Kiefer Likens

03 — Ventures

Three companies, three different relationships. The roles below are quoted from each company’s own site, because a portfolio is the easiest place in the world to quietly promote yourself.

  • 01 / 03

    Set To Stun

    Set To Stun, LLC

    Role
    Owner
    Engagement
    Founded
    Base
    North Zulch, Texas
    Since
    2024
    Set To Stun homepage: a neo-brutalist layout with hard black borders, offset shadows, and the headline ‘Websites that actually work’.

    Websites that actually work.

    Their words, not mine

    A rural Texas design shop for the trades — contractors, local services, and the people who build the physical world. Web design, application work, retainers, fractional marketing leadership, and search. The pitch is deliberately unglamorous: you build houses, fix cars, or sell cattle; somebody else should handle the internet part.

    I founded it. The company's own About page names me as the owner, and describes bringing enterprise-standard work to businesses in the counties around North Zulch.

    settostun.co (opens in a new tab)

  • 02 / 03

    Barbed Wire Studios

    Role
    Head of Design / Creative
    Engagement
    Operated
    Base
    Texas
    Since
    2024
    Barbed Wire Studios homepage: an editorial western layout in paper, navy, and gold with the headline ‘Websites built with grit’.

    Websites built with grit.

    Their words, not mine

    The Texas arm of Appalachia Digital — search, site builds, paid media, automation, and reporting for contractors, law firms, land and agriculture businesses, and manufacturers. Same standard of work as the parent company, different ground.

    I lead the Texas side of the business. Their About page states that I personally review every strategy request that comes through the studio and follow up with the roadmap, and I am the only person named in the organization’s structured data.

    barbedwirestudios.com (opens in a new tab)

  • 03 / 03

    Appalachia Digital

    Role
    Head of Design / Creative
    Engagement
    Operated
    Base
    Lynchburg, Virginia
    Appalachia Digital homepage: a warm paper layout with numbered service modules and an orange accent.

    Growth systems. No BS. Real results.

    Their words, not mine

    A growth agency for local businesses, law firms, and trades, running seven service modules from search and site development through paid media, hosting, custom CRM work, AI implementation, and reporting. Barbed Wire Studios is its Texas branch.

    I am a department head here, not a founder. The company was founded by Brenton Riling and is based in Lynchburg, Virginia.

    appalachiadigital.com (opens in a new tab)