Hey everyone! As some of you may have heard, after much discussion around this feedback, MMM and GPC aligned on two final names: Grants Stack (for the set of dApps that act as the interface(s) for our protocols) and Allo Protocol (for Grants Protocol.)
We feel these names are mission aligned, positioning aligned, audience aligned, and values aligned. Additionally, both are easy to pronounce, to read/write, and in the case of Allo, is ownable if we choose to trademark it in the future (since Google has abandoned theirs.)
Next up, I want to share some additional background on the selection of Allo Protocol** specifically. Beyond aligning with our original naming criteria, this name adequately addresses many of the points made here around function and brand.
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Function Forward/Descriptive: It is a direct shorthand for allocate or allocation; thus it directly communicates the primary function, the distribution (resources or duties) for a particular purpose (this is the definition of allocation, and the definition of allocate is TO distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose); we will be dialing up the use of the word allocation in other marketing materials including the marketing brief to ensure this correlation is crystal clear
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Mission/Vision/Worldbuilding: Allo and the concept of allocate/allocation ties into our overall mission of empowering the funding/building of shared needs; additionally, it connects to our overarching vision for a better world; if we think about it in the context of existing names, it also complements Passport well (passport being your passport to this world, and allocation being the way you get the funds you need to build what you need to get there) - so in this sense it still maps to the Quadratic Lands meme while simultaneously not undermining the biomemetic magic concept we’re exploring as the evolved brand direction (more info will be shared this week on the brand evolution work)
We felt it was important to give this protocol a name separate from Gitcoin, since the Gitcoin brand is already so much bigger in mission, vision and product landscape vs. that of this particular protocol.
That said, we do intend to leverage the credibility and equity of the Gitcoin name across all of our protocols - some of this will be accomplished through certain shared aspects of our overarching Gitcoin brand identity, but will also be done with intentional copy (e.g., saying Gitcoin Allo Protocol when introducing it for the first time, or eventually saying Allo Protocol by Gitcoin - again, more to come here as we finesse these details)
Next up we are working on a glossary of terms that will further clarify naming and copy conventions. We will also be sharing updated product information for the Grants Stack and Allo Protocol.
You might be wondering - what happened to Project Protocol? For now, as the protocol is in its infancy, it will continue to live almost as part of Allo Protocol until it is ready to be spun out (I welcome @nategosselin, @michelle_ma, @kyle, @kevin.olsen to elaborate here!)
Moving forward, we hope to leave even more time for discussion and consideration around things like names and greatly appreciate your continued input!