14 of the Best Startup Websites to Inspire Your Own

Few things are more important to a startup than a website. The best startup websites tell your company’s story in an effective, engaging manner. In many ways, your website plays the same role as a  physical storefront would for a mom-and-pop shop. It’s usually the first place people go to learn about your brand, and it makes a crucial first impression.

If you feel stuck or overwhelmed trying to put together your startup’s website, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are plenty of other startups that have already charted this path before you. By taking a closer look at the best startup websites, you can set your own site up for a successful launch.

• Best Startup Websites

• Get Inspired by the Best Startup Websites to Create Your Own

1. Cazoo

United Kingdom-based startup Cazoo has made a name for itself by offering drivers a fast and convenient way to buy and sell cars online. Orders are delivered to drivers within 72 hours, and comprehensive inspections and a generous return policy are key parts of the company’s service.

What We Like: 

The website swiftly directs visitors to the activity that matters most to them: buying or selling a car. In addition to standard menu listings, the homepage features an eye-catching form where users input relevant information regarding their vehicle purchase or sale.

They can search for a specific make or model, input their vehicle registration number to get an offer, or simply select to search all vehicles. Notably, each option only requires one or two pieces of information, so it’s brief enough to keep visitors around. 

By making these options prominently available on the homepage, Cazoo funnels visitors into the buyer’s journey almost immediately. Reducing friction between that first visit and a potential sale is what the best startup websites achieve almost effortlessly.

2. Clubhouse

Clubhouse is a unique app that launched in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The self-described “social audio app” lets users drop into chat rooms to hold conversations with other app subscribers on practically any topic.

What We Like: 

As with other successful app websites, Clubhouse doesn’t overwhelm visitors with too many menu options, or too much information. Above the fold, the website sports an attractive, minimalist design. The CTA is clear: download the app. 

Users scroll down to get additional information about what the app is and how it works. Once again, the website succeeds by keeping things succinct and therefore, effective. Information is presented in short paragraphs under bold subheadings to quickly and clearly communicate what the app does.

3. Attentive

Attentive sends personalized, automated text messages to ecommerce customers based on real-time data. Sending the right message to the right customer at the right time is key to driving sales.

What We Like: 

Attentive makes it clear right away that it accomplishes this purpose for its customers. One of the first things visitors see is text reporting that the company “drives an average of 20.5% of total online revenue for modern ecommerce brands.” It’s a large, attention-grabbing claim that intrigues leads. 

The website further bolsters this claim as users scroll down, highlighting major brands that use its service before diving deeper into details of how it works. Take notes: social proof is a compelling addition to a startup website!

4. Krochet Kids

Krochet Kids provides an excellent example of how a website can tell a story. The brand sells headwear and accessories individuals in Uganda and Peru create. The overarching mission of the company is to boost empowering employment opportunities for people who live in these nations. 

What We Like: 

The company’s story is at the core of the website. . The homepage prominently features photos and a link to a short film highlighting the people who craft the company’s products. As visitors peruse the website, the message is clear: The items you buy weren’t mass-created in a factory; actual people created these products with a tremendous amount of attention and care. 

This doesn’t just appeal to potential customers — it is also the kind of move that can make a difference when pitching your startup to investors. As corporate storyteller and pitching expert Donna Griffit writes, “Stories inspire, captivate, resonate and influence!  —  aren’t those the things you want when pitching for fundraising or sales? And most important  — our brains are hardwired for a structured story  —  while they can’t deal with mounds of data.”

5. MikMak

MikMak is an online tool that offers ecommerce analytics and multi-retailer checkout solutions. Not surprisingly, this is a technical app that requires a lot more explanation than a typical customer-facing app.

What We Like: 

The best startup websites know their audience, and MikMak is an excellent example of that. The site goes the extra mile to ensure that its B2B target audience has access to all the information they would want when making a purchasing decision. Each menu option is heavily informative, from offering an overview of how the tool works to industry-specific applications. Additional guides and resources aim to provide actionable insights, while still pitching the brand.

An option to schedule a demo is prominently featured in the navigation menu as well. While there is lots of information available, the homepage layout remains clean and uncluttered.

6. Webflow

As a web design startup, it should be no surprise that the Webflow website is itself a great example for other brands. The minimalist design of this website is accentuated by the use of whitespace.

What We Like: 

Whitespace helps guide the viewer’s attention to the most important content. Removing the clutter helps communicate simplicity and accessibility to website visitors, while also enhancing comprehension of the content.

Webflow’s homepage does this brilliantly with bold headlines, colorful call-to-action buttons, and vibrant graphics, all with plenty of whitespace to spare. In web design, less is often more. By including whitespace in your website design, you are increasing the likelihood that customers will read the content you want them to focus on and not get distracted by other elements on your site.

7. Ritual

Ritual is a multivitamin startup that emphasizes clean, traceable ingredients, giving customers full transparency regarding how their nutritional supplements are made.

What We Like: 

Ritual’s homepage puts the brand’s mission front and center. In addition to offering quick links to the company’s different product categories, the homepage provides a quick overview of the brand’s selling points — such as traceable ingredients, third-party testing, and vegan and non-GMO ingredients. Additional links are clearly visible for visitors eager to learn more.

As with other successful startup websites, the use of bold colors and imagery combined with concise text that communicates only essential information makes the website more accessible and easy to navigate. A consistent color scheme that is used throughout the site also enhances branding and helps tell a cohesive brand story.

8. Meatable

Meatable is another great example of how a startup’s website can be used to tell a compelling story. It's a unique brand that produces lab-grown meat.

What We Like: 

The website clearly explains a problem — in this case, environmental harm caused by industrial farming — and its solution. It effectively helps website visitors understand how the company’s offerings differ from plant-based meat, as well as communicating the potential benefits of the product. This is all communicated through short, concise headers paired with attractive imagery.

The company’s mission and story are presented in a way that only takes a few minutes for the average person to read through. Your ability to quickly present your own brand story in a compelling manner will help your company stand out for its unique merits, rather than blending in with the many other competitors in your niche. Even more importantly, by putting your mission front and center, you will instantly appeal to like-minded consumers.

9.Linktree

Linktree is an Australian startup that helps companies, content creators, and social media users create cross-platform connections. Thanks to Linktree, companies can put one simple link in their bio that allows visitors to reach their other social media sites or a direct link (such as to their website homepage.) 

What We Like: 

Similar to Krochet Kids, Linktree’s website tells a cohesive brand story. The copywriting is succinct yet powerful, inviting users to create a Linktree account to showcase “Everything you are. In one simple link.” The entire site loads quickly yet features responsive images that change every few seconds to demonstrate another way you can use Linktree. Another strong feature of the homepage is the clear call to action: Sign up for free. It stays on the screen as you scroll as a reminder of your next step. 

As you scroll down, you find several common threads: the font, color scheme, and same catchy copywriting. Linktree bolsters its claim by offering statistics (as many of the best startup websites do) that boast how many users it has. As you get closer to the bottom, there’s a frequently asked question section that’s both visually appealing and easy to navigate. 

10. Tailwind

Tailwind is a social planning platform that allows you to create pins for Pinterest and posts for Instagram with the help of straightforward, customizable templates. From there, you can schedule them manually or use the in-app technology to choose the best times based on past post performance. 

What We Like: 

Yes, Tailwind’s website is straightforward and features a considerable amount of whitespace. But in this startup’s case, their demure homepage is actually an asset. Because there aren’t a ton of colors competing for attention, the visitor can focus their attention on the copy. The website offers a glimpse of what you’ll see on the backend when scheduling your social copy should you choose to join. 

Similar to Linktree, Tailwind uses statistics to draw attention and keep visitors interested. The cumulative effect of learning that over a million businesses trust Tailwind, getting a preview into the backend of the platform, and having a straight CTA is clear. 

11. Realworld 

If you’ve ever heard young people wonder why there’s an app for everything but figuring out how to be an adult, we have some exciting news. Now there is, and it’s called Realworld. Realworld is an app that allows people navigating adulthood to create actionable lists to “get stuff done.” The app also provides resources to help ease the transition into the “real world.” 

What We Like: 

This company lands itself on the best startup websites list because it knows its audience. Copy takes center stage on the homepage where the app states, “Simplify adulthood.” There’s a clear call to action underneath, inviting visitors to join today. If you scroll down, you’ll learn more about what the in-app experience is. This startup also scores points because there’s a clear navigation menu on the top right corner of the screen that’s easy to navigate to, and when you click there, it expands in a visually appealing manner. 

12. Saie

Saie is a consumer packaged goods startup that offers clean beauty products without a high price tag. It is known for its visually appealing branding and celebrity endorsements. The website itself offers an extension of the branding that Saie’s users know and love. 

What We Like: 

The Saie menu is extremely digestible, which is one of the highlights of this website. It invites you to shop, learn, search, visit your account, check your bag, or even find your makeup shade. The number of options isn’t overwhelming, however, as they are dispersed throughout the screen and the font itself is not difficult to read. 

That brings us to our next point about using your website to reduce friction. Saie effectively achieves this by anticipating which questions ecommerce shoppers might have (which shade is right for them) and addressing that concern directly on the homepage by offering a tool visitors can use to find the right match. 

The point we’re trying to make: The best startup websites make it obvious that their product is going to make the user’s life easier, not more complicated. We also love the clever play on words the brand features in the main copy, and the video which offers visual interest and loads quickly. 

13. Patch 

Patch is a startup founded in 2020 with an essential mission. The company is empowering climate action by making it as simple as clicking a button to purchase carbon credits or neutralize emissions that harm the planet. 

What We Like: 

Patch’s website is visually appealing as it features a cohesive color tone that establishes the company’s brand identity. In addition, the homepage reveals what Patch users will see when they sign up, offering a sneak preview into behind-the-scenes. Patch’s menu is straightforward and concise, and when you click on each tab, a variety of options appear. 

14. Calm

Calm is a meditation and sleep app that helps people — you guessed it — get calmer. The app offers both meditations and sleep stories that aim to help reduce anxiety and aid with a more relaxing night’s sleep. 

What We Like: 

Calm doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. The moment you land on this startup’s homepage, you’re transported to a scenic mountain scene. There’s a clear call to action offering visitors the opportunity to try calm at no cost. The central focus of the homepage is the copy, which invites you to “Find Your Calm.” Underneath the main heading, there’s a brief overview of the company’s goal and a question (“What can we help with today?”) you can select an answer to. 

Get Inspired by the Best Startup Websites to Create Your Own 

The best startup websites actively create a digital space that helps carve out their identity and accentuates their branding. Just like how the right location and an attractive storefront can make all the difference for a mom-and-pop store’s success, the right combination of design and functionality on your website can ensure that your startup grows.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.