Your Startup Needs Video Content: How to Get It Right

Imagine preparing to launch your startup’s product and needing to capture investors' and customers’ attention fast. That was the case for Perseus Defense, a Y Combinator startup, which managed to create a polished launch video in just 5 days – a video that garnered hundreds of engagements from their target audience. How did they pull it off, and what can your startup learn from it?

In this quick guide, we’ll explore why video content is no longer optional for growing startups, the common hurdles in producing quality videos, and how a talent-matching app like Awesomic can help you overcome these challenges to produce impactful videos quickly and affordably.

Video content: From nice-to-have to necessity

Video has become an essential component of modern marketing and product storytelling. An overwhelming 89% of businesses now utilize video as a marketing tool, and 95% of marketers claim that video is an integral part of their strategy. In other words, nearly all your competitors are likely leveraging video to pitch, demo, and promote their products or services.

Why? Because that’s exactly what customers want: 98% of consumers have watched an explainer video to learn about a product or service, and 87% have been convinced to purchase by watching a brand’s video. Whether it’s a product demo, a how-to tutorial, or a customer testimonial, video content engages people in a way text simply can’t.

However, you can’t just film a bad video, poorly produced with no audio, and amateur animation. Sure, your friends and family may find it cute, but chances are that your customers won’t. In fact, a recent report showed that 91% of consumers trust a brand more when they come into contact with a well-produced video.

Wyzowl's video marketing statistics for 2025 showcasing that 87% of people are convinced to buy after watching a video about a company or product.

The appeal of video lies in its power to deliver information in a concise, visual, and often emotionally resonant format. A minute of video can communicate what might take pages of text – and do so in a more memorable fashion. This is crucial for startups trying to make a strong impression with limited time.

The human brain processes visuals at 60,000 times the speed at which it reads text, so it’s not complicated to understand why video has been growing as a channel. Video is also highly shareable, increasing your chances of word-of-mouth exposure.

On social media, algorithms tend to favor video posts since they keep users engaged for longer on the platform, resulting in more reach and engagement for companies that leverage them. Simply put, if you’re not using video, you’re likely invisible to a large segment of your audience.

Why video drives growth and trust for startups

Beyond popularity, video delivers tangible results for startups. Marketers overwhelmingly see positive ROI from video marketing – 93% report that video gives them a good return on investment. What does that ROI look like? Often, it’s increased conversions, more leads, and higher sales.

For example, including a video on a landing page can dramatically boost engagement and conversion rates – studies have found improvements ranging from a 34% higher conversion rate to as much as an 86% increase in conversions when video is present.

The bottom line: That could mean more sign-ups for your app, more checkouts on your e-commerce page, or more investors reaching out after viewing your pitch.Video content also excels at building brand awareness and trust. In a recent industry survey, 96% of video marketers said video has helped increase users’ understanding of their product, and the same percentage credited video with boosting brand awareness.

When potential customers can see your product in action or hear your founders speak passionately on camera, it humanizes your company. Especially for early-stage startups without an established reputation, video can convey credibility.

Showing real people – whether it’s your team, satisfied customers, or domain experts – helps viewers connect with your brand on a personal level. According to Wyzowl’s 2025 report, 87% of consumers feel more confident to purchase a product after watching a video about it.

Trust is particularly crucial in sensitive or complex industries (think healthtech, fintech, security): a well-crafted video can reassure viewers by transparently addressing their concerns and showcasing authenticity.

Finally, video is a multi-channel growth engine. A single video can be repurposed across your website, social media, email campaigns, and sales decks. For instance, a 2-minute product demo on your homepage can be cut down into 15-second snippets for Instagram or TikTok ads, and also embedded in an email newsletter. This consistency in messaging amplifies your reach and minimizes operational overhead on what matters most: time.

Marketers also note that videos have a positive impact on SEO (search engines love rich media) and on user engagement metrics. Visitors tend to spend more time on sites with video content, provided the video is relevant to them, which can signal to search algorithms that your site is of high quality, and potentially boost your rankings.

The challenge: Why creating videos isn't easy

If video is so great, why isn’t every startup already churning out new videos each week? The reality is that producing high-quality video content is hard, especially for resource-strapped teams. In fact, many marketers who haven’t yet embraced video cite a lack of know-how (37%) and a lack of time (26%) as their most significant barriers, even though 68% of those non-users say they plan to start video marketing within the next year.

Let’s break down some common challenges and pain points you might face when trying to create video content:

Limited bandwidth and skills: Crafting a good video requires diverse skills – script writing, storyboarding, filming, animation, editing, sound design – not to mention creativity. Startups often lack an in-house videographer or editor, and founders are already juggling multiple hats. Without expertise, you risk creating dull, unengaging videos that feel like static slideshows rather than dynamic content (think of those text-heavy demo videos that put viewers to sleep). Even knowing where to start (what type of video to make, what style to use) can be daunting if you’ve never done it.
‍High production costs: Hiring a professional video agency or freelancer can be expensive and slow. Agencies might quote tens of thousands of dollars for a single 2-minute video, with timelines of several weeks or more. While freelancers on marketplaces can be cheaper, their quality is often hit-or-miss, and managing them requires significant effort. There are also hidden costs – do you need the video in 10 different dimensions for web, mobile, and social media? That might incur extra fees with some vendors. Do you need advanced motion graphics or 3D animation? Many “basic” video editors can’t do that, meaning you might have to hire a specialist separately.‍
Coordination headaches: Let’s say you do hire external help – you might end up coordinating between a scriptwriter, a designer/animator for visuals, a voiceover artist, and an editor. Keeping everyone on the same page is challenging, and messy handoffs can lead to lost files or inconsistencies in the final product. The project management aspect of video creation often catches startups by surprise. It’s easy to spend weeks in back-and-forth emails and revision cycles, which is time you should be spending on product development or customer support.‍

Quality and consistency issues: Producing video in-house without pro skills can result in technical issues – washed-out colors, poor audio quality, awkward cuts – that undermine your message. On the other hand, outsourcing can lead to branding inconsistencies. Ever received a video draft that had “off-brand” fonts or graphics that just didn’t match your startup’s style guide? It often happens when using freelancers who aren’t deeply familiar with your brand. Consistency is key for credibility; a video that feels misaligned with your website or pitch deck can confuse or alienate viewers.‍
Slow turnaround: The startup world moves fast, but video creation can be slow if not streamlined. You might be iterating your product every week – how do you get a new feature demo video ready for that investor meeting in 3 days? Traditional production timelines won’t cut it. Urgent needs (like a last-minute conference or viral social trend) are hard to meet without an on-call video team. And if you’re relying on a single freelancer, your project is subject to their availability; if they get sick or swamped, you’re stuck.‍
Scope creep and revisions: Videos often require multiple revision rounds to get things just right. If you’re paying per hour or per edit, costs can skyrocket. If you’re working with a less experienced creator, you might need even more revisions (or even have to start over with someone new). This can be frustrating and delay your launch. You want the flexibility to tweak the messaging or swap in a new product screenshot late in the process, without worrying about incurring huge fees or offending an overworked freelancer.

In short, creating a great video is a multi-faceted endeavor that can strain a young startup’s time, budget, and team. This is the “video headache” that many founders know all too well – but thankfully, new solutions are emerging to alleviate these pains.

Awesomic: Your on-demand video team

So, how can a startup produce high-quality videos quickly and without breaking the bank? One answer is to leverage a talent-matching service like Awesomic – we connect you with vetted video creators (editors, motion designers, animators, etc.) on a flexible subscription model.

Importantly, Awesomic is not a do-it-yourself video editing software – it’s not like Adobe Premiere or some AI video generator. Instead, Awesomic is a platform that allows you to access human creative talent on demand, essentially providing you with a virtual video production team when you need it, and pausing when you don’t.

Here’s how it works in a nutshell: you sign up for a plan, describe the video project you need based on your plan capabilities (e.g., a 30-second promo, a 2-minute explainer with animation, a founder interview clip, etc.), and Awesomic matches you with a top-tier video professional from their network – typically within 24 hours. This match isn’t random; Awesomic vets all its creatives rigorously. In fact, less than 1% of applicants are accepted as Awesomic talent, ensuring you work only with experienced editors, designers, and directors who have proved their skills.

Once matched, you communicate with your assigned video pro via the Awesomic app (or Slack/email, depending on your plan), just as if they were a member of your team. You can share your footage or assets, discuss your vision and script, and then receive drafts and updates every business day. Unlimited revisions are included in every subscription, so you can refine the video until it’s perfect.

Critically, Awesomic addresses the common video production pain points marketers and business owners struggle with:

End-to-end capabilities: Awesomic’s video talents can assist at every stage – from brainstorming and scriptwriting to storyboarding, animation, editing, and even basic sound design and color grading. They’ll even assist with subtitling and resizing your video for different platforms, without charging extra fees for multiple formats. This means no more scrambling to find a separate motion graphics guy because your initial editor “doesn’t do 3D” – Awesomic will match you with talents who can cover what you need, or bring in additional specialists from their pool at no extra charge to you. For example, if you start with a simple screen-recorded demo and then decide you want some snazzy animated transitions, Awesomic can tap an appropriate motion designer from their network to collaborate.
Quality assurance: Since Awesomic only onboards proven professionals (many with 10+ years of experience in their field, as the app’s talent profiles show), you’re far less likely to encounter amateur mistakes like poor audio or off-brand visuals. Moreover, the Awesomic app keeps all your assets in one place, helping you maintain control over your brand assets and guidelines so that every video, design, or graphic produced through the app adheres to your style. You may also ask for source files, which is important for future edits. And if, for any reason, you feel the creative “match” isn’t a stylistic fit, Awesomic lets you request a rematch with someone else hassle-free.
Speedy turnarounds: Awesomic is built for fast-moving startups. Once you submit a project, you can often see the first storyboard or rough cut in a day or two, not weeks. For smaller edits or social media clips, same-day results are not uncommon. Even larger projects like product launch videos are expedited: in the case of Perseus Defense, Awesomic delivered a full launch video in just 5 days from start to finish by dedicating a focused motion expert to the task. The platform’s workflow (with daily updates and an emphasis on quick iteration) ensures you won’t be left wondering about progress. Many users report significantly faster turnaround times – roughly 40% faster – on each update compared to the traditional route.‍
Predictable pricing: With Awesomic’s subscription, you know your costs upfront. No hourly rates piling up, no surprise change fees. This predictability is golden for startups on a budget. You can use your allotted capacity however you like – some months it’s a video, another month it might be a mix of design and video tasks – the pricing remains flat (aside from different plan tiers or licenses you may want to explore). Considering that Awesomic can cover not just video but 30+ other creative skill sets (design, UI/UX, marketing, copywriting, etc.), many startups leverage the subscription to get a steady stream of content across the board. Your video projects benefit from this integrated approach; for example, the same service can create your slide deck graphics and your promo video, ensuring a cohesive look and message.

Success stories: Startups leveling up with video

Nothing illustrates the impact of this approach better than real examples. Let’s revisit how startups like Perseus Defense used Awesomic to supercharge their video content – and the results they saw.

Perseus Defense: Demo day launch video in 5 days

Perseus Defense is a cutting-edge startup (YC S25) developing “America’s Golden Dome for drones". Preparing for their Y Combinator Demo Day, the Perseus team needed an entire brand overhaul, a new website, and a launch video to showcase their product, all in a matter of weeks. They turned to Awesomic as a one-stop solution. Over ~2 months, Awesomic delivered a fresh brand identity and website for Perseus, but most impressively, produced a high-impact launch video in just 5 days.

For the video, Awesomic’s motion design expert worked closely with the Perseus founders to craft a narrative and script that would resonate with both investors and potential defense clients. They quickly storyboarded the concept, allowing the founders to see the vision and provide feedback early – this smooth upfront alignment made the subsequent editing process lightning-fast. Awesomic handled everything, from editing to adding motion graphics and 3D effects that demonstrated the company's tech, to final color grading and sound edits.

In just a week, Perseus had a polished launch video ready ahead of Demo Day. The video did exactly what it needed to: it attracted investors, peers, and prospects, generating buzz on social media with 700+ interactions across platforms. More importantly, it communicated Perseus’s complex technology in a compelling, visual story that left a strong impression.

Perseus’s co-founder, Jason Cornelius, called Awesomic a “game-changer for our team,” noting that partnering with Awesomic was “one of the best decisions we’ve made as a YC startup”. The hassle of trying to juggle multiple freelancers or agencies was gone – “they’ve consistently delivered stellar content with blazing-fast turnaround, and the entire process has been effortless”, he said.

Not only did Awesomic nail the launch video on the first try, but they also kept all of Perseus’s visual materials – from the website UI to 3D product renders – on-brand and cohesive, as the same coordinated team handled them. The bottom line: Perseus was able to present itself as a well-funded, polished company, despite being an early-stage startup. Awesomic provided them with the creative firepower of a much larger team. Their technology might be hard science, but creating a video that resonates with your audience doesn’t have to be.

Why choose Awesomic for your next endeavor in video

Crucially, Awesomic’s video services are scalable to your needs. They offer different plans tailored to different levels of production complexity. For quick projects that don’t require filming, a part-time video editor/motion designer can pump out short-form videos, explainer animations, product demos, or social media clips rapidly.

If you need something more elaborate, such as a major launch video with live-action footage, Awesomic can provide a more advanced plan that includes on-site filming and senior-level editing, along with full post-production polish. They even accommodate fully custom productions (multi-location shoots, casting actors, studio sets, etc.) via a special arrangement.

In short, no matter if you need a scrappy TikTok-style ad or a cinematic brand documentary, the Awesomic talent network has you covered.

Awesomic is here to turn creative firepower into business results. Book a 30-minute demo with our team, and let’s explore which video solution makes the most sense for your business at this time.

Why Your Startup Needs Video Content (and How to Get It Right)