About Ryan Hofmann

2. 01 // Age 10

   Brainfreeze

   I started writing code at 10. My first project was Brainfreeze: small games I built and sold to kids in my class.

   

3. 02 // Teens

   Esports and first ads

   In my teens I moved from code into design and social media, making graphics for esports organizations including Cyclone Esports, Version1 and Minnesota ROKKR.

   My archive still has my first ad, from 2015, and a launch advert for Juggernaut from 2016.

   

4. 03 // Age 19

   SMOK3

   At 19 I moved across the country to Florida to join SMOK3, a startup building go-to-market and creator programs.

   It was a small team, so everyone covered several jobs. I joined as creative director. The founders wanted me as CMO too, so I took that on and ran marketing alongside design.

   

5. 04 // 2022–23

   Building worlds

   On the side I kept designing for game worlds: apparel and a vest for the SCP Universe, a poster for SCP Overlord, and a 100k poster for HAMCUS.

   

6. 05 // 2024

   Alterra Studio

   In 2024 I founded Alterra Studio in Seattle. We design brand identities, websites, product UI and launch films for funded startups.

   iAgent's launch video passed 1.9M+ views, a launch film for Watt2Trade drove 260k+ wallet connections, and TICKIZ had a complete identity in four weeks.

   

7. 06 // 2025–26

   Alterra

   The studio sits inside Alterra, a small group I own and run. In 2025 I built Auditvia to fix accessibility in the code itself, and in October 2026 we brought it back as a free website audit.

   In October 2026 I built twelve brands at the studio from a blank page, Mote, Texel and Membrane among them: the name, the identity, the product and the launch. A small team, in-house software and AI agents do the work, and I sign off on everything that ships.

   

Write to me See the work

• Q-01Who is Ryan Hofmann?Ryan Hofmann is a self-taught designer based in Seattle and the founder and CEO of Alterra Studio, a design studio for funded startups.
• Q-02What does Alterra Studio do?Alterra Studio designs brand identities, websites, product UI and launch films for funded tech, SaaS, AI and Web3 startups. Projects start at $10k.
• Q-03What else does he run?Alterra Studio is part of Alterra, a small group Ryan owns and runs. The studio built Auditvia, a free website audit.
• Q-04Where is he based?Seattle, Washington.
• Q-05How do I work with him?Book a call through alterra.studio/connect, or email hello@ryanhofmann.com.
• Q-06How much does it cost to work with Alterra Studio?Projects start at $10k. The studio also works on an annual design membership; Everreach Labs is on one.
• Q-07What kind of companies does Alterra Studio work with?Mostly funded tech, SaaS, AI and Web3 startups. Clients include iAgent, TICKIZ, Watt2Trade, Everreach Labs and Kaveree.
• Q-08What results has the studio delivered?A launch video for iAgent passed 1.9M+ views, a launch film for Watt2Trade drove 260,000+ wallet connections, and TICKIZ got a complete brand identity in four weeks. The studio is rated 5.0 on Clutch from three verified reviews.
• Q-09What is Auditvia?A free website audit built by Alterra Studio. Paste a homepage and it checks accessibility, SEO, AI search visibility, speed and copy in about a minute.
• Q-010Does Ryan Hofmann write?Yes. He publishes numbered letters to founders at ryanhofmann.com/journal, and his studio published a study of 100 funded startup homepages.
• Q-011Where can journalists get his bio and photo?His press kit, with bios in three lengths, a portrait and quick facts, is at ryanhofmann.com/press.