Architelos Launches “Business Case Builder 2.0” For gTLD Applicants
Adds more gTLD financial planning features, addresses ‘Question 50’ and extends functionality to cover more types of brand and keyword generic top-level domains
RESTON, Va., Nov. 29, 2011 — After the successful introduction of the first ever financial forecasting tool specifically designed for generic top-level domains—the Business Case Builder (BCB), Architelos, Inc. today announced BCB 2.0 with new features that enhance existing financial planning capabilities and reports and extend functionality to more types of gTLDs, including those used by companies for internal purposes only (closed gTLDs). The BCB 2.0, a secure online tool, enables prospective new gTLD applicants to understand and evaluate the financial consequences of new business models and generates data in the exact format required by the financial criteria section of the ICANN Applicant Guidebook. Architelos has also automatically extended the new functionalities to all current BCB customers at no charge.
“The Business Case Builder has already helped many applicants quickly and accurately develop expense and revenue forecasts, in both the cash and deferred basis as required in the domain name industry,” Architelos CFO Norbert Grey said. “Now, we’ve taken it to the next level, adding enhancements that allow applicants to spend more time developing their gTLD strategies and less time on accounting.”
Enhancements include:
- Specialized sheets for a dotBrand business model and closed TLDs
- New planning sheets to forecast the entire P&L (including all OPEX)
- Specialized sheets for staff planning and capital expenditure
- Premium names revenue forecasting
- Monthly P&L, balance and cash flow sheets
- “Source of funds” planning sheet to help determine required funding for forecasted business
- Easy production of multiple scenarios such as “most likely”, “worst case” and “what if”
- 30 standardized reports available with simple “drag and drop” driven reporting
BCB 2.0 Simplifies Addressing of ICANN’s Cash Reserve Requirement
In addition, BCB 2.0 addresses one of the most critical and complicated questions facing applicants, namely Question 50 in the gTLD application (PDF), which asks the applicant to calculate the amount of the three-year cash reserve, or “continued operations instrument,” required by ICANN. “The BCB not only proactively calculates the amount of the cash reserve,” Grey said, “but by using artificial intelligence rules, BCB 2.0 also allows for automated accounting of the reserve through either a letter of credit from a financial institution or through an escrow account.”
Verisign has supplied the BCB to a number of gTLD applicants. “Navigating the financial requirements of the new gTLD program and quantifying the real-world value of a new gTLD business plan are among the key challenges facing prospective new gTLD applicants,” said Pat Kane, Senior Vice President and GM Naming Services at Verisign. “Business Case Builder is a valuable tool that helps applicants address these critical challenges, giving them an important edge in the upcoming application process.”
BCB 2.0 is available now via the Architelos website, and will available at the same price as the original BCB until Dec. 15. A BCB tutorial and detailed descriptions of the 2.0 enhancements are available on the Architelos website.
Architelos, Inc. provides consulting and managed services for clients applying for new top-level domains (gTLDs) for both brands and generic keyword applicants. Services include assistance developing gTLD strategies, new gTLD application support, launching new gTLDs and turnkey gTLD management services (TMS®). The company was founded by Alexa Raad, former CEO of PIR, the .ORG top-level domain registry, and John Matson, a veteran management advisor to Fortune 500 companies. Architelos’ senior management has collectively more than 30 years experience in the domain name industry.
