Changes

{{CompanyInfo|

{{CompanyInfo|

| logo            = Donuts.JPG‎

| logo            = Donuts-logo.png‎

| type            = Privately held

| type            = Privately held

| industry        = Internet

| industry        = Internet

| linkedin        =  

| linkedin        =  

| twitter        =  

| twitter        =  

| keypeople      = [[Paul Stahura]], CEO <br> [[Jonathon Nevett]], EVP <br>[[Daniel Schindler]] Executive Officer <br>[[Richard Tindal]] COO<br>[[Kevin Wilson]], CFO<br>[[Mason Cole]], VP of Communications<br>[[Chris Cowherd]], CTO

| keypeople      = [[Paul Stahura]], CEO <br> [[Jonathon Nevett]], EVP <br>[[Daniel Schindler]], EVP<br>[[Richard Tindal]] COO<br>[[Kevin Wilson]], CFO<br>[[Mason Cole]], VP of Communications<br>[[Chris Cowherd]], CTO

}}

}}

'''Donuts''' is a start-up company that was created to apply and run new gTLDs as made possible by [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|gTLD expansion program]]; it was co-founded by [[Paul Stahura]], [[Jonathon Nevett]], [[Richard Tindal]], and [[Daniel Schindler]]. In April 2011, the company was in stealth mode and raising capital; based on the company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Donuts raised $1 million equity financing.<ref>[http://www.geekwire.com/2011/demand-media-exec-paul-stahura-emerges-stealthy-donuts/ Former Demand Media exec Paul Stahura emerges at stealthy Donuts Inc.], Geekwire.com. Published 30 April 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2012.</ref> Since then it has submitted 307 [[gTLD]] Applications and secured an initial investment of $100 million in financing, and a subsequent round of an undisclosed amount though apparently it "almost doubles" its reserves. The second round of funding was earmarked specifically for [[gTLD Auctions]] to resolve its 158 contention sets.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/12624-donuts-gets-another-100-million-funding Donuts Gets Another 100million Funding, DomainIncite.com] Published & Retrieved April 9 2013</ref> The company's headquarters is located in Bellevue, Washington.

'''Donuts''' is a start-up company that was created to apply and run new gTLDs as made possible by [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|gTLD expansion program]]; it was co-founded by [[Paul Stahura]], [[Jonathon Nevett]], [[Richard Tindal]], and [[Daniel Schindler]]. Donuts manages the world's largest portfolio (242) of new top-level domains, including: [[.email]], [[.guru]], [[.social]], [[.restaurant]], and [[.live]]. The company specializes in the discovery, registration, use, and monetization of domain names.

In September 2012, Donuts was ranked #14 in The Wall Street Journal's Top 50 Start-Ups for 2012. It was also the newest start-ups on the list.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444813104578018940187057924.html#project%3DNBT092012%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive Looking for the 'Next Big Thing'? Ranking the Top 50 Start-Ups], Online.WSJ.com. Published September 2012.</ref>

 

In September 2012, Donuts was ranked #14 in The Wall Street Journal's Top 50 Start-Ups. It was the newest start-up on the list.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444813104578018940187057924.html#project%3DNBT092012%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive Looking for the 'Next Big Thing'? Ranking the Top 50 Start-Ups], Online.WSJ.com. Published September 2012.</ref>

 

In November 2020, Donuts acquired the [[Afilias]] [[registry]] for the prominence of its back-end registry platform, [[DNS]] solutions, and [[cybersecurity]] expertise, in particular. The acquisition granted Donuts access to the authoritative directories and DNS for over 200 top-level domains. The Afilias registry business also included [[TLDs]], such as [[.info]], [[.global]], and [[.mobi]], [[ccTLDs]], and [[Brand TLD|.brands]]. The transition did not include Afilias’ mobile software and [[registrar]] businesses.<ref>[https://donuts.news/donuts-inc-to-acquire-afilias-inc Donuts acquires Afilias]</ref>

==New gTLD Applications==

==New gTLD Applications==

In October 2012, Donuts announced that they would use [[Architelos]]' NameSentry [[SaaS|software-as-a-service]] to detect and mitigate domain name abuse. The patent-pending NameSentry application protects new gTLDs from phishing, malware, spam, botnets and other types of abuse. It is the first independent, third-party resource of its kind for the domain name industry.<ref>[http://www.domainnamenews.com/up-to-the-minute/donuts-to-use-architelos-namesentry/12158 Donuts To Use Architelos NameSentry], DomainNameNews.com. Published 10 October 2012.</ref>

In October 2012, Donuts announced that they would use [[Architelos]]' NameSentry [[SaaS|software-as-a-service]] to detect and mitigate domain name abuse. The patent-pending NameSentry application protects new gTLDs from phishing, malware, spam, botnets and other types of abuse. It is the first independent, third-party resource of its kind for the domain name industry.<ref>[http://www.domainnamenews.com/up-to-the-minute/donuts-to-use-architelos-namesentry/12158 Donuts To Use Architelos NameSentry], DomainNameNews.com. Published 10 October 2012.</ref>

===Auctions===

===Auctions===

During [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, auction expert [[Peter Cramton]] outlined a private [[gTLD Auctions|gTLD auction]] model as a solution for resolving 158 new gTLD contention sets. Donuts co-founder [[Jon Nevett]] says that Donuts will handle as many of its contention sets as possible via this method, as auctions will be cheaper and faster for applicants than ICANN's original method. "The cost of losing an ICANN auction is greater than the cost of losing a private auction," Nevett said. "If you lose an ICANN auction you get nothing, zero, you lose your asset... [but with private auctions] it doesn't hurt as much to lose, so the theory is the second-place guys won't stretch as much."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref>

During [[ICANN 45]] in Toronto, auction expert [[Peter Cramton]] outlined a private [[gTLD Auctions|gTLD auction]] model as a solution for resolving 158 new gTLD contention sets. Donuts co-founder [[Jon Nevett]] says that Donuts will handle as many of its contention sets as possible via this method, as auctions will be cheaper and faster for applicants than ICANN's original method. "The cost of losing an ICANN auction is greater than the cost of losing a private auction," Nevett said. "If you lose an ICANN auction you get nothing, zero, you lose your asset... [but with private auctions] it doesn't hurt as much to lose, so the theory is the second-place guys won't stretch as much."<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10828-heres-how-donuts-wants-to-resolve-its-158-new-gtld-contention-fights Here's how Donuts wants to resolve its 158 new gTLD contention fights]. Domain Incite. Published 2012 October 23. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref>

===GAC Early Warnings===

===GAC Early Warnings===

Their PICs provide for: open registration policies; geographic names protections; frequent [[Whois]] database audits; establishment of a [[Domains Protected Marks List]] (DPML); establishment of a claims notification service for additional trademark protection; binding registrants to terms of use that define abusive behavior; reservation of the right to exclude non-compliant registrars from distribution; reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise take control of names that are suspected or proven of being involved in abusive activities; and maintaining a clear, singular point of contact for all abuse related correspondence.<ref>[[https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1731 PIC Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 12 Mar 2013</ref>

Their PICs provide for: open registration policies; geographic names protections; frequent [[Whois]] database audits; establishment of a [[Domains Protected Marks List]] (DPML); establishment of a claims notification service for additional trademark protection; binding registrants to terms of use that define abusive behavior; reservation of the right to exclude non-compliant registrars from distribution; reserve the right to suspend, cancel, or otherwise take control of names that are suspected or proven of being involved in abusive activities; and maintaining a clear, singular point of contact for all abuse related correspondence.<ref>[[https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1731 PIC Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 12 Mar 2013</ref>

==DPML==

==DPML==

* [[Amy Repp]], Director Sales & Marketing Europe, Affinity Partnerships (London)

* [[Amy Repp]], Director Sales & Marketing Europe, Affinity Partnerships (London)

* [[Jenny White]], Director Sales & Marketing Europe, Registrar Channel (London)

* [[Jenny White]], Director Sales & Marketing Europe, Registrar Channel (London)

'''Board of Directors'''

'''Board of Directors'''

* Paul Stahura, Donuts Inc.

* [[Paul Stahura]], Donuts Inc.

* Chris Pacitti, Austin Ventures

* [[Chris Pacitti]], Austin Ventures

* Robert Verratti, TL Ventures

* [[Robert Verratti]], TL Ventures

* Brian Jacobs, Emergence Capital Partners

* [[Brian Jacobs]], Emergence Capital Partners

* Thomas Ball, Austin Ventures

* [[Thomas Ball]], Austin Ventures

* Jonathon Nevett, Donuts Inc.

* [[Jonathon Nevett]], Donuts Inc.

==Investors==

==Investors==

The company's investors include:<ref name="funding"></ref>

The company's investors include:<ref name="funding"></ref>

* Austin Ventures

* [[Austin Ventures]]

* Adams Street Partners

* [[Adams Street Partners]]

* Emergence Capital Partners

* [[Emergence Capital Partners]]

* TL Ventures

* [[TL Ventures]]

* Generation Partners

* [[Generation Partners]]

* Stahurricane (Paul Stahura's investment fund)

* [[Stahurricane]] ([[Paul Stahura]]'s investment fund)

==Videos==

==Videos==

[[Mason Cole]], Donuts' VP of Communications and Industry Relations, was interviewed at [[ICANN 44]] in Prague:

[[Mason Cole]], Donuts' VP of Communications and Industry Relations, was interviewed at [[ICANN 44]] in Prague:

:<videoflash>ad8PwcqMn1A</videoflash>

:{{#ev:youtube|ad8PwcqMn1A}}

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}</div>

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Companies]]