Company Name
Tips on how to approach choosing a company name.
Whenever possible, use the same name as the underlying open source project.
From our experience, the lack of awareness of a new company name is often why the business fails to gain traction quickly in the market. A large number of resources are required to build a new brand, which is a marketing investment that detracts from product development in the early days. We recognize that naming the company after the open source project name may face trademark application hurdles.
If the company can obtain trademark registration rights (to the open source project name), the company will extend a forever, royalty-free license to the project so the name lives on regardless of the outcome of the commercial company.
The second-best option is to use a name associated with the open source project. For example, Mermaid Chart Inc. for the Mermaid open source project.
If neither the exact name nor an associated name is an option (for instance, a foundation has the intellectual property rights to the open source project name), founders will choose a company name from OCV’s name reserve.
Company name search criteria
We run the following searches for a new OCV company name:
Domain availability: “.com” domains are preferred
Google: are there other companies using a similar name in the same or adjacent industry already? Try different sound-a-like spellings too.
USPTO: are there existing trade name applications in the same class (typically, Class 42 - “Non-Downloadable Computer Software”) that could block a new registration? Try a few spelling variations too. Also check WIPO Global Brand Database.
Delaware entity: ensure no conflicts with existing entity names.
Trademark knock-out search by the Legal Team (generally takes ~2 business days).
For companies that require a name from OCV’s reserve, domain name registration will be transferred to the company’s account after incorporation.
OCV-generated company names will not contain specific domain language/keywords (for example, “Apple” or “Amazon”). Otherwise, it would be more difficult to differentiate from competitors and/or pivot the business in the future. These will also be unique, reasonably short, eligible for trade name registration / a “.com” domain name, and spelled as how you’d pronounce it (avoid misspellings).
Domains
Companies that can use the open source project name or a similar derivative should make the commercial website the go-to destination for both project and product information. See the website handbook for information on handling the open source project and commercial company websites.
Domain purchase budget
B2B Companies: max of USD $5,000
B2C Companies: max of USD $10,000
Changing the company name
If a name change is deemed critical for GTM reasons, a DBA (”doing business as”) may be considered first. A DBA will trigger additional compliance and tax complications, which should be weighed in as part of the decision process.
Filing a DBA
A DBA need to be filed where a company’s offices are located and where the company intends to do business. As a company expands where it is doing business, additional DBA registrations will need to take place in those locations as well, increasing the complexity of the process.
OCV companies seeking to do business under a new name through a DBA (not a legal entity name change) will need to file Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statements in San Francisco and in Santa Clara counties (as of January 2026, all pre-Seed OCV companies have a physical address located in Santa Clara county).
Note: The term “Fictitious Business Name” refers to the new business name (DBA name), not the existing (official) business name. Keep this in mind when filling out forms to avoid any delays in filing.
Legal Team will require physical, wet-signed copies of those statements, as well as a copy of the company’s updated tax registration certificate in San Francisco, which will be mailed to the company after updating the company’s name on the San Francisco business website.
Additionally, Santa Clara County requires the publication of the new business name in a local newspaper. The Legal Team will help facilitate this process (typically takes 6-7 weeks).
Proof of a completed DBA filing will include:
Stamped copies of the San Francisco and Santa Clara Fictitious Business Name Statements
An updated San Francisco tax registration certificate that includes the company’s DBA name
Proof of publication in Santa Clara.
Given the requirements for obtaining physical copies and sequential steps, the timeline for completing a DBA may take one to three months.
Legal entity name change
In certain situations, for example, another organization holds trademark rights to your company's name, you may be required to change the corporate entity name legally. OCV (when serving as the board of directors) will only approve legal name change requests when deemed necessary.
Below are steps required for a company name change process.
Checklist for legal name change
Check availability of name in appropriate jurisdictions (DE and CA)
Legal Team
(to reserve or hold the new name)
Conduct trademark searches (and make appropriate reservations / filings) and domain name searches
Company
(Legal Team can assist upon request)
Draft Amendment to Charter with Name Change
Legal Team
Draft Board consent / obtain Board signature
Legal Team
Draft Stockholder consent / obtain Stockholder signature
Legal Team
Obtain signature and / file Amendment to Charter
Legal Team
Update qualifications as a foreign corporation (CA)
File qualifications as a foreign corporation (other states required to be qualified)
Legal Team
Notify IRS of the name change for Federal Employer Identification purposes via Official Letter OR Tax Return method (see separate section below)
Tax Team or Company
File Form DE-24 with the CA Employment Development Department informing the EDD of the name change, if applicable.
Company
Make appropriate patent and trademark filings, applications, PTO updates as necessary (including foreign)
Company
(Legal Team can assist upon request)
Contact any governmental agencies (federal, state or local) with which the Company has licenses / faces regulation to determine what actions need to be implemented
Company
(Finance Team can support)
Contact any regulatory bodies with which the Company has relationships (e.g. FDA, ITC, OSHA, US Customs, etc.) to determine what actions need to be implemented
Company
(Finance Team can support)
Obtain new business cards and letterhead
Company
Notify banks, key subscribers, landlords and any other relevant third parties informing them of the name change as required by such relationships
Company
(Finance Team can support)
Notify customers, partners, vendors, post office, etc.
Company
Revise form contracts, documents and marketing materials, including: stock option paperwork (including plan and forms), form offer letter and ECIIAA, form consulting and advisor agreements, form(s) of NDA, all other form documents
Company
(Legal Team can assist upon request)
Contact utility and phone directory providers
Company
Inform employees that, effective upon filing the Certificate of Amendment with the DE Secretary of State, all business should be conducted in the new name
Company
IRS Notification of name change
Standard method
Send physical letter to the IRS via Certified Mail notifying the IRS of Name Change. IRS may take about month to respond with confirmation.
Letter Template
[Date] Via Certified Mail Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0012 Re: Employer I.D. Number: [Company EIN] ["New company name", Inc.] (formerly: ["former company name", Inc.] )
Dear Sir or Madam: This letter is to inform you that the name of the above-referenced taxpayer has been changed to ["New company name", Inc.] as evidenced by the enclosed filed-stamped copy of the Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on [Date of Amendment Filing]. Please update your records accordingly.
Please contact me at [founder email] if you have any questions. Thank you very much. Sincerely, [Founder Name]
Also print and include in the envelope a copy of the stamped Delaware Certificate of Amendment (provided by Legal Team).
Tax Return method
If you are currently preparing for an upcoming tax return, then the Tax Team can usually help submit the name change on the tax return itself. Double check with the Tax Team for eligibility and provide the team with the Certificate of Amendment to file along with the tax returns.
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