What Is a Founder Story Video? (And Does Your Business Need One?)

A founder story video is a short film about the person behind a business: why they started it, what they care about, and what they want for the people they serve. Done well, it’s the fastest way to show customers who they’re actually buying from.

(Done badly, it’s a stock-music slideshow.)

What is a founder story video?

It’s a brand film built around one person. Instead of listing services, it follows the founder: what they noticed, what they risked, and what keeps them going. The business comes through the story instead of the other way around.

When does a founder story make sense?

• Your customers buy from you because of you: restaurants, studios, local services, small shops.
• You’re launching a business, a product, or a new location and need people to care quickly.
• Your About page reads like everyone else’s.
• You’re hiring or pitching partners and want people to know who they’d be working with.

What makes a founder story work?

The same thing that makes any film work: someone who wants something. Even a 30-second spot needs a person at the center with a real stake. Specific details beat big claims. A real moment from your day beats a script read off a teleprompter. And a little humor goes a long way toward making people trust you.

How long should a founder story video be?

Long enough to tell one story well. For a website, one to three minutes is a good target. For social, cut shorter versions from the same shoot so the story travels further without another shoot day.

How much does a founder story video cost?

It depends on what the film needs: how many shoot days, how many people on set, and how much editing. But the gear isn’t what you’re paying for. It’s the thinking: finding the story worth telling, and the moment that makes people lean in. Tell us your budget range and we’ll tell you honestly what it can and can’t buy, before anyone signs anything.

How we make founder stories at 2 East 8th

We came up in comedy and narrative film, so we treat a two-minute brand film like a short film. We find the person at the center of your story, figure out what they want, and build the film around them, the same way we’d build a feature. We make founder stories in Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Chicago, and everywhere in between.

Want one? Tell us what you’re making, or see how our branded films work.