The World's Most Valuable Startups All Use dot COM Domain Names

Source: Statista

Domain names of the world's 10 most valuable private companies backed by venture capital:

• uber.com

• xiaomi.com redirects to mi.com

• airbnb.com

• palantir.com

• snapchat.com

• xiaojukeji.com (Didi Kuaidi)

• flipkart.com

• spacex.com

• pinterest.com

• dropbox.com

Why do ALL of the world's most valuable startups use dot COM domain names and not another TLD (top-level domain)?

The problem with not having the .com of your name is that it signals weakness. Unless you're so big that your reputation precedes you, a marginal domain suggests you're a marginal company. Whereas (as Stripe shows) having x.com signals strength even if it has no relation to what you do. Even good founders can be in denial about this ... 100% of the top 20 YC companies by valuation have the .com of their name. 94% of the top 50 do." - Paul Graham, VC and co-founder of the Y Combinator seed capital firm

Caveat Emptor!

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