# BeTheLeap

> BeTheLeap is a human-centered design studio founded in Berlin, Germany in 2020. We help businesses validate ideas, accelerate product innovation, and build digital experiences their customers love — in weeks, not months. Our structured methodologies include Design Sprints, Product Audits, Brand Jams, and CX Design, delivered by a tight-knit team of product strategists, UX designers, and innovation facilitators with decades of experience at IBM, AJ&Smart, Santander, and Silicon Valley ad tech companies.

## Services

- [Discovery with Validation](https://www.betheleap.com/service/discovery-and-validation): Uncover root causes, fill knowledge gaps, and validate ideas fast. Includes Design Thinking workshops, empathy research, discovery kickstarters, and problem framing exercises.
- [Strategy & Planning](https://www.betheleap.com/service/strategy-and-planning): Define a clear direction, align stakeholders, prioritise features, and turn vision into a concrete product roadmap.
- [Human-Centered Design](https://www.betheleap.com/service/human-centred-design): Create exceptional digital product experiences through real customer insights, interactive prototyping, and iterative design execution.
- [Launch Ready & Growth](https://www.betheleap.com/service/launch-ready-growth): Post-launch support to iterate, scale, and stay ahead — your launch is the beginning, not the finish line.

## Products & Workshops

- [Design Sprint](https://www.betheleap.com/workshops/design-sprint): A focused one-week process that compresses months of decision-making into days. Teams align, prototype, and test with five real customers to validate direction before building. Conducted in-person or remotely. Requires a designated Decider and a team of 3–6 participants.
- [Product Audit](https://www.betheleap.com/workshops/product-audit): A clear, in-depth assessment of an underperforming digital product. BeTheLeap speaks directly with customers to uncover real pain points and experience gaps, delivering prioritised recommendations for fixes and ROI. Typically runs 1–3 weeks. Usually conducted fully remotely.
- [Brand Jam](https://www.betheleap.com/workshops/brand-jam): Reveals what makes a brand connect or miss with customers. Aligns teams around brand intent vs. customer perception, delivering positioning clarity faster than traditional branding processes.
- [Design Thinking](https://www.betheleap.com/workshops/design-thinking): Switches focus from business assumptions to customer needs. Identifies pain points and meaningful opportunities so customers are satisfied and businesses can grow.
- [CX Design](https://www.betheleap.com/workshops/cx-design): A plug-and-play product design team providing ongoing UX and UI design support. Flexible retainer model enabling faster iterations, consistent design, developer handoff, and data-driven decisions without the cost of an in-house team.

## Proven Outcomes

- 15% higher customer retention rates, boosting lifetime value
- 6x increase in monthly active users within 3 months
- 30% faster development cycles due to better team alignment
- $1.6M USD in funding secured for an MVP
- ~$5M incremental annual contribution profit uplift from pricing trials (Untapped)
- 25,000+ seafarers onboarded to a new fintech platform (MarTrust)

## Case Studies

- [Booking.com](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/booking-com): Global travel platform — helping travellers book stays, transport, and experiences.
- [MarTrust](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/martrust): Maritime fintech platform — changing how 45,000 seafarers manage their finances. Services delivered: Product Audit, Design Sprint, CX Design, Brand Guidelines.
- [Ericsson Emodo](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/ericsson-emodo): Ad-tech (B2B) — transforming a DSP platform into a self-service offering.
- [Engel & Völkers](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/engel-volkers): Investment banking platform — neo-banking for property owners and investors.
- [Butter](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/butter-us): Virtual collaboration platform — empowering engaging virtual sessions for remote workshops.
- [Certn](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/certn): AI-powered digital credentials — validating a credentials wallet for gig-economy workers.
- [Muhdo Health](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/muhdo-health): DNA and epigenetics health app — taken from concept to App Store in 8 weeks.
- [Invex Now](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/invex-now): Mobile banking app — designed to recover revenue and market share lost to emerging fintechs.
- [Takes Inc.](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/takes): iOS sports and social media app — innovating how sport connects with Gen Z fans using AI and AR.
- [StreamStyle / RevoVideo](https://www.betheleap.com/case-studies/streamstyle-revovideo): Mobile iOS direct sales platform — empowering direct sellers to connect authentically with customers.

## Notable Clients

BeTheLeap has delivered projects for: Adidas, American Express, Blinkist, Booking.com, Butter, Certn, Ericsson, Engel & Völkers, HSBC, LEGO, MarTrust, McKinsey & Company, Publicis Sapient, Santander, Twitter.

## Team

- [Rob Hamblen](https://www.betheleap.com/about-us) — Founder and Product Guru. Nearly 30 years in human-centered digital product design. Previously Creative Director UX at IBM Studios Dubai and Product Design Director at AJ&Smart Berlin. Expert in Design Sprints, Design Thinking, and rapid innovation facilitation.
- [Hana Mondekova](https://www.betheleap.com/about-us) — Lead Product Strategist. Specialist in fintech and ad tech. Previously worked with Santander and Engel & Völkers Smart Money. Expert in product strategy and positive disruption.
- [Martin Novotny](https://www.betheleap.com/about-us) — Product and Experience Designer. Bridges business needs with human-centered, visually-led digital solutions.
- [Kerry Thompson](https://www.betheleap.com/about-us) — Senior Consultant. Two decades leading high-stakes programmes across automotive, retail, and beyond. Specialist in operational excellence and stakeholder engagement.
- [Jim Campbell](https://www.betheleap.com/about-us) — Senior Copywriter. Nearly 30 years in the creative industry. Has worked with Electrolux, Honeywell, Interface, and Milwaukee.

## About & Company Information

- Founded: 2020 (a leap year)
- Location: Schwedter Straße 34a, 10435 Berlin, Germany (a converted chocolate factory)
- Type: Boutique innovation and human-centered design studio
- Works with: Early-stage startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises
- Approach: Structured workshops, rapid prototyping, real customer testing — delivering clarity and validated direction in weeks rather than months

## Content & Resources

- [Stories & Blog](https://www.betheleap.com/stories): Insights, news, and articles from the BeTheLeap team covering product design, Design Sprints, innovation strategy, and studio life.
- [FAQs](https://www.betheleap.com/faq): Detailed answers to common questions about Design Sprints, Product Audits, remote working, confidentiality, team requirements, and timelines.
- [Mini Audit](https://www.betheleap.com/mini-audit): A free introductory product assessment tool.

## Contact

- Website: https://www.betheleap.com
- Contact form: https://www.betheleap.com/contact
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betheleap/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betheleap