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22+ of the approved domains from the list of 30 are all signed to a a single startup[0] called Donuts[1]. ( http://www.donuts.co/ http://www.donuts.co/ ) Appar

22+ of the approved domains from the list of 30 are all signed to a a single startup[0] called Donuts[1]. ( http://www.donuts.co/ http://www.donuts.co/ ) Apparently they raised $100M[2] back in 2012. They have since agreed to distribute these domains through 19 registrars[3] (eNom, Name.com etc)... Looking at their ICANN PIC submission[4] they have registered no fewer than 200-250 LLCs [0] : https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/694 https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applications... [1] : http://icannwiki.com/index.php/Donuts http://icannwiki.com/index.php/Donuts [2] : http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/ http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-fu... [3] : http://www.donuts.co/news/donuts-adds-another-seven-generic-top-level-domains-to-the-internet-signs-19-additional-registrars/ http://www.donuts.co/news/donuts-adds-another-seven-generic-... [4] : https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails:downloadpicposting/694?t:ac=694 https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applications...

ukandy 13y ago
".WINE is perfect for a winery!" What are these guys drinking? I'll give it a miss.
pkfrank 13y ago
http://www.donuts.co/about/team/ http://www.donuts.co/about/team/ Do a ctrl+f for "ICANN" and you'll see how well-networked the Donuts.co team is. Can't be sure if this is true cronyism, or whether they just really know how to play the game. Not sure it's terribly different either way. --Edit-- per chrisacky's link above (http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/ http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-fu...), it looks like Donuts.co submitted 307 applications at $185k/per, for a total of $56.8 million. That's a hell of a way to earn favors with ICANN while ostensibly just trying to get more picks.

ukandy 13y ago

".WINE is perfect for a winery!" What are these guys drinking? I'll give it a miss.

pkfrank 13y ago

http://www.donuts.co/about/team/ http://www.donuts.co/about/team/ Do a ctrl+f for "ICANN" and you'll see how well-networked the Donuts.co team is. Can't be sure if this is true cronyism, or whether they just really know how to play the game. Not sure it's terribly different either way. --Edit-- per chrisacky's link above (http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-funding/ http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/05/technology/donuts-domains-fu...), it looks like Donuts.co submitted 307 applications at $185k/per, for a total of $56.8 million. That's a hell of a way to earn favors with ICANN while ostensibly just trying to get more picks.