From the outside, it might seem like tech companies choose their names at random. But, the reality is that a lot of thought, research and time go into the naming a company. We got in touch with three NYC tech companies and asked them to tell us the stories behind their names.
Catchpoint is a digital performance analytics company used by some of the biggest companies on the web. Their software allows digital businesses to visualize their data — of which there is a lot — in a flexible and meaningful way. If there's something to see, their software will catch it.
Responses from Mehdi Daoudi, CEO & Co-Founder
What is the story behind the name Catchpoint?
Catch points and trap points are types of turnouts that act as railway safety devices. Both work by guiding railway carriages and trucks away from a dangerous route and onto a separate, safer track. Our fundamental idea is very much along this line; we ensure that businesses stay on the right path by delivering uninterrupted, fast digital experiences anytime, anywhere.
Before you decided on Catchpoint, did you consider any other names?
We started off as 3GenLabs because we couldn't come up with a cool name. The founders had worked on research and development at DoubleClick/Google, so the name 3GenLabs made sense. Right before we went live with the product, we tried to find a final and official name. We hired a consultant and the best we could come up with was 'Monitor Lizzard.' Of course, that did not go well. At the 11th hour, one of our other co-founders, Dritan Suljoti came up with the name Catchpoint and it was love at first sight! We even managed to get the domain from GoDaddy for $9.99.
Movable Ink is a pioneer in the world of contextualized emails. Their software lets you send emails with content that changes depending on customer behavior. That way, you know you're sending clients email that is relevant and interesting.
Responses from Carly Laniado, Talent Acquisition
What's the story behind the name Movable Ink?
I think the 'Ink' came first. Vivek Sharma, our CEO told me they were looking for a name that was a little different. Everything in the enterprise marketing software space used to have a very techy name and he wanted something more evocative and artistic. After a domain search with "Ink" in the title, he found that Movable Ink was available and it turned out to be a no brainer!
Were there any other names you were considering before Movable Ink?
They were also thinking about PicLater, but once Movable Ink got in the mix, it wasn't even a debate.
Now that you've had the name for awhile, how do you like it?
For me personally, I love the name! Except for the constant misspellings, I think it captures who we are and what we do. I also love our recognizable pink ink splotch, as well. Everyone's logo is blue, the magenta in ours really stands out and differentiates us!
Estimote makes tiny, low-power computers that attach to things — think walls, tables, etc. They then use proximity technology to track the presence of humans and their behaviors, allowing them to trigger pre-programmed, contextual experiences.
Responses from Jakub Krzych, CEO & Co-Founder
What's the story behind the name Estimote?
The name Estimote is a combination of two words “estimate” and 'mote.' A mote is a tiny speck, particle or dust. It’s inspired by a smart dust theory where tiny computers, as small as dust, can be sprayed over the forest or in the smart city to create location intelligence. A mote can also be a node, single element of that wireless sensor network which could be a beacon or other wireless, battery-operated device organized in a mesh network. And that is exactly what our products are.
The second word 'estimate' is what we typically do with data we collect from these sensors. We can estimate the location of objects or people in the physical space, especially indoor. Gathered data can be also used to estimate traffic, revenue or other important metrics.
Were there any other names in the mix before you decided on Estimote?
Yes we were considering other names. Our products and their form-factor today were inspired by nature and rocky shapes that are very neutral and friendly. It wasn’t like this before. The form factor of our devices was more personified in the past. They looked like a little bird with an eye. Back then we called this project 'cuckoo,' but we quickly learned about cloud cuckoo land and decided to abandon bird shape and search for a better name.
Are you glad you went with Estimote?
We love the name Estimote! It’s unique, fun and easy to remember. People sometimes make typos, but so far our brand and name resonated with our customers very well.
If you have an interesting story you'd like to share, let us know.
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