Friendly gTLD Experts
Minds + Machines is run by an experienced team of people who together have launched or helped launch over 20 top-level domains, with business models ranging from small community gTLDs to large commercial enterprises. We’ve also owned and operated ICANN-accredited registrars, managed reseller channels, developed domain name systems software, overseen global DNS rollouts, and practically anything you could think of when it comes to domain names.
Antony Van Couvering, CEO
Antony Van Couvering has been working with domain names and Internet infrastructure since 1996. He has played a substantial role in Internet governance issues and acted as a consultant to many of the world’s top companies. He has founded and run several companies, beginning with NetNames USA, the first firm to handle the domain name needs of larger companies, which he sold in 1999 to Group NBT (AIM: NBT) after helping launch several country-code top-level domains and assisting many others. In 2000, Antony founded NameEngine, began working with many of America’s top companies and intellectual property law firms, and pioneered the corporate domain name services model still in use today. He sold NameEngine to VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN) in 2001, and helped VeriSign with strategy, marketing and software design until 2004. Until recently, he operated Names@Work, a consulting company specializing in domain names and the Internet-related areas of financial services and literary publishing. He helped found Minds + Machines in 2009 to provide a low-cost, full-service alternative to existing registry options. Antony grew up in England, Kenya, and Colorado. He has a B.A. from Columbia in comparative literature. Antony is also CEO of Minds + Machines’ parent company, Top Level Domain Holdings.
Elaine Pruis, VP of Client Services
Elaine Pruis is an expert in operating and administering top-level domains. From 2001 to 2009 she managed the domain registry system for the Council of Country Code Administrators (CoCCA), which provides technical registry and policy services to hundreds of registrars and over 30 country-code top-level domains worldwide. Elaine is a well known speaker at many domain industry and governance conferences. At ICANN, IGF, and regional TLD meetings she has presented the registry technology and model to TLD operators considering registry system options, subsequently growing the CoCCA membership list from 3 to over 25 TLD members. Elaine is a veteran of TLD launches, sunrises, migrations and day-to-day registry operations. As co-founder of Minds + Machines, she specializes in managing operations of top-level domains, business development, and provides ongoing support to clients. She is an active contributor to ICANN policy development. Elaine graduated from Michigan Technological University with a B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society. Elaine lives near Seattle.
Caspar von Veltheim, Director of European Operations
Caspar von Veltheim is CEO of Minds + Machines GmbH, which represents Minds + Machines’ interests in Germany, and a potential applicant for .berlin, as well as being CEO of Bayern Connect GmbH, which is a potential applicant for the .bayern top-level domain. Caspar studied film production at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin. Prior to this he received a BA in Business Studies and Film & Television at Roehampton University in London. Caspar has worked for production companies in Germany, the UK and the United States. After working at NBC Universal Global Networks in Germany, he created his own Internet marketing and consultancy business. Caspar is based in Munich and in Berlin.
Levente (Levi) Ferencz, Accounting Manager
Levi began working working in the domain name industry in 2000 when he started at NameEngine Inc. as an accountant. He continued his career at VeriSign as a financial analyst, project manager and most recently at Melbourne IT as registry relations manager. During his career he has managed several domain name related projects ranging from registry/registrar account consolidations to portfolio audits and new TLD (top level domain) launches. His experience includes: accounting, international payments, project management and digital brand (domain name) portfolio management. Originally hailing from Romanian Transylvania, Levi is fluent in Hungarian, Romanian, and photography. Levi is based in New York City.
