Every startup hits this wall. The name is approved. The investors love it. The brand is designed. Someone checks the domain — and it's taken.
The instinct is to reach out directly and ask how much the owner wants. This is almost always a mistake. The moment you make contact as a funded startup, you have told the seller the most important thing they needed to know: you are motivated, you are funded, and you need this specific domain. From that point, you are no longer negotiating on market value. You are negotiating against your own urgency.
Why Timing Matters for Startup Domain Acquisition
There are three windows for startup domain acquisition, each with different cost implications:
- Pre-announcement (best): Before your company name or raise is public. The seller has no information to price against. This window closes the moment any press coverage, LinkedIn announcement, or Product Hunt listing exists.
- Post-announcement (manageable): Your name is public but you haven't directly approached the domain owner. Professional acquisition protects your identity, preventing the seller from connecting your public profile to the enquiry.
- After direct contact (hardest): You've already reached out yourself. The seller knows who's asking. We can still help — but we're working to reset leverage that was already given away.
Extensions We Specialise In for Startups
Our Process for Startup Clients
- 1
Free feasibility read — 24 hours
Tell us the domain and your budget. We check ownership, assess the seller type (investor, operator, opportunist), run comparable sales, and come back with an honest answer on whether your budget is viable.
- 2
Identity assessment
We assess your identity exposure. Is your company publicly searchable? Has the domain owner already seen press about your raise? We advise on the approach strategy before any contact is made.
- 3
Engage — $250 USD
Sign the engagement letter. Pay the $250 USD engagement fee. We begin within 24 hours.
- 4
Discreet approach
We contact the owner as an unidentified buyer. No company name. No brand. No urgency signals. Data-anchored positioning.
- 5
Negotiation and close
Every offer confirmed with you before it's made. Escrow on agreement. Transfer confirmed before funds release.
Need a .ai, .io, or .com domain acquired properly?
Free feasibility read — no obligation. Tell us the domain and budget, we'll tell you what's achievable.