Motion design for startups

Motionlab produces motion design presentation videos for startups: a 30 to 60-second video that explains your problem, your solution and your traction, delivered in 10 days and ready to reuse on your website, in ads, in sales meetings and for fundraising.

A startup has to win people over fast, often before it has a well-known brand and while its product is still evolving. That is where video becomes a credibility tool: it gives a polished image to a company that may only be a few months old.

The 4 moments when a startup needs a video

Launch

At launch, nobody knows your product yet. A short video presents the concept in one go, on your website, on LinkedIn and in your first emails.

For FanPro, the launch video had to grab an international audience's attention from the very first seconds and support a large-scale distribution campaign. See the FanPro case study.

Credibility

When pitching to a large enterprise client, a startup has to look as solid as its established competitors. A polished video that is consistent with your brand identity sends that signal before the first meeting even happens.

Fundraising

Investors see dozens of decks every week. A 60-second video that lays out the market, the product and the traction is easier to watch than a twenty-slide presentation. Beplug Capital, which supports startups through their fundraising rounds, chose motion design to convey trust to two demanding audiences: entrepreneurs and investors. See the Beplug Capital case study.

Growth

Once you have found your market, the video fuels your acquisition campaigns, sales pages and onboarding. The same creative is cut into short formats for every channel.

What a good startup video needs to say

An effective presentation video almost always follows the same structure:

• The problem: a situation your target audience recognizes instantly.

• The solution: what your product does, in one sentence.

• How it works: the two or three key steps, not every single feature.

• The proof: traction, customers, results or verifiable numbers.

• The call to action: try it, book a demo, join the waitlist.

If you are unsure about length, our guide to presentation video length compares 30, 60 and 90-second formats. For the structure of your message, see also how to write a motion design video script.

One video, many uses

Every version is planned from the start, in 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16 formats, so you never have to rework the video afterward.

Why motion design rather than a live-action shoot

For a startup, motion design has three decisive advantages: it needs no set and no actors, it can be updated scene by scene when the product changes, and it lets you show a product that is still in development. We compare both approaches in our article motion design or live-action video.

Our startup case studies

• Kactus, a B2B marketplace for corporate events in Europe: an English-language video for its international expansion, designed to convince European venues and suppliers to join its network. See the Kactus case study.

• ViragePrépa, an EdTech platform for students in French preparatory classes: presenting several features in 30 seconds without turning into a product demo. See the ViragePrépa case study.

• Holovisio, holographic solutions for businesses: making a spectacular technology easy to understand when prospects have often never seen it in real life. See the Holovisio case study.

• Amarok Talent, C-level recruitment for startups: turning an abstract method, Occam Sourcing, into visible proof, on the homepage as well as in meetings. See the Amarok Talent case study.

• Small.ad, a platform that connects brands and creators: making a performance-based compensation model instantly clear. See the Small.ad case study.

Tailoring the video to your stage

A seed-stage startup does not have the same needs as a scale-up. At launch, the video has to prove that the problem exists. During fundraising, it puts traction and vision front and center. In the growth phase, it becomes a marketing asset rolled out across every channel. We tailor the message and tone to each of these stages.

Mistakes that weaken a startup video

• Showing everything: presenting every feature instead of the shortest path to value.

• Talking about yourself before talking about your customer: your audience's problem should come before your solution.

• Forgetting the proof: without traction, customers or a concrete result, the video remains a promise.

• Targeting everyone: a video aimed at customers, investors and future hires all at once convinces no one. One version per audience works better.

• Planning for a single format: a video designed only in 16:9 does not adapt well to vertical ads.

What a Motionlab project includes

Depending on your project, we handle:

• defining the message and the audience

• the script

• the storyboard

• art direction

• illustration and animation

• voiceover, in French or English

• licensed music and sound design

• 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16 versions

For an international launch, the video can be produced directly in English, like the one we made for Kactus.

Timelines and budget

Standard formats are delivered in 10 days, with unlimited revisions. As for budget, our projects range from €1,500 to €8,000 excl. VAT, and a 45 to 60-second 2D presentation video usually falls between €3,000 and €4,500 excl. VAT. See the full breakdown in our guide to motion design video pricing. To compare your options, also read our article on choosing between a freelancer and a motion design agency.

SaaS startup or agency?

If your product is software, our page on motion design for SaaS covers explainer videos, demos and onboarding videos. If you run an agency, take a look at our outsourced motion studio for agencies.

Frequently asked questions about motion design for startups

Which video should a startup make first?

A 45 to 60-second presentation video for your homepage. It can then be cut into short formats for ads, social media and fundraising.

Our product changes often. Is that a problem?

No. In motion design, a single scene can be replaced without redoing the whole video, unlike a live-action shoot.

Can we get a version for investors?

Yes. We adapt the message for an investor audience, putting the market, traction and vision front and center.

Do you deliver ad formats?

Yes. The video is delivered in 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16 within the same project.

What budget should we plan for a startup video?

Our projects range from €1,500 to €8,000 excl. VAT. A 45 to 60-second 2D presentation video usually falls between €3,000 and €4,500 excl. VAT.

How long does it take?

10 days for our standard formats, unlimited revisions included.

Ready to present your startup in 60 seconds? Let's talk about your project →