Project: Prototype Capital Merch – Cool, Nerdy, and Future-Focused

Project Overview

To extend the Prototype Capital brand beyond digital and into the real world, we designed a curated merchandise collection that reflects the fund’s unique identity—cool, nerdy, understated, yet futuristic.

Unlike traditional, overly corporate VC swag, our goal was to create something that truly resonated with portfolio founders, fellow investors, and partners—merch that people actually want to wear. The collection includes:

• Tote bags
• Baseball caps
• T-shirts & hoodies

Each item was designed to embody the Prototype Capital aesthetic—a mix of tech culture, space futurism, and subtle geekery that feels authentic to the brand.

Key Highlights

• Authentic to the Brand: Avoided generic corporate swag, instead creating a line that aligns with Prototype’s forward-thinking, non-traditional VC identity.
• Understated Yet Cool: Designs are simple, yet distinctive—nerdy references, glitch aesthetics, and futuristic elements set the vibe.
• High-Quality & Wearable: Prioritized comfort and style, ensuring that founders, investors, and partners would actually wear and use the merch.
• Limited & Exclusive: Given to portfolio founders, partners, and close collaborators—not mass-produced, making it more coveted.
• Effortless Ordering via Fourthwall: To keep it simple and scalable, we used Fourthwall as our merch platform, allowing people to order their own products in small quantities (even just one hat or shirt) without bulk orders.

Design Inspiration

• Glitchy, futuristic aesthetics—reflecting the experimental nature of startups and venture.
• Space and tech-inspired elements—playing into the idea of innovation and the unknown.