The Rare Bird difference.

We help you determine what’s worth investing in.

We don't just tell you what to build. We start by talking with you and then with your key team members. That's how we find the real picture, define the right path forward, and build something that actually works for your business.

How we work

We begin by investigating the full picture.

Before we touch anything, we need to understand where you actually are. That means a real discovery: current state business analysis, market and competitive landscape, operational systems, brand and content audit, customer profiles, and a look at your data. We don't skip steps. We find the real picture before we build anything.

It has to work in the real world.

If it doesn't help you move, communicate, or sell, it's probably not worth doing. Every recommendation we make has to work in practice, not just in theory. We plan and build for the real world, not a perfect one.

Everything we build works together.

Brand, website, messaging, systems, technology. Not as separate projects handed off to separate people. One connected platform built around where you're going and who you're becoming. That integration is what turns good work into real business value.

We're here for the long game.

The best work happens over time, with a partner who knows your business well. We plug into the roles you don't have covered, set your team up to own what we build together, and stay for as long as you need us.

The Rare Bird Team

Kristin Ellington, Founder & Lead Strategist

Hi, I'm Kristin. I started Rare Bird because I kept seeing the same problem: brilliant founders with real businesses and real momentum, stuck because they didn't have the right partner to help them take the next step.

I've spent my career leading studios and teams at the intersection of strategy, brand, and technology, working across industries from media and entertainment to retail, hospitality, and nonprofit. I know what it takes to build something that lasts, and I know how to get there without the drama.

What I bring to every engagement is the full picture: the experience to know what needs to happen, the team to make it real, and the commitment to see it through. I lead every project personally. That's not a selling point. That's the whole Rare Bird model.

John Giordani, Creative Art Direction & Design

Hi, I'm John. I've spent thirty years helping businesses communicate visually, starting in the art departments of music and fashion magazines before moving into the digital world as UX and UI design took center stage.

What I bring to Rare Bird is a creative director's eye and a builder's instincts. Brand identity, digital design, style guides, and systems. I make sure everything looks as sharp and considered as the thinking behind it.

Kristin and I have been collaborating since the early days of the web, and that shared history shows in everything we make together.

Rare Bird is powered by a trusted network of strategists, designers, developers, and creatives. Not a big agency roster, but a carefully chosen group of people who are exceptional at what they do and genuinely great to work with.

Fiorella Iannuzzelli
Strategist &
Vision Builder

Fia has spent fifteen+ years at the intersection of technology and strategy, scaling billion-dollar business units at PwC and Genpact before turning her focus to entrepreneurs and founders building what's next. With an engineering background, a Columbia MBA, and real experience leading AI transformation and M&A at scale, she brings a rare combination of analytical rigor and strategic instinct. Fia doesn't just advise — she thinks alongside you, spots what you can't see from inside it, and helps you build the path forward with clarity and conviction.

Brett Webb
Technology &
Product Strategist

Brett has spent thirty years at the intersection of technology, product, and the internet — from the early days of the web through to AI. He's led digital product development for organizations ranging from small nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies, with a background spanning project management, UX, development, security, and operations. Brett brings the kind of technical range that means nothing gets lost in translation between strategy and build.

Anthony Placet
Technology &
AI Development

Anthony has spent his career building things that didn't exist yet: from global media platforms at American Apparel and MIT Sloan to multiple successful startups across social media, digital payments, and AI-driven fundraising. As a solo founder and AI-native developer, he brings the rare ability to move fast across software development, design, and data science without losing sight of the business behind the build. Anthony understands what it takes to go from idea to working product, and he brings that founder's instinct to every project he touches.

Gabriele Volpe
Web Development &
Cloud Infrastructure

Gabriele is the founder of Cloudfactory, a Rome-based development and systems integration studio with over fifteen years of experience building enterprise-grade web platforms, cloud architectures, and AI-powered solutions. He works across AWS, Google Cloud, open-source systems, and custom integrations with a strong commitment to client ownership, meaning everything he builds belongs to you. Gabriele brings deep technical infrastructure expertise to the Rare Bird network, ensuring what we build is fast, secure, and scalable.

Our Clients Say It Best

  • "Kristin is a born leader, and one of the most committed and passionate people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She works tirelessly to ensure the best product possible for her clients and enables her team to do the same. She’s creative and has a real ability to think big picture and be very detail-oriented at the same time."

    Andy Pratt, Head of UX for Growth and Discovery, Gemini at Google Deepmind

  • "Kristin has a rare ability to get not only what the client wants but what they actually need to be successful. Her creative problem-solving and flexibility mean she consistently delivers beyond expectations, on budget and on schedule. I’ve worked with her several times and would not hesitate to do so again."

    Christina Malucelli, Global Director, Video at Getty Images

  • "Kristin has an incredwhible ability to translate ideas into clear messaging and a brand voice that truly reflects o you are. Her laser focus and attention to detail are unmatched — I’ve never experienced anything like it with any other brand strategist. Our website and company image have never been clearer or more focused."

    Robin Reigi, Founder, Robin Reigi Inc.
    Specialty Architectural Materials Firm

  • "Working with Kristin was a truly wonderful gift. She was thorough, creative, and empowering — leaving no stone unturned when it came to my brand and business. She kept me accountable every step of the way and I would recommend her to anyone ready to take their business to the next level."

    Rachel Allyn, PHD
    Therapist, Somatic Healer, Author