Website Planet had the opportunity to speak with Hernan Puente, Founder & CEO of Indicius, a design agency with 340+ projects and able to secure over $15m in 2023 for its clients. We will learn how the experience from companies like IBM, Accenture and more led to the idea for starting a company with a human-centric approach, and how this focus on customer relations helps tech startups in developing professional branding campaigns and marketing websites that attract investors.
Let’s introduce Indicius to our audience. What services do you offer?
We offer a range of workshops and services that can be combined to cover branding and design projects. This includes strategy, copywriting, design, and development for any digital product. As a design agency, we consider quality as a given, and what truly sets us apart is the exceptional experience of collaborating with a team of skilled, adaptable, well-organized, and empathetic individuals.
We pride ourselves on delivering a seamless and enjoyable partnership with our clients, starting from our communication. We over-communicate, efficiently. At Indicius we assemble a team of PMs, designers, and developers that’s just right for each project, making for a top-notch experience as well as outstanding results. We foster agile processes and clear communication, adapting to changing needs and challenges to achieve an outcome that we’re all proud of.
What is your track record of success? Can you provide any specific examples with numbers?
We have 15+ years of experience working remotely for international clients, which means we’ve survived different epochs and paradigms of the digital industry. We have taken on
340+ projects since its inception in 2012, helping companies revamp their brands, create websites, design apps, and more to put their best foot forward in their industries.
This year we helped Salsa, a payroll SaaS product, secure a $10M round of investment after the release of their new brand and marketing website. By running the same tried-and-true process, we also helped Hathora, a serverless cloud platform for multiplayer game development, secure their $7.6M in seed funding.
How does your mission differ from other companies in your niche?
I come from the corporate world, with a professional background in companies like Informix, IBM, and Accenture. Back then, I didn’t fully understand the market. I suppose my dream was to create my own vision of a work environment, one based on different principles, more centered around humanity. Those ideals, along with a commitment to delivering quality, were the driving forces behind my decision to start my own business.
My approach has always been human-first. When the people working in your company are happy and committed, it greatly increases the likelihood of delivering exceptional results to your clients. When I talk about “greater results,” I’m not just referring to the quality of our deliverables, but also, and perhaps most importantly, to the quality of our relationship with clients. If we can ensure top-notch results, then the focus should be more on enjoying the journey, something that every client will truly appreciate and prioritize.
At Indicius, we prioritize delivering a seamless and enjoyable experience for our clients, and we believe our offer excels in that aspect.
What industries do you typically work with, and what are the common pain points your clients have when they come to you?
We haven’t specifically targeted one industry, but our expertise has developed from working with tech companies, primarily startups, as well as clients in finance, healthcare, and entertainment. We’ve also demonstrated our ability to be a strong partner for corporations seeking teams that can fully engage and contribute value to their business, almost like an extension of their own team.
We help our clients overcome the challenges of successfully executing digital projects. While they excel in their fields of expertise, we bring our own expertise in digital execution. Through close collaboration, we merge both areas of expertise to deliver exceptional results.
Talking about specific cases at Indicius,
we’ve assisted tech startups in securing funding by crafting professional brand identities and marketing websites. We’ve also supported research institutes and investigative departments within major healthcare organizations, like ICAHN Mount Sinai, in launching projects, offering expertise and resources beyond their in-house capabilities.
Many of these companies were cautious about collaborating with remote agencies. However, this perception has evolved, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Typically, these concerns dissipate after an initial call with us, as clients experience our professionalism, explore our impressive portfolio, discover our competitive pricing, and more.
And what makes them eventually choose you over your competitors?
In essence, our approach centers on fostering a collaborative atmosphere within our team of professionals, prioritizing quality outcomes while also valuing the journey. Our existing clients effectively become advocates for us, sharing positive feedback and recommending us to others.
Can you share one success story from your customers?
Salsa and Hathora are two success stories I love to talk about. Why? Because they’re recent and, most importantly, they’re real.
From my experience, especially when startups are seeking funding, they realize that their brand and marketing website play a crucial role in presenting themselves as professional and well-established companies. While what we do isn’t exactly rocket science, executing it correctly can be a game-changer. It’s like checking off items on a to-do list:
“Can this team build a professional brand?” Check ✅
“Can they convey their story in a professional manner?” Check! ✅
And then, the magic happened! Salsa secured a whopping $10M, while Hathora received an impressive $7.6M in funding. We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements!
What challenges and opportunities do you see in the future of your industry, and how do you plan to cope?
In 2023, agencies like ours, operating remotely and serving international clients in a highly competitive industry, have faced a year filled with challenges. The global economic landscape has made acquiring new clients and closing deals more challenging than ever. Additionally, there has been significant discussion surrounding AI and its potential impact on our industry.
We’re already feeling the impact of these changes, and I truly believe that the best approach to tackle this situation is by getting ready for when things pick up again. This means investing in making your team even more professional, giving your processes a thorough look, exploring new markets and ideas, and staying in the loop with emerging trends. Adaptation is crucial; staying relevant in this industry depends on your ability to roll with the changes.
