*Get Sam & Shaan's pro-level biz resource vault (free):* https://clickhubspot.com/gcv
Episode 805: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk to the branding genius behind BlackBerry, Sonos, Vercel and Swiffer about how to create a billion-dollar brand name.
—
Show Notes:
(0:00) Nothing will be used more than your name
(2:01) Windsurf
(3:50) Swiffer
(10:06) Naming game: Fiber startup
(17:14) quantity leads to quality
(29:46) Problem solving propositions
(32:40) Power letters
(35:04) How Sam names a company
(40:48) Rate this brand (1-10)
(47:50) Blackberry
(48:24) When to change a name
(50:47) Presidential slogans
(51:43) Recommended reading
(53:39) How David thinks about AI
—
Check Out Shaan's Stuff:
• Shaan's weekly email - https://www.shaanpuri.com
• Visit https://www.somewhere.com/mfm to hire worldwide talent like Shaan and get $500 off for being an MFM listener. Hire developers, assistants, marketing pros, sales teams and more for 80% less than US equivalents.
• Mercury - Need a bank for your company? Go check out Mercury (mercury.com). Shaan uses it for all of his companies!
Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC
• I run all my newsletters on Beehiiv and you should too + we're giving away $10k to our favorite newsletter, check it out:
beehiiv.com/mfm-challenge
—
Check Out Sam's Stuff:
• Hampton - https://www.joinhampton.com/
• Ideation Bootcamp - https://www.ideationbootcamp.co/
• Copy That - https://copythat.com
• Hampton Wealth Survey - https://joinhampton.com/wealth
• Sam’s List - http://samslist.co/
My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by HubSpot Media // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano /
We named a billion dollar “startup” with the guy that named BlackBerry, Febreeze and Swiffer.
Here's something that might surprise you — naming a startup can make or break its success. According to My First Million, the guy behind BlackBerry, Swiffer, and Fiber branding knows the secrets. He explains how a powerful name isn’t just about sounding good; it’s about problem-solving and creating a memorable identity. For example, Swiffer came from combining 'sweep' and 'filter,' making it both descriptive and catchy. He also shares how 'power letters' like B and V pack punch and stick in your mind. But here’s where it gets really interesting — he emphasizes that quantity leads to quality. The more ideas you generate, the better your chances of finding that perfect name. As My First Million points out, a strong brand name can shape perceptions and even how people think about your product. So, what does this mean for you? When launching your next big thing, don’t underestimate the power of a killer name — it's often your first and best impression.
Audio Transcript
*Get Sam & Shaan's pro-level biz resource vault (free):* https://clickhubspot.com/gcv
Episode 805: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk to the branding genius behind BlackBerry, Sonos, Vercel and Swiffer about how to create a billion-dollar brand name.
—
Show Notes:
(0:00) Nothing will be used more than your name
(2:01) Windsurf
(3:50) Swiffer
(10:06) Naming game: Fiber startup
(17:14) quantity leads to quality
(29:46) Problem solving propositions
(32:40) Power letters
(35:04) How Sam names a company
(40:48) Rate this brand (1-10)
(47:50) Blackberry
(48:24) When to change a name
(50:47) Presidential slogans
(51:43) Recommended reading
(53:39) How David thinks about AI
—
Check Out Shaan's Stuff:
• Shaan's weekly email - https://www.shaanpuri.com
• Visit https://www.somewhere.com/mfm to hire worldwide talent like Shaan and get $500 off for being an MFM listener. Hire developers, assistants, marketing pros, sales teams and more for 80% less than US equivalents.
• Mercury - Need a bank for your company? Go check out Mercury (mercury.com). Shaan uses it for all of his companies!
Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC
• I run all my newsletters on Beehiiv and you should too + we're giving away $10k to our favorite newsletter, check it out:
beehiiv.com/mfm-challenge
—
Check Out Sam's Stuff:
• Hampton - https://www.joinhampton.com/
• Ideation Bootcamp - https://www.ideationbootcamp.co/
• Copy That - https://copythat.com
• Hampton Wealth Survey - https://joinhampton.com/wealth
• Sam’s List - http://samslist.co/
My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by HubSpot Media // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano /