🎯 Want to be a design founder — but don’t know where to start?In this episode, I talk to Patrick Thompson, ex-Atlassian design leader turned multi-time founder, about exactly how he went from designer → $22M-funded startup founder — without writing a single line of code.Whether you’re a senior designer, growth PM, or aspiring founder, we break down:✅ How to de-risk your startup idea before finding a technical cofounder💡 The truth about founder-led sales, fundraising, and team building as a designer🧠 Patrick’s step-by-step blueprint from Iteratively to Clarify🧩 How your design superpowers can become startup leverage🔗 Connect with RanLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign/🔗 Connect with PatrickLinkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickt010/Clarify: https://www.clarify.ai/💕 Love the content? Consider supporting the channel by buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesign00:00 Introduction to Clarify and Patrick Thompson01:24 Patrick's Career Journey: From Marketing to Design03:28 Founding Iteratively and Lessons Learned04:44 Building Clarify: Vision and Challenges09:55 The Importance of Networking and Support18:59 Balancing Quality and Speed in Product Development23:13 Resource Constraints and Team Growth23:59 Design Principles and Hiring24:32 Advantages of a Design Background26:04 Learning Sales as a Founder27:16 Balancing Multiple Roles29:19 Becoming an Investor35:51 Challenges of Being a Designer Founder39:27 Advice for Aspiring Founders42:36 Clarify and Final Thoughts