Notion moves to notion.com after years on .so domain

The details

• Notion, a collaborative workspace software company, has finally moved to the domain notion.com after operating on a .so domain for years.
• The acquisition of the domain involved a unique approach, including a personal connection with the Grateful Dead and a private meeting arranged by investor Ron Conway.
• The transition to notion.com is expected to be completed in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the company.
• Notion's co-founder Akshay Kothari shared the story behind the acquisition, which began in 2018 when he was newly joined to the company.
• Kothari was tasked with figuring out how the company could acquire Notion.com, a domain that had been owned by someone else.
• The company tried different approaches, including staying anonymous and attempting to find a seller who would consider a fair price.
• After a year without progress, Notion changed its strategy and connected with a broker who focused on building a long-term relationship with the domain owner.
• The broker discovered that the owner was an entrepreneur from the US West Coast and a huge Grateful Dead fan.
• Notion decided to make the offer more personal, including a private meeting with the Grateful Dead, arranged by investor Ron Conway.
• The final offer included cash, equity, and the private meeting opportunity, which helped build trust with the domain owner.

The bigger picture

• The acquisition of the domain was not just about money but also involved relationship-building and a unique personal connection.
• The story highlights the importance of understanding the seller's background and interests in domain acquisitions.
• The transition to notion.com is expected to be completed in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the company.
• The move to notion.com is seen as a long-awaited change by the startup community, with many users appreciating the unusual story behind the deal.

About the business

• Notion is a collaborative workspace software company that provides tools for teams to create, organize, and collaborate on projects.
• The company has grown significantly over the years and has been preparing for this domain transition for several years.
• Notion's co-founder Akshay Kothari shared the story behind the acquisition, which involved a unique approach and personal connection.

What happens next

• Notion is expected to fully transition from Notion.so to Notion.com in 2026.
• The company has been preparing for this transition for several years.

The deal

Type

domain acquisition

Investors

• Ron Conway (investor) — Ron Conway is a well-known investor and angel fund manager who has supported many successful startups.

Founders

• Akshay Kothari, co-founder
• Ivan Zhao, founder

Same day

• ACKO adds four senior leaders before IPO3 June 2026 · People
• SeKondBrain picks Dubai as its global base3 June 2026 · News
• Thebabybo plans physical retail expansion3 June 2026 · Launch
• Phab raises $4M in pre-Series A round3 June 2026 · Funding · $4M
• BlueStone sets FY30 revenue target of Rs 12,000 Cr3 June 2026 · Results
• CBIZ completes acquisition of BINDZ Consulting3 June 2026 · Acquisition

All startup news on 3 June 2026 →