*AKAIO - a brand I created and SaaS platform I designed that is building the Future of AI-Powered Innovation Consulting*

AKAIO – Revolutionizing Innovation with AI & UX Design

AKAIO is a cutting-edge SaaS platform that harnesses AI to empower enterprise innovation leaders with actionable insights, industry trends, and strategic partnerships. As the VP of UX/UI, I led the product design, branding, and marketing strategy, helping to transform a complex AI solution into an intuitive and scalable innovation platform.

AKAIO at a Glance

A high-level snapshot with key metrics

🚀 Proof of Concept Launch: July 2024
📅 MVP Launch: November 15, 2024
💰 Funding Raised: $1M+ Pre-Seed | $500K Seed | $300K+ in Ongoing Sales
🎨 Rebrand & UI Overhaul: Boosted user engagement & sales
🤖 AI-Driven UX: Integrating best-in-class consulting frameworks

Name, Logo Evolution & Design Philosophy

Here’s a gallery showcasing early concepts and the progression to the final logo.

What’s in a Name? The Meaning of AKAIO

AKAIO is more than just a name—it’s a statement of sophistication, innovation, and vision. The sleek, modern aesthetic of the name reflects a futuristic edge, enhanced by the presence of "AI", signaling intelligence and cutting-edge technology. The name is unique, concise, and purposefully crafted for a transformative project like this.

At its core, AKAIO draws inspiration from diverse linguistic and cultural roots, blending elements that embody clarity, leadership, and the vastness of possibility:

Akio (昭夫, 明夫, or 亮夫) [Japanese] – Meaning "man of light" or "hero," symbolizing enlightenment, clarity, and leadership—qualities essential for guiding organizations into the future.
Kai – A name rich in meanings across cultures:
- Hawaiian: "Sea" or "ocean," representing depth, adaptability, and exploration.
- Chinese (凯): "Victory" or "triumph," embodying success and achievement.

By merging Akio and Kai into AKAIO, the name becomes a powerful emblem of "a man of light and sea"—a guiding force navigating the unknown frontiers of innovation.

AKAIO is more than a tool; it is the ultimate AI companion, empowering enterprise leaders to explore the vast potential of tomorrow’s innovations with clarity, intelligence, and strategic foresight.

Typography & Color Palette – A Visual Identity for the Future

AKAIO’s visual identity is designed to evoke a sense of exploration, intelligence, and boundless innovation—a platform that guides enterprises through the deep unknown, whether it be the uncharted waters of new markets or the vast frontier of AI-powered possibilities.

Color Palette: The Depths of Discovery

The color story behind AKAIO is intentional, drawing inspiration from the depths of the ocean and the expansiveness of space, mirroring the limitless nature of innovation:

Teal Deep Green (#006F7C) – This bluish-green hue serves as the primary color, a symbol of the deep, ever-expanding ocean of possibilities. It embodies both intelligence and adaptability, much like water shaping its surroundings, just as AI reshapes industries.
White (#FFFFFF) – Light, stars, and clarity. The bold modern "A" in white stands as the foundation of the logo, a beacon of guidance in the vast darkness, representing insight and strategic foresight.
Deep Space Black (#000000) – The background of the platform is a rich black, evoking the infinite universe—where stars and discoveries emerge from the unknown, just as AKAIO unveils groundbreaking opportunities for users.

By highlighting "AI" in deep teal green within the logo, the branding subtly reinforces the intelligence at the heart of AKAIO, drawing immediate attention to the platform’s defining technological core.

Typography: The Future in Motion

AKAIO’s typography is a balance of sleek modernity and futuristic precision, designed to feel both cutting-edge and timeless. The chosen fonts create a refined yet bold aesthetic, ensuring that the brand exudes:

Clarity & Simplicity: Clean sans-serif lines for effortless readability.
Futuristic Elegance: Subtle geometric elements add a sleek, high-tech feel.
Strength & Stability: A structured, balanced font weight communicates trust and reliability.

The result? A visual identity that is sharp, dynamic, and forward-looking, much like the AI-driven innovation AKAIO delivers. Every color and typographic choice reinforces the platform’s purpose: a guiding light through the deep unknown of the future. 🚀

Product Experience & UI Design

I joined the company and built the brand and design system from the ground up to establish an intuitive SaaS platform.

Key UI Features

🔹 Your Company Dashboard: The profile view that allows companies to add key information that will be central to driving innovation
🔹 Uncover Hidden Trends: Select from key trends that will influence the economy and technology of the future.
🔹 Read Future Scenarios and Competencies: Aligning teams with required skills for future initiatives
🔹 AI-Powered Team Matching: Finding internal/external experts for projects

Your Company Dashboard

Uncover Hidden Trends

Select from key trends that will influence the economy and technology of the future.

Learn Scenarios of the Future

See future scenarios based on company information and trends that showcase what your ideal future could be and what future products, services and partnerships will look like.

See Competencies Your Company Needs to Win

AI Powered Matchmaking

Finding experts for projects based on the competencies of the future that your company needs to win

Prototyping & Commercialization

User-Centered Innovation in the demo below will show you:

How I simplified complex AI insights for enterprise users with the platform
A full user journey of the platform: logging in, viewing profile, generating a scenario and finding partners to collaborate with
Integrating best-in-class innovation consulting methodologies utilized by the best consulting groups today.

Prototyping & MVP Development: Transforming an Idea into a User-Centric Innovation Engine

Bringing AKAIO to life meant transforming a proven innovation consulting methodology into a seamless, AI-powered SaaS experience. From the earliest prototype to the MVP launch, my focus was on making a complex, strategic process intuitive, efficient, and scalable—giving users the tools to drive innovation with clarity and confidence.

From Concept to Reality: The Proof of Concept (POC) – July 2024

The first proof of concept (POC) was designed to validate the idea and excite early adopters. We took the best-in-class innovation consulting framework from the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) and distilled it into three core modules that formed the foundation of AKAIO.

This was more than just digitization—it was a complete reimagining of the consulting process:
✅ More Impactful – AI-powered insights amplified the boldness and precision of innovation strategies.
✅ Faster Execution – Automated workflows replaced manual consulting processes, reducing delays.
✅ More Affordable – By eliminating consultant man-hours and in-person workshops, AKAIO made world-class innovation strategy accessible at scale.

This groundbreaking shift generated market buzz, secured additional pre-seed capital, and validated the product’s value proposition.

Scaling for Real-World Impact: The MVP – November 2024

Building on the success of the POC, we expanded AKAIO’s core functionalities for an MVP that could serve a diverse range of industries and enterprise clients. The platform was designed to empower users at every stage of their innovation journey with an intuitive, streamlined experience:

Company Profile & Innovation Goals – Users define their strategic focus and align teams around shared objectives.
Trend Selection – Identify the most critical macroeconomic, technological, and societal trends impacting their industry.
Future Scenario Generation – AI-powered narratives map out how the company can win by responding to key trends, unlocking new products, services, and partnerships.
Competency Mapping – Visualize the skills, knowledge, and assets required to succeed in future markets.
Proprietary Matchmaking Database – Discover ideal partners for collaboration, acquisition, or outsourcing, accelerating change management and execution.
By creating a bold, AI-enhanced, user-friendly experience, AKAIO has redefined how companies approach innovation strategy. The MVP has not only delivered real business impact but has also positioned AKAIO as a market leader in AI-driven innovation consulting.

Marketing & Commercial Success

The arrival of a dedicated UX leader (myself) and an AI VP fundamentally reshaped the company’s trajectory. The original founder—the visionary behind the Innovation SaaS product concept—departed, leaving behind a fragmented vision and an early prototype that lacked the clarity and execution needed to scale. This forced us to start over, rebrand, and rebuild from the ground up.I led the charge in crafting a bold new identity, refining the product’s core messaging, and launching a dynamic marketing campaign that not only repositioned AKAIO in the market but reignited investor enthusiasm. With a fresh brand, a powerful narrative, and high-impact video content (where I became the voice of the brand), we drove massive momentum—securing $1.2 million in just six months. This funding propelled us through MVP development, built key sales channels, and solidified partnerships that turned AKAIO from an idea into a fully operational, revenue-generating SaaS platform.

Notable Press and Events

Key fundraising events in Madrid, Spain at the CEOE as well as our own product launch event at the Hotel Wellington downtown led to many press releases including being featured several times in Forbes.com.

Business Impact & Future Vision

The Results So Far

💰 $2M raised in Pre-Seed, $500K in Seed, $300K+ in Ongoing Sales,
📈 Increased platform adoption & engagement post-rebrand
🏆 Globally recognized as an emerging leader in AI-driven innovation consulting by GIMI (Global Innovation Management Institute)

Looking Ahead

Scaling AKAIO for enterprise adoption is on target to generate 1.5 Million in revenue in 2025.
Continuous AI/UX enhancements for best-in-class experience and launch of several new modules by end of the year.
Raising 3-5 Million in SEED Money for 2025