How to Launch a Successful Design Agency After a Corporate Career Featuring Andre De La Cruz

Smashing the Plateau

Andre de la Cruz is a UX and Product Design professional with 15 years of experience. After losing his job last July, Andre co-founded an agency called Rally, which specializes in Brand, UX, and Product. He established the agency with two seasoned professionals in Brand and Product, along with a team of senior talent. Rally offers startups flexible monthly access to their team of senior designers and product managers through a subscription service. Prior to founding Rally, Andre spent the last five years at early and growth-stage startups, building and leading design teams, and collaborating with product and executive leadership to develop new products from inception to launch (0→1) and to evolve version one (v1) products into a more mature, polished, and professional state.

In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, Andre shares insights on making the bold move from a stable full-time job to creating and managing a successful design agency.

Andre and I discuss:

• His career progression and the decision to start an agency [00:01:00]
• The experience of leading design teams at startups [00:02:00]
• The journey of founding Rally with his partners [00:04:00]
• Shaping and adapting agency business models for market demand [00:10:00]
• Diversifying into the software industry [00:12:00]
• The pivotal role of community and networking in entrepreneurship [00:17:00]
• Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs considering their own venture [00:21:00]

Learn more about Andre at https://www.joinrally.co.

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