Naming a Business? This is How We Came Up with CAT Labs

Naming our business is one of the first action items when embarking on the exciting and tumultuous journey of building a startup. It may seem trivial at first, but should certainly not be an afterthought. At CAT Labs, we do everything with intention and purpose. We build real products that solve real problems for real customers to protect the digital asset space and allow the revolutionary distributed ledger technology to flourish and solve many of humanity's problems. Coming up with a business name that reflects our mission is not an exception. Below are some considerations that gave birth to the name CAT Labs!

1. Brand Identity: Consider how the name aligns with our desired brand identity and the emotional appeal it evokes. CAT Labs is building tools to fight crime and protect the Web3 industry from malicious bad actors. CAT, besides being an acronym for our chosen domain in Cryptographic Asset Technology, also carries symbolic significance in its association with the feline spirit. Cats have been seen as a symbol of protection in various cultures throughout history. Cats were seen as natural protectors because of their hunting abilities, keen senses, agility, and their ability to see in the dark. They were also believed to have magical powers and the ability to ward off evil spirits. Because of these beliefs, cats were often depicted as guardians of the underworld in ancient Egyptian art and mythology. They were sometimes even buried with their owners in tombs as a symbol of protection in the afterlife. In addition to ancient Egypt, cats were also regarded as protectors in ancient Greece and Rome, where they were associated with the goddesses Artemis and Diana, respectively. In Japan, the "maneki-neko" or "beckoning cat" is a common symbol of good luck and protection. In the modern world, besides being avid pest hunters, cats are often prescribed by mental health professionals as emotional support animals, helping humans to ward off depression and anxiety (often more effective than Big Pharma solutions). Overall, cats have been seen as protectors in various cultural contexts and continue to play a role in providing both physical and emotional protection to humans today. Just like cats hunt literal pests and reduce overall anxiety levels in their human companions, CAT Labs is hunting the proverbial pests of the crypto industry (hackers, scammers and fraudsters) and reducing anxiety around participating in the revolutionary digital asset space.
2. Relevance: Ensure the name is relevant to our business and target audience. It should convey a sense of what our business does or the products/services it offers. "CAT" is an acronym for Cryptographic Asset Technology. "Labs" implies an emphasis on research and development, which is an integral part of our business strategy, as we develop cutting edge technologies that are largely based on state-of-the-art academic research in cryptography which in some cases hasn't even had the chance to break out into the commercial space.
3. Scalability: Consider the long-term potential of the name. Will it still be relevant and appropriate as our business grows or expands into new markets? Cryptographic Asset Technology is broad enough to allow us the flexibility in building a range of products in the field of cryptography and digital assets utilizing cryptographic encryption. It doesn't box us into a particular product or service, but is specific enough to give us enough focus so we don't venture out into irrelevant fields.
4. Uniqueness and Memorability: Choose a name that stands out and is easy to remember. The name CAT is not necessarily unique on its own, but it is certainly memorable and unique to the tech and cybersecurity industry. Besides, cats are awesome! 😺
5. Simplicity and Clarity: A simple and clear name is easier to remember and communicate. Avoid complex or hard-to-spell words that could lead to confusion. CAT Labs meets this criteria in that it is easy to spell and pronounce in multiple languages.
6. Domain and Trademark Availability: Check the availability of domain names associated with our chosen business name. Having a corresponding domain name that matches our business name helps with online branding and marketing efforts. Conduct a thorough trademark search to ensure that the name we choose is not already trademarked or in use by another business in the same industry. This step helps protect your business from legal issues and potential conflicts.