that want brand, website and launch film from one team, timed to a raise or launch.

That's us. We are a creative studio that designs brand identities, websites and product UI, builds in Webflow and Framer and makes launch films, for companies from seed stage to IPO. Our work includes the brand and website rebuild for Sprinto around its $20M Series B, the brand, website and motion behind Further AI before its $25M Series A led by a16z, and the brand for SimpliSmart, which raised a $14M Series B backed by NVIDIA.

Worth knowing: 250+ projects across 16 countries and 5.0 on Clutch. Brand projects usually take 4 to 6 weeks and most websites 2 to 6. We work remotely with founders in the US, the UK and Europe.

2. Pentagram (New York, London, Austin and Berlin)

Best for: established companies that want an identity led by a named partner at a famous design firm.

Pentagram describes itself as the world's largest independent design consultancy, owned and run by its partners. Its work covers identity, strategy, packaging, exhibitions, digital experiences and motion. It says the partners create the work and are the main contact for every client.

Worth knowing: much of the work it shows is for large organisations and cultural institutions, so ask what a startup-sized project looks like. See our Pentagram alternatives.

3. Koto (Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin and Sydney)

Best for: fast-growing and established tech companies that want a brand from a global studio.

Koto calls itself an international creative agency with five studios on three continents. Its services cover strategy, visual, motion, verbal and sonic identity, digital product and website design, and campaigns. Its software work includes a brand refresh for Workday and a rebrand of Stack Overflow.

Worth knowing: much of its client list is large global brands, so ask how it works with early-stage teams. See our Koto alternatives too.

4. Wolff Olins (London and New York)

Best for: larger companies planning a brand transformation.

Wolff Olins is a global brand consultancy with offices in London and New York. Its services cover brand strategy, brand architecture and visual and verbal identity. Selected work on its site includes Lloyds, Decathlon, Patreon and Blank Street.

Worth knowing: it is built for large brand programmes, so ask what a project looks like at Series A or B.

5. Ragged Edge (London, UK)

Best for: challenger brands in crowded categories that want a bold identity and a campaign to launch it.

Ragged Edge is a London brand company working since 2007 on brand strategy, identity systems, rebrands and campaigns. It led the full rebrand and relaunch of Granola, the AI notepad, including brand campaigns in San Francisco, New York and London, and rebranded Wise across 175 countries.

Worth knowing: it is brand-led, so confirm whether the website build and product UI are part of the scope.

6. Red Antler (New York, USA)

Best for: startups that want brand strategy, identity and advertising from one New York agency.

Red Antler is a branding agency founded in 2007 that says it works with startups and established businesses. Its services run from brand strategy, naming and visual identity to campaigns and brand films. Clients shown on its site include Ramp, Chime, Hinge, AllTrails, Cotopaxi and Knix.

Worth knowing: many of the clients it shows are consumer brands, so ask for B2B software examples. See our Red Antler alternatives.

COLLINS vs the alternatives at a glance

• COLLINS: brand programmes for companies moving upmarket, with eight Agency of the Year titles.
• Studio Huncho: brand, website, product UI and launch film for AI and B2B SaaS startups, Bengaluru, working remotely.
• Pentagram: partner-led design in New York, London, Austin and Berlin.
• Koto: brand, strategy and campaigns from five studios.
• Wolff Olins: brand consultancy for large transformations, London and New York.
• Ragged Edge: bold brands and launch campaigns, London.
• Red Antler: branding and advertising, New York.

How to choose an agency like COLLINS

• Be clear about the size of the change. A repositioning before an IPO and a first identity before a seed round are different jobs. Our guide to brand refresh vs rebrand helps you name which one you need.
• Decide what the brand has to ship with. If the website and a launch film have to land on the same day, pick a team that does all three.
• Ask for work at your stage. Famous case studies are useful only if the company looked like yours when the work began.
• Start from your date. Ask what would be live on the day you announce.

For a wider list, see the best SaaS branding agencies.

We wrote this list and included ourselves. Every other agency was checked on its own website. Last checked: 11 November 2026.

Related reading: Best Koto alternatives · Best Pentagram alternatives · Rebrand before or after a fundraise

FAQ

What does COLLINS do?

COLLINS is a brand agency that lists eight Agency of the Year titles from Ad Age and D&AD. It runs brand programmes such as Brand Refresh, Reposition and Exit (IPO/Sale), with case studies including Robinhood, Figma, Dropbox and Spotify.

What are the best agencies like COLLINS?

Pentagram, Koto and Wolff Olins are the closest in scale and reputation. Ragged Edge and Red Antler suit challenger brands and startups, and Studio Huncho suits funded AI and B2B SaaS startups that need brand, website and launch film from one team.

Is COLLINS right for an early-stage startup?

Its programmes are aimed at companies moving upmarket, such as scale-ups, repositionings and exits. For a seed or Series A identity with a launch date, a smaller studio is usually a closer fit.

How long does a rebrand take?

For us, brand projects usually take 4 to 6 weeks and most websites 2 to 6. Larger programmes at global agencies usually run for months, so ask each agency for a dated plan.

Comparing COLLINS with a few others? Send us your brief and your date and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.

Three brand projects from our own work

We put ourselves on this list, so here is the work behind that. Each of these brands was built around a funding round.

Sprinto is a GRC and compliance automation platform backed by Accel. We rebuilt the brand and website around its $20M Series B and the launch of Sprinto AI. Read the Sprinto case study.

Further AI (YC W24) builds applied AI for commercial insurance. Our brand, website and motion went live in the window before its $25M Series A led by a16z. Read the Further AI case study.

Refold AI replaces traditional middleware with AI agents. We took the company from Cobalt to Refold, with a new brand and website in 45 days, ahead of its $6.5M raise. Read the Refold AI case study.

When COLLINS is still the right choice

• The brand has to change how the business is valued. Its programmes include Reposition, Premiumization and Exit (IPO/Sale).
• You are a scale-up or a public company. Its case studies include Robinhood, Dropbox, Spotify and Bose.
• You are merging brands or sorting a portfolio. It lists Brand Merger and Architecture Restructure among its programmes.

Who we left out, and why

• B2B brand specialists. Focus Lab is a good fit for B2B software, with a very different model. We cover it in our Focus Lab alternatives.
• Design subscriptions. A subscription can produce assets from a brand. It is not built to create one. We compare that model in our Superside alternatives guide.
• Logo marketplaces and contests. A logo is one output of a brand project, not the project.

How much does COLLINS cost?

COLLINS does not publish prices on its website, so you will need a quote. We scope each project after a short call.

Do we need a rebrand before a Series B or an IPO?

Only if the current brand undersells the business to the people you need to convince. If the product and the story have moved on and the brand has not, fix it before the announcement, not after.