Our extensive experience in the domain name industry has enabled us to develop a complete service offering for new gTLD applicants: feasibility studies, partner selection, application drafting, submission, evaluation management, objection representation, policy development, and post-delegation contract preparation. This end-to-end capability means that applicants engage a single advisory team for the entire process, from initial strategic assessment through to registry activation.
Clients who engage us for the gTLD process gain access to our New gTLD Academy, where we regularly publish sector news and analysis on domain name developments. ICANN's application window for the 2026 round opens on 30 April 2026, with a submission window running to 22 April 2027. Preparation should start well before that date; the AGB's 200+ questions require structured preparation that cannot be compressed into the submission window itself.
Our team has direct ICANN credentials that go beyond advisory experience. Bart Lieben directed the .EU Sunrise Process, architected ICANN's Trademark Clearinghouse, and has held advisory roles at the European Commission, EPO, UN, League of Arab States, and ICANN itself. This is not advisory experience assembled for the 2026 round; it is a track record built over two decades of active participation in internet governance and domain name policy.
That institutional knowledge is embedded in PitchZone, our SaaS platform that guides applicants through the AGB question set with adaptive logic, role-based collaboration, and AI-assisted drafting. PitchZone reduces the preparation timeline from months to weeks while ensuring that nothing in the 200+ question set is missed or inadequately addressed.
Our gTLD advisory service is offered on a fixed-price basis. The scope is defined at engagement: feasibility analysis, application drafting via PitchZone, submission support, evaluation management, objection defence if needed, registry agreement negotiation, and operational launch preparation. No hourly billing surprises. The fixed-price model reflects our confidence in the efficiency of our process and our commitment to cost predictability for applicants who are already managing a significant ICANN evaluation fee and registry infrastructure investment.
The application window opens on 30 April 2026 and the submission window runs to 22 April 2027. The ICANN evaluation fee is expected to be approximately USD 227,000 per application. The AGB contains over 200 questions covering technical capacity, financial viability, operational policies, registry services, and the applicant's intended use of the TLD. Applicants who participated in the 2012 round should not assume that their previous experience fully prepares them for 2026; the requirements have changed materially.
Direct ICANN credentials and two decades of active participation in internet governance. We directed the .EU Sunrise Process, architected ICANN's Trademark Clearinghouse, and maintain advisory relationships across the ICANN community. This institutional knowledge is embedded in our PitchZone platform and our advisory methodology.
Feasibility analysis, application drafting via PitchZone, submission support, evaluation management, objection defence if needed, registry agreement negotiation, and operational launch preparation. The scope is defined at engagement based on the applicant's specific requirements.
Now. A well-prepared brand TLD application requires 3 to 6 months of structured work before the submission window. String selection, registry operator contracting, financial capability documentation, and AGB question responses all require lead time that cannot be compressed without quality risk. Applicants who have not begun preparation by early 2026 face the risk of being unable to complete a credible application.
PitchZone is available both as part of pitch.law's full advisory engagement and as a standalone SaaS platform for applicants who want structured guidance without full advisory support. The platform includes adaptive question logic, AI-assisted drafting, and export in ICANN submission format. Legal review and sign-off by pitch.law attorneys is available as an add-on for standalone users.
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