Namecoach’s current equity crowdfunding campaign offers preferred shares at a pre-money valuation of approximately $36.98 million, translating to about $1.11 per share. This price reflects investor confidence in the company’s traction and future potential.

Because this is a priced equity round, investors receive actual shares—preferred equity, not common stock or deferred ownership. This structure ensures that all investors, regardless of whether they came in through the crowdfunding campaign or via institutional channels, are treated equally in the capital stack, assuming the offering documents confirm a pari passu structure. That would mean that crowdfunding investors enjoy the same economic rights, such as liquidation preferences and participation rights, as larger Series A participants. Unlike debt or convertible securities, there’s no ambiguity here: investors have a tangible stake in the business from day one, with defined rights and obligations.

The equity structure also clarifies dilution impacts. If the round is fully subscribed and the total capital raise reaches $7.7 million, the new investors would collectively own around 17% of the company on a post-money basis. For investors, the advantage of such a setup is that their ownership is locked in based on the agreed valuation and won’t be subject to retroactive conversion terms. This contrasts with SAFEs, which might convert at a less favorable valuation later, depending on how the company performs and when it next prices equity.

Preferred equity carries additional potential benefits. Most notably, it often includes a 1x liquidation preference. This means in the event of a company sale at a value below the amount raised, preferred shareholders are first in line to recover their investment before any proceeds are distributed to common stockholders. This can reduce downside risk somewhat. However, preferred equity also means that investors are tied to the current valuation. If the company’s next round of funding occurs at a significantly higher valuation, current investors do not benefit from a valuation cap or further discounts—they simply retain the shares they purchased, which will have appreciated if the company performs well, but without any additional bonus mechanics.

Ultimately, the success of this investment hinges on whether the $37 million pre-money valuation proves justified. With recent annual recurring revenue surpassing $4 million and revenue growth of 35% year-over-year, the company’s revenue multiple is approximately 9x ARR. While high, such multiples are not uncommon for fast-growing, high-margin SaaS businesses. The valuation signals that investors are betting on continued momentum and substantial future scale, but it also sets a high bar for execution in order to deliver meaningful returns.

Namecoach operates within the U.S. AI voice generators market, which has an estimated size of roughly $1.76 billion. The market is experiencing a robust growth rate of 29.6%, driven by increasing demand for personalized and inclusive communication tools. As more organizations aim to foster diverse and inclusive environments, the need for solutions that address language and pronunciation barriers is growing.

Key market drivers include the rise in global communication and the integration of AI technologies into everyday business operations. These trends are encouraging organizations to adopt tools that improve clarity and reduce miscommunication. Namecoach's platform, which ensures accurate name pronunciations, aligns well with these drivers by enhancing user experience and promoting inclusivity.

The product primarily targets businesses and educational institutions seeking to improve communication and engagement within their diverse environments. While Namecoach's solution appeals to a broad segment of the market, its specialized focus on name pronunciation positions it as a niche player within the larger AI voice generator space.

The market's growth presents significant opportunities for Namecoach to expand its customer base. However, the company must effectively differentiate its offering to capture a larger market share amid moderate competition. By addressing the specific needs of organizations focused on inclusivity and communication, Namecoach can leverage market trends to drive its growth.

The leadership team at Namecoach is characterized by a compelling mix of mission-driven motivation, academic depth, and practical experience in technology, data science, and go-to-market execution. At the helm is Praveen Shanbhag, who developed the initial prototype for Namecoach while completing his Ph.D. at Stanford, showing both initiative and a long-term vision. Before launching the company, he worked as a science and tech policy analyst at the White House and served as a lecturer at Stanford—roles that reflect his strength in both systems thinking and communication. Although Namecoach is his first startup, Shanbhag has shown the ability to attract institutional investors and build partnerships with marquee clients, suggesting that his passion for inclusive technology resonates with stakeholders.

Fabricio Bellesa, Head of Engineering, brings deep technical leadership experience, most notably helping scale PicPay into Brazil’s largest digital wallet. He joined PicPay as its 30th engineer and helped grow the team to over 1,000, delivering 30+ products and overseeing a $6M rewards budget. His expertise in microservices, event-driven architecture, and cross-functional team leadership is foundational to Namecoach’s enterprise-grade infrastructure and product evolution.

Zac Whitney, Principal Product Manager & Data Specialist, adds strong product and AI expertise from his work on Amazon Alexa and AWS. At Namecoach, he has led the development of data and automation systems that improved throughput 15x and eliminated thousands of hours in manual work. His background in linguistics and AI implementation reinforces the company’s technical defensibility and innovation pipeline.

Also contributing to Namecoach’s AI capabilities is Álvaro Luiz Lago de Menezes, Principal AI Engineer and experienced backend/DevOps specialist with a Master’s degree focused on Artificial Intelligence. With over a decade of experience in cloud-native architecture and scalable systems, Álvaro has led infrastructure efforts across startups and the public sector. He’s a winner of the Inoves Prize for public service innovation and an AWS Jam champion. At Namecoach, he applies his academic research to real-world speech and AI challenges, bridging AI theory with engineering execution to strengthen the company’s infrastructure and innovation roadmap.

Further enhancing the company’s AI and product strategy is John Merrells, a veteran startup CTO/CPO, voice AI expert, and long-time mentor at Stanford’s StartX accelerator. As former CPO/CTO at Kea, an AI voice agent for quick-service restaurants, and co-founder of Holonic, which builds high-performing engineering teams, Merrells brings a rare combination of technical leadership and organizational design. Across his career, he has helped drive 16 successful exits totaling $8.3 billion, providing Namecoach with invaluable guidance on AI architecture, product vision, and long-term defensibility.

On the business side, Flavio Cruz, Head of Finance and Operations, is a seasoned corporate strategist with a background at global firms including Coca-Cola, Ericsson, and BAT. With an MBA from the University of Cambridge, he has led global R&D programs, improved operational efficiency, and managed complex audits and mergers. His leadership ensures strong financial discipline and operational alignment as the company scales.

Rounding out the leadership team is Jon Lacivita, who heads Growth and Customer Success. Lacivita has successfully built the company’s presence across both educational and corporate sectors. He previously served as Vice President of Business Development at an edtech company focused on online proctoring, and also held sales leadership roles at American Express. His dual experience in enterprise and education markets is critical for a company like Namecoach, which operates across both verticals. At Namecoach, he is likely responsible for developing client relationships, onboarding new customers, and ensuring long-term retention—areas that are vital to sustaining the recurring revenue model and expanding the user base.

Namecoach has established itself as the leader in name pronunciation technology by creating a multifaceted solution that combines the precision of artificial intelligence with the authenticity of human input. This hybrid approach sets the company apart in a market where many tools rely solely on user-generated content or basic text-to-speech algorithms. Namecoach allows individuals to record the correct pronunciation of their own names, ensuring perfect accuracy, while also deploying AI models to generate pronunciations when recordings are unavailable. This dual system not only broadens the platform’s coverage but significantly increases user trust, especially in professional and academic settings where accurate pronunciation holds social and cultural significance.

A key differentiator is the context-aware nature of Namecoach’s AI. Unlike generic voice tools, Namecoach’s algorithms take into account factors such as the cultural and linguistic background of a name, allowing it to distinguish between regional pronunciation variants. For instance, the name “Andrea” might be pronounced differently in the U.S., Italy, or Latin America, and Namecoach’s AI makes educated decisions based on context cues. This level of nuance results from years of data collection and iterative training, giving Namecoach a defensible edge in pronunciation accuracy.

Integration is another area where Namecoach distinguishes itself. The platform is embedded directly into the software environments where names are most often encountered—email platforms like Outlook and Gmail, CRM systems like Salesforce, video conferencing tools, and learning management systems. Rather than asking users to visit a separate app or website, Namecoach delivers pronunciation guides exactly where they’re needed, often with a single click. This seamless experience boosts adoption and utility, positioning the platform as a functional tool rather than a novelty. Its Chrome browser extension extends this same principle to general web use, underscoring the company’s goal to be present anywhere names appear.

Over time, Namecoach has also built a substantial pronunciation database, including both AI-derived and user-recorded data. This corpus not only improves the platform’s overall accuracy but creates a network effect: the more users who contribute recordings or correct mispronunciations, the better the system becomes. The company continuously refines its AI using expert linguistic input and user feedback, which competitors without such infrastructure may find difficult to match.

Beyond the core product, Namecoach caters to enterprise clients with features like a robust API, onboarding support for large teams, compliance with data privacy requirements, and white-glove customer service. This enterprise-readiness makes the platform suitable for large-scale deployment, whether across a university system or a Fortune 500 organization. Smaller competitors often lack the infrastructure or client services to support this level of scale, making Namecoach a more viable long-term partner for major institutions.

While other companies may offer simple pronunciation features, few combine AI, user-generated accuracy, native integrations, and large-scale enterprise services. Even large platforms that have implemented pronunciation tools (like LinkedIn) rely mostly on user-recorded audio and are siloed to that one platform. Namecoach, by contrast, offers cross-platform functionality and doesn’t depend entirely on user participation. This versatility enables the company to build not only a tool but a brand associated with respectful communication—something that is becoming increasingly valuable in today’s global, multicultural workplaces and learning environments.

Namecoach has generated growing revenues in the last few years, though it remains an early-stage company in terms of scale. For the fiscal year 2024, Namecoach reported roughly $3.1 million in revenue, which was a 7% increase from about $2,908,183 million in 2023. While this growth rate is significantly lower than years prior, it reflects a deliberate strategic and operational shift to reduce cash burn and lay the groundwork for profitability in 2025. By early 2025, management indicates an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) exceeding $4 million, suggesting that throughout 2024 the company continued to acquire customers (ARR is a forward-looking metric, so it likely counts the full annual contract value of subscriptions signed by Q1 2025). This ARR figure aligns with having over 300 paying clients; many deals (especially in education) might be in the five-figure range annually, with some larger enterprise deals in the six-figure range.

It’s worth noting that Namecoach’s revenue model is largely SaaS subscription or licensing. Clients usually pay per year for a certain number of users or integrations. Because of this model, recurring revenue is high, and retention of clients will be crucial. The company hasn’t publicly disclosed its retention or churn rates, but high gross margins and ARR focus suggest a classic SaaS approach.

One standout metric is the gross profit margin of ~90%. Gross margin being so high is typical for software companies: once the platform is built, the cost to serve each additional user (hosting, bandwidth, etc.) is low. For Namecoach, such a margin means the core service is very scalable – if they can multiply their revenues without proportionally increasing cost of goods, most of that incremental revenue will go toward covering fixed costs and eventually producing profit. High gross margin also provides flexibility on pricing: Namecoach could offer discounts or trial periods without severely hurting contribution margin.

We also see that as of early 2025, the company dramatically reduced its burn rate. The filing shows a monthly burn of only about $17,481 as of March 2025. This is surprisingly low given the prior annual losses – it suggests that the company’s focus on profitability is working despite the reduced revenue growth in 2024. The team projects they could become profitable by Fall 2025 if they secure about $2M in total new capital (including this raise) – implying that with the infusion of funds to support growth, they can scale to a point where revenue meets or exceeds expenses. Achieving profitability on roughly $5-6M in annual revenue (which is where they might be by late 2025 if things go well) would be a notable milestone.

While Namecoach presents a compelling product and mission, it also faces a variety of risks and challenges that investors must consider carefully. One of the fundamental concerns is whether the solution can transition from being seen as a thoughtful enhancement to an essential business tool. For some potential customers, name pronunciation may still be perceived as a “nice-to-have” rather than a critical component of workplace or educational software. In cost-conscious environments, particularly during economic slowdowns or budget cuts, tools that are not seen as mission-critical may be deprioritized or eliminated altogether.

The competitive landscape presents another significant risk. Although Namecoach holds a first-mover advantage in AI-powered name pronunciation, barriers to entry in software development are relatively low, and the concept could be replicated by a well-funded startup or, more concerningly, by a tech giant. Companies like Microsoft, Google, or Salesforce could integrate similar pronunciation features directly into their own ecosystems at minimal marginal cost, potentially reducing the incentive for clients to pay for an external solution. As LLM models get better, there is a chance that Namecoach’s competitive edge is lost depending on how good ChatGPT (or similar model) gets at name pronunciation.

Operational scalability also poses a challenge. With a small team, Namecoach must juggle continued product development, customer service, sales growth, and infrastructure scaling. A lean structure can be efficient, but it can also lead to bottlenecks, delays, or quality issues if the company cannot expand its resources quickly enough to meet rising demand. Customer expectations in enterprise and education environments tend to be high—particularly when it comes to reliability and support—and any missteps in onboarding, uptime, or responsiveness could hinder renewals and damage the brand.

Financial risk is also notable. Namecoach is not yet profitable and has historically relied on external capital to fund operations. Although its burn rate has recently decreased, the path to breakeven is dependent on continued revenue growth and disciplined spending. Should revenue growth stall or new funding become harder to access, the company could be forced to raise another round at a lower valuation, leading to dilution for current investors. Broader macroeconomic factors, such as a downturn in the venture capital or SaaS markets, could further complicate fundraising and growth plans.

Finally, technical and reputational risks loom. Even advanced AI systems can occasionally produce incorrect results, and a mispronunciation—especially in a sensitive or formal context—could damage user trust. There is also the potential for backlash if users feel the AI makes assumptions based on perceived ethnicity, gender, or nationality. Moreover, handling personally identifiable information, including names and voice recordings, introduces data privacy concerns. A breach or misuse of this data could have legal consequences and significantly erode public confidence.

Namecoach is a venture-backed SaaS company with a singular mission: to ensure that every individual’s name is pronounced correctly. By addressing a challenge that is both personal and universal, the company aims to improve interpersonal communication, foster inclusivity, and reduce the alienation that often arises from name mispronunciation. Founded in 2014 and based in Palo Alto, Namecoach delivers a hybrid AI and human-verified platform that enables the seamless integration of accurate name pronunciations into the digital environments where people work and learn—email systems, conferencing tools, CRMs, and educational platforms. This solution is more than a convenience; it’s a cultural and emotional bridge in an increasingly globalized world.

Currently, the company is raising capital through a public equity crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder, offering preferred shares at a pre-money valuation of approximately $37 million. The round, structured under Regulation Crowdfunding, is targeting up to $1.24 million from retail investors, with a minimum raise threshold of $50,000. This campaign is part of a broader funding effort that includes venture and accredited investors, with total commitments reported at roughly $7.7 million. All crowdfunding participants will receive preferred equity—matching the terms of institutional investors—which provides not only voting and information rights but also liquidation preference protection. Early backers received a small discount on the valuation, but all investors are being welcomed into the same class of preferred shares.

The funding will support Namecoach’s continued growth across key areas: product development, AI enhancement, engineering hires, digital marketing, and expanded customer success efforts. These initiatives are aligned with the company’s broader strategic goals of increasing market share, deepening product adoption, and moving toward profitability. The management team projects that with sufficient capital, Namecoach could reach breakeven by late 2025—a milestone that would significantly enhance its financial independence and long-term sustainability.

The company has already demonstrated clear traction. Its client base includes over 300 organizations, from major universities to corporate powerhouses like Netjets, Accenture, and Stanford. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) now exceeds $4 million, and its platform has been used by more than four million individuals. This blend of institutional adoption and user reach not only validates product-market fit but also creates a strong base for future upselling and organic growth. With gross margins hovering around 90% and a recurring revenue model, Namecoach has the structural ingredients of a scalable, capital-efficient business.

At its core, Namecoach combines mission, technology, and market momentum. The current funding round presents an opportunity to invest in a socially impactful, venture-backed startup that has demonstrated product validation and is approaching a pivotal growth inflection. For investors who believe that identity and inclusion will remain at the forefront of the digital age, Namecoach offers a meaningful and potentially rewarding entry point into a company striving to become a global standard in how we say each other’s names.

Kingscrowd Capital, after an in‑depth analysis of Namecoach, has decided to invest $10,000 into the company’s current Wefunder round. There are multiple reasons we are excited to back Namecoach.

At its core, Namecoach addresses a surprisingly pervasive yet often overlooked problem: the social and professional costs of name mispronunciation. In an increasingly globalized and diverse world, a person’s name is a deeply personal part of their identity—and mispronouncing it, even unintentionally, can lead to embarrassment, disconnection, or even the loss of a business opportunity. For Business Development Representatives making dozens of outreach calls each day, this seemingly minor friction can have major consequences, both emotionally and economically. Likewise, in education, moments that should be celebratory—like graduation ceremonies—are marred when names are read incorrectly. These are not just anecdotal issues; they represent systemic gaps in how institutions approach inclusion, personalization, and respect.

Namecoach provides a uniquely thoughtful and scalable solution. Its hybrid model—combining human-recorded name pronunciations with sophisticated, context-aware AI—delivers superior accuracy compared to generic text-to-speech or one-size-fits-all tools. What impressed us most is the platform’s ability to meet users where they already are, through seamless integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Canvas, and Salesforce. This strategic embedding into daily workflows not only drives adoption but also reinforces inclusive behavior at scale. In a world where personalization and cultural competence are competitive advantages, Namecoach empowers organizations to foster more respectful, human-centered interactions—something we believe is both socially meaningful and commercially compelling.

Finally, Namecoach has backing from Tier-1 VCs like Founders Fund (Peter Thiel’s fund), Stanford’s StartX, and Impact America Fund. This de-risks the investment opportunity as the company has gone through rigorous diligence from renowned institutions and gives Namecoach access to follow-on capital in future rounds. 

We believe this is a great entry point for KC Capital, and we’re excited to join Namecoach on its journey to end name mispronunciation.