Drool

Drool is my third venture and by far the most successful one. What started as a way to get back to my roots after the Altpack experience has evolved into a thriving design agency that’s still active today - and it’s been quite the journey.

Finding My Way Back

After the Altpack experience, I needed a change. Physical products had taught me valuable lessons, but they weren’t for me. I took some time to travel, clear my head, and figure out what came next. Eventually, I realized I needed to go back to my roots - what I was actually good at.

I started freelancing again, but this time I had discovered something that would change everything: cold outreach. Instead of waiting for clients to find me, I set up a proper funnel and started reaching out to potential clients myself. The response was incredible - soon enough, I had more interest than I could handle as a solo freelancer.

The Birth of Drool Agency

To formalize this growing demand, I decided to start a design agency. But this wasn’t going to be just another design shop. The goal was to work specifically with startups in fields that genuinely interested me - AI, B2B, data analytics, and no-code SaaS - so I could learn from them while helping them build interesting products.

The Problem We Solve

As entrepreneurs who’ve been through the startup grind ourselves, we understand how tough design operations can be for early-stage companies. We’ve been there, and we wanted to make it easier. Traditional design agencies often don’t understand the unique challenges and constraints that startups face.

What Makes Us Different:

• Startup-focused approach: We tailor our design services specifically for early-stage companies
• Industry expertise: We specialize in AI, B2B, data analytics, and no-code SaaS
• Entrepreneur mindset: We’re not just service providers; we’re partners who understand your world
• Efficient and flexible: Quality design that doesn’t compromise on speed or adaptability

Rapid Growth and Learning

The first six months were a whirlwind. We managed to generate mid-five figures in revenue, which was exciting but also overwhelming. To keep up with demand, I hired a team of over 6 full-time people plus 4-5 part-time employees. We were growing fast, taking on multiple projects, and trying to scale our operations.

During this period, I learned a lot about:

• Team management and delegation
• Client onboarding and project management
• Quality control across multiple designers
• The challenges of rapid scaling in a service business

The Pivot to Solo Operations

While the growth was impressive, it came with significant headaches. Managing a large team, maintaining quality consistency, and dealing with the operational complexity of a bigger agency wasn’t aligning with my goals. I realized I was spending more time managing people than actually designing and working with clients.

So I made a strategic decision: I scaled Drool down significantly. Now I operate it as a solo venture, working with a few selected clients. This approach allows me to:

• Deliver much better quality work
• Work more peacefully at my own pace
• Maintain direct relationships with clients
• Focus on projects that genuinely interest me

Current State and Future Plans

Today, Drool is still profitable but with a lot fewer headaches. It’s mostly running on autopilot now, with a few quality leads coming in every month through the systems I’ve built. This gives me the freedom to be selective about the projects I take on and maintain the high standards that made us successful in the first place.

The agency continues to focus on what we do best - providing efficient, flexible design for startups that doesn’t compromise on quality. We’re not just another design agency; we want to be a partner that startups can rely on.

I’m planning to continue Drool for the foreseeable future. It’s found its sweet spot as a lean, focused operation that serves both my clients and my own goals perfectly. Sometimes scaling down is the best way to scale up what truly matters.