Director, Channel Partnerships — Radix
Twitter: @neha_naik
FAST FACTS
Location: Mumbai, India
Time spent in the domain industry: It’s been over 10 years now. I started off working in the domain registrar side; enabling registrar businesses through an automation platform. After trying my hand at the product management side of things within the domain industry, in 2012, I moved to Radix, a domain registry.
Favourite extension: .online
Currently reading: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankin by Yuval Noah Harari
Q&A
Describe your company. How long have you been there and what led you to this career choice?Radix, a domain portfolio registry, was launched in 2012. Radix has acquired the exclusive rights to operate domain extensions such as .SITE, .ONLINE, .TECH, .WEBSITE, .PRESS, .HOST, .SPACE, .STORE and .FUN. Being the 4th largest domain portfolio registry in the world, Radix is already a game changer in this space. Radix is the world’s fourth largest domain portfolio registry with 3 million domain names under its management. The revenue for Radix for the annual year 2017 is over $12 million.
I’ve been with Radix’s parent company, Directi, for over 10 year now and joined Radix right when we started to dabble with the idea of launching a Registry business. The Registry business always intrigued me. Having worked in the Registrar side of things, to me this just came as a natural transition.
How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?
If they are not from the domains industry, I’d say, we’re in the internet real-estate business, but these properties can do a lot more!
How does your career compare to what you envisioned in your youth?
Before I joined this industry, I had no idea there was this huge world of domains and the creative business models around it. Even today, it is rarely known to those outside the industry circles. I definitely didn’t think I’d be in this business but looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The smart and intelligent people I get to work with day-in and day-out, the constant challenges thrown our way; I think I am where I had always wanted to be. The fact that the new domains world was at its infancy when we started, and that we could be part of the building blocks, has been super exciting! Of course, the journey has only just begun.
What are your thoughts on the new TLDs?
New TLDs have arrived and they’re here to stay. The last year has been a testament to the new domains are growing with newer markets picking up on the idea of these TLDs. As brands and businesses increasingly adopt new names, we’ll see this go more mainstream. We are not surprised to see that some of the most cutting-edge startups on our TLDs have raised over $100 million in VC funding in 2016-17 alone. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of nTLDs.
What kinds of changes to you foresee within the industry in the next year? The next five years?
The space is dynamic; and innovation, for sure, leads the way in this industry. Having said that, changes happen fast and every year brings with it opportunities that never existed in the past. Some changes that I expect soon are:
- Ideation on other uses for domain names rather than just addressing
- More consolidation of businesses
- More acceptance for new domains
- Some new TLDs doing better and overtaking existing gTLDs—in terms of usage & success
What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming NamesCon?
The people! It’s always a great way to start the year with partners and friends from across the world. A very unique facet of the domains industry is that competitors are friends, and the circle shares so much for everyone to learn and grow. I am eagerly looking forward to hearing more on the cryptocurrency impact on domains, and basically gathering as much food for thought as I can.
What industry trends or topics do you think will be at the forefront of panel and keynote discussions this year?
Cryptocurrency, the future of WHOIS in light of EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, and the change in market dynamics after the China boom.
If you had 15 extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?
I’d read some more.
What object would you put in a time capsule that best represents who you are today?
A family portrait.
Where is your favourite place to escape?
Home—it is my space and my sanctuary.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Nothing is permanent, everything will change at some point. So, make the best of what you have, but don’t hold on to it. Open yourself up to everything that comes your way.
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