Phase, a Taipei- and Berlin-based startup, has raised $13 million in funding to expand its no-code UI/UX design platform, positioning itself as a competitor to Figma and Adobe After Effects.
The round was backed by Gobi Partners, New Economy Ventures, Palm Drive Capital, Shilling VC, SquareOne, WI Harper, 42CAP, and 500 Global.
A Fully Interactive No-Code Design Tool
Founded in 2017 by Nick Budden, a former UI/UX designer, Phase aims to eliminate the inefficiencies in the UI design-to-engineering handoff process. Instead of static prototypes that require extensive back-and-forth with engineers, Phase enables designers to:
- Create fully functional UI prototypes—not just partial interactions
- Export production-ready UI code automatically
- Skip manual coding or reliance on AI-powered plugins
Budden explained:
“In Figma, prototypes often cover just 20–30% of a final product’s functionality. Phase allows designers to build UI prototypes that function 100% like the real app or website.”
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Competing in the UI/UX Software Market
The startup’s first launch is a UI animation tool, competing with Adobe After Effects and Figma’s smart animation features. However, Budden sees animation as just the beginning. The company plans to introduce three more no-code tools, including:
- Advanced UI prototyping
- UI design tools
- UI code export
Budden emphasized that while animation is a go-to-market opportunity, Phase’s real ambition is to become a full-scale UI/UX platform before tools like Figma fully integrate animation into their ecosystem.
Successful Beta and Global Expansion Plans
The firm initially launched in South Korea in May 2024, where it saw rapid adoption—10,000 designers tested the tool within weeks. However, scaling in larger markets was challenging, leading Phase to shift to a global beta strategy.
With the official launch, the company now aims to expand into the U.S. and European markets, focusing on enterprise and independent UI/UX designers.
Looking Ahead
With $13 million in funding and a growing designer community, the company is on track to challenge industry giants like Figma and Adobe. By offering no-code, fully interactive UI design tools, Phase is streamlining workflows and redefining how digital products are built.
