Upcoming Events, Courses, and Talks

Brand Strategy & Identity for HardTech Startups

Join us for an interactive and practical session on mastering the fundamentals of branding for HardTech founders. In this workshop, we’ll explore how a strong brand can amplify your impact, differentiate your product, and align with your vision for growth.

What We’ll Cover:

Brand Strategy

• Understand what brand strategy is and why it’s critical to your success.
• Learn how brand strategy connects to your business plan and long-term goals.
• Start shaping your brand’s strategic foundation through guided activities.

Brand Identity

• Discover why branding goes far beyond just a logo.
• Dive into the elements of verbal identity and visual identity.
• Explore best practices and considerations when implementing your brand digitally and physically.
• Create a working brand kit in Figma.

Go to Market & Beyond

• Explore tools like Pitch, Figma, and Webflow that empower you to self-serve your brand needs.
• Learn how to work effectively with designers or agencies when expanding your brand.

Whether you’re just starting to think about branding or refining an existing approach, this workshop will equip you with the tools and insights needed to build a brand that reflects your company’s vision and connects with your audience.

About the Workshop Leaders

Amy Schwartz, Partner & Managing Director – Sure Thing

Amy Schwartz is a design leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and crafting industry-defining brands. As the Founder and Managing Director of Sure Thing, she partners with early-stage startups, visionary leaders, and ambitious organizations to design transformative brands, products, and experiences. Her work emphasizes a seamless blend of branding, strategy, and user experience—delivering results that resonate across industries. Prior to founding Sure Thing, Amy built a diverse career establishing and leading design teams within startups, agencies, and beloved brands.

Recognized as a leader in the design community, Amy has received numerous accolades, including PRINT’s 15 Under 30, the AIGA Emerging Designer Award, and the What’s Next Grant. She was also a winner of Command X at the AIGA National Convention and a finalist for Young Designer of the Year. In addition, Amy has served as a judge for Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards.

Her work has been featured in Fast Company, Magenta by HUGE, Communication Arts, Art Directors Club, and AIGA Eye on Design. A sought-after speaker, Amy has delivered talks at premier events and institutions such as Brand New Conference, How Design Live, the Denver Art Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville, among others.

Amy holds an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, an MFA in Design from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a BA in Design from DePaul University.

Molly Bramlet, Partner & Director of Design – Sure Thing

Molly Bramlet is a versatile designer and creative leader with a history of delivering thoughtful, user-centered solutions that simplify complexity and spark joy. As Partner and Director of Design at Sure Thing, she collaborates with mission-driven companies to build authentic brands and products that don’t just stand out – they stand for something.

Molly has worked across industries, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. She played a key role in Intuit’s rebrand as a Senior Brand Designer, shaped innovative branding at Hologram, and contributed to financial empowerment as a Senior Product Designer at Ellevest. Her career also includes leadership roles as Design Director at Visibly, Senior Product Designer at Yello, and UX Lead at Huge.

Molly’s work is driven by a deep curiosity and a dedication to transforming challenges into design solutions that resonate with both businesses and their audiences.