Creative Direction for Climate & Impact Startups

 

I help early-stage teams translate complex ideas into clear narratives and credible design systems that resonate with investors, partners, and customers.

Where You Are

  • Preparing for a pre-seed, seed, or Series A fundraiser.

  • Struggling to clearly explain a complex technology, platform, or model.

  • Creating a first pitch deck or website.

  • Redefining positioning as your company matures.

  • Aligning deck, brand, and messaging into one coherent story.

  • Needing short-term creative direction without a full-time hire.

Where I Come In

I can help with your communication to make it work for fundraising, launch, and growth. That usually happens in three ways:

Clarifying Your Story

Getting clear on the story behind your project is the first step. Why does the project matter? Why is it worth backing? Most of the work comes down to sorting through complexity and deciding what actually needs to be said.

Turning Your Story Into a System

Once the story is clear, I help shape it so it’s used consistently in your deck, on your website, and in conversations.

Putting Your Story to Work

The story is then used in concrete materials, including:

  • Pitch decks and investor narratives

  • Positioning and messaging

  • Brand systems

  • Landing pages and early websites

I focus on the intersection of strategy, narrative, and design—on establishing the branding DNA of a startup so the story can scale.

 

Working Together

Getting Started

If it’s helpful, I can:

  • Review an existing deck or story.

  • Offer quick feedback on positioning.

  • Suggest a clear plan for next steps.

Hands-On

I’m comfortable working with ambiguity and tight timelines, and I’m used to stepping in calmly when things feel messy or high-pressure.

  • Senior-level and hands-on — I do the work myself.

  • Structured and efficient — clear scope, clear outcomes.

  • Fast without being rushed — no overdesign, no unnecessary layers.

Ways to Engage

Engagements are typically scoped as fixed-fee projects once goals and timing are clear. Most engagements fall into one of the following:

  • Short sprints (1–3 weeks)
    Support around a specific milestone

  • Creative Direction (monthly)
    Ongoing support without a full-time hire

Case Studies

Cooling the Climate

Context: A climate organization working on complex environmental and financial mechanisms needed to clarify its story and present its work credibly to partners, funders, and at COP30.

Work: Narrative clarification, positioning, brand development, visual system, website design, and communications support.

Outcome: A clear, coherent narrative and set of assets to support outreach, partnerships, and fundraising.

Beyond Bretton Woods

Context: An international network focused on reforming global financial institutions needed to clarify a complex policy-driven mission and present its work in a way that was accessible to a broad audience.

Work: Narrative clarification, positioning, writing, visual identity support, and website design.

Outcome: A clearer public-facing story that made complex ideas more understandable and supported outreach to partners, advocates, and stakeholders.

Greenwater Services

Context: A mission-driven water services company needed to clearly articulate its purpose and capabilities in a crowded environmental services landscape.

Work: Positioning and messaging development, brand identity, website design, and communications support.

Outcome: A clearer, more focused public-facing presence that helped communicate the company’s value to partners, clients, and stakeholders.

EcoRestoration Alliance

Context: A young environmental organization preparing to approach funders needed a clear, credible way to explain its mission and work.

Work: Business analysis, narrative development, branding, logo design, website, and pitch deck.

Outcome: A unified story and set of communications assets aligned for fundraising conversations.

Let’s Connect

Contact:
Stefan Killen
Red+Company