How to Get a Domain Name Without Money

When Cash Is Tight, Get Creative

Most founders think a great domain is out of reach unless they've raised a monster Seed round or Series A. But, that’s not always true. Some of the most iconic startups in tech got their domain names before they had real cash—by getting creative.

In some cases, smart founders didn’t pay a dime for their domain names—they traded vision for vowels—offering equity in their early companies instead of cash. For the domain owners who believed in the pitch, it wasn’t charity…it was a moonshot. And, for some, it paid off in droves.

Sometimes, the best deals happen when money isn’t on the table.

Why Equity Deals Work

If you’re building a legit startup with long-term upside, domain owners might be willing to bet on you. Equity deals let them:

• Ride the upside – if you win, they win
• Avoid capital gains today – some prefer long-term upside over short-term tax hits
• Stay involved – in some cases, they get advisory shares and help the brand grow

It’s not just about getting a name—it’s about inviting the right people to join the mission.

But let’s be clear: these deals are harder than cash. They require trust, transparency, and a lot more paperwork. Domain owners might want access to your data room, ask who else is on the cap table, or want clarity on your go-to-market plan. If they’re savvy, they’ll treat the deal like any other early-stage investment—and you should too.

Still, if you can make it happen, it can be a win on both sides. Just know: equity is never “free.”

The Equity-Only Playbook: Real Examples

These aren’t hypotheticals. Here’s how some very real, very early startups landed elite domains before they had funding.

🚗 Uber.com

When Uber was still UberCab, co-founder Garrett Camp knew the name had to change. "UberCab" sounded too much like a taxi service, and they wanted something punchier. The domain Uber.com was originally owned by Universal Music Group, who had used it for a now-defunct music service. In 2010, Uber acquired the domain from Universal Music in exchange for equity—reportedly valued at just over $100,000. When Uber IPO’d in 2019 at a valuation over $80 billion, that small stake had become a serious win worth hundreds of millions (and even billions at their current valuation as of May 2025).

It was a classic case of the right name, at the right time, for the right piece of the pie.

💰 Mint.com

Mint started as a personal finance tool for young professionals, but the founders knew their brand mattered. Aaron Patzer, Mint’s founder, originally launched under a different name but quickly realized he needed something simpler.

Enter Noah Kagan, one of the early team members at Mint. Noah helped lead the charge to acquire Mint.com, a clean, one-word domain that matched the product’s mission. The domain was owned, and over three months of negotiation, the team offered the owner 3% of the company in exchange.

That 3% stake became worth around $8.1 million when Mint was acquired by Intuit for $170 million in 2009.

For the domain owner, it was a quiet bet that became a massive win. And for the Mint team, it was an early lesson in the power of a great name—and a great pitch.

📅 Teem.com

Teem (formerly known as EventBoard) was building smart office software and wanted a brand that was short, memorable, and modern. They found Teem.com, owned by domain investor Rick Schwartz.

Schwartz doesn’t sell cheap—but he saw something in the team. He agreed to a deal that included $36,000 in cash plus a meaningful equity component. When Teem was acquired by WeWork in 2018, Schwartz revealed that the total value of the deal had grown to around $1.15 million.

It wasn’t just a bet on a brand—it was a bet on a team. And it paid off.

How to Structure the Deal

If you're trying to make one of these deals happen, here’s what works:

• Be upfront – share your traction, funding (or lack of), and roadmap
• Pitch the upside – explain how a domain holder’s equity could become more valuable than a cash sale
• Use a clean structure – advisory shares, SAFE notes, or standard equity grants
• Keep the legal light – don't overcomplicate it, but get it in writing.

The best founders don’t just ask for the name—they offer a compelling reason to join the journey.

Legal and Ethical Reminders

You’re playing the long game here, so operate with integrity:

• Don’t overpromise valuation – if you're pre-revenue, don’t act like you’re Stripe
• Avoid handshake deals – get it papered with a real agreement
• Use a lawyer – even just to review a simple SAFE

You can build trust by being honest, responsive, and realistic. Reputation matters—especially in small communities like domain investing.

Takeaway

Premium domains aren’t just for the well-funded. They’re for the bold, the scrappy, and the founders who know how to sell a vision. If you don’t have money, that’s okay. But, you’ve also got equity, so use it well.