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Name Your Thing (and Make Sure You Can Actually Use the Name)

The naming workflow nobody else is teaching.

6h total10 lessonsWritten format
$149one-time
  • Lifetime access
  • Full refund within 7 days
  • 6h of written lessons
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By the end you'll…

  • Generate 50+ name candidates with AI in under an hour
  • Evaluate names against a practical framework before you fall in love with one
  • Run a real trademark search using USPTO TESS — no lawyer required for initial screening
  • Verify domain + handle parity across 7 platforms before you commit
  • Narrow to a final name using a repeatable scoring system
  • Build a 1-page brand brief that carries your identity through every future decision

Curriculum

10 lessons
  1. 1
    Why Naming Is Load-BearingFree preview

    Your name is a structural decision. The wrong one costs you months, sometimes years. Here's why it deserves more than an afternoon.

    15m
  2. 2
    The Naming Frame

    A good name isn't about gut feel. It's about five measurable dimensions. Learn the frame before you generate a single candidate.

    22m
  3. 3
    Generating Candidates with AI

    The goal isn't one great name. It's 50 candidates and a culling system. Here's how to generate volume, then cut ruthlessly.

    35m
  4. 4
    Trademark Research Without a Lawyer

    You don't need a lawyer for the first pass. You need USPTO TESS and 45 minutes. Here's the exact workflow.

    40m
  5. 5
    Domains and the Extension Question

    The .com question is real, but it's not the only one. Here's how to think about domain strategy without letting it hold your name hostage.

    28m
  6. 6
    Social Handles: The Real Test

    Domains are solvable. Handles are where names actually die. Here's how to check all seven platforms and what to do when one's taken.

    30m
  7. 7
    Narrowing to Three

    You have the data. Now you need a system for making the call — not just a gut check, but a rubric that survives the second-guess.

    25m
  8. 8
    Brand Identity with AI

    You don't need a designer for the first pass. You need the right tool, the right inputs, and the discipline to run five rounds before you ship anything.

    45m
  9. 9
    The Brand Brief

    One page. Seven sections. The document that makes every future branding decision faster and your future-self grateful.

    50m
  10. 10
    Naming the Future

    The framework you just built doesn't expire. Here's how to apply it to every naming decision you'll face — and what's coming next in the Academy.

    12m
Galen Oakes

Galen Oakes

Fractional CTO · Builder

Your instructor

Self-taught engineer based in Northern California. Building Braintied full-time since late 2024: shared stack, live stage, and client ventures that ship in days. Sentigen, Parlor, Kulti, Swishh, and more. Fractional CTO for founders and venture studios who need someone who has actually shipped the thing, not just consulted on it.

I built these courses because the gap between "I can read code" and "I'm shipping products" is real, and most resources pretend it doesn't exist. Every lesson is what I wish existed when I was closing that gap myself.

Read the full story

What you'll need

  • An idea you're naming (product, business, side project, podcast, or agency)
  • A Claude or ChatGPT account (free tier works for this course) — Swishh is shown as an optional demo, not required
  • Access to USPTO TESS (free, at tess.uspto.gov)
  • About 60 minutes per lesson

Common questions

Do I need to know how to code?
No. The courses are designed for people who can read code but aren't shipping products yet. If you've followed a tutorial or used GitHub, you're ready.
What AI tools do I need?
A Claude Code subscription is the primary tool. Claude.ai Pro also works for most exercises. We cover setup in lesson one.
Is this format video or text?
Written lessons, like a good engineering blog, not a talking-head video. Each lesson is designed to be read in one focused session and followed along in your editor.
Do I get lifetime access?
Yes. One-time purchase, lifetime access to the course and any future updates to that course content.
What is your refund policy?
Full refund within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked. Email [email protected] with your order.
Is this for me if I already know how to code?
Yes, especially if you're a developer who hasn't shifted to an AI-native workflow yet. The skills compound fastest when you already understand what good code looks like.

Ready to ship something real?

One-time purchase. Lifetime access. Full refund within 7 days if it's not for you.