The journey to naming KUGO was a rollercoaster of creativity, legal advice, and last-minute inspiration. Initially, KUGO was just a homemade game we called “Flick,” inspired by the action at the heart of our gameplay. Our first prototypes proudly bore the name “FLIK,” a tweak we made to stand out.

However, my sister-in-law, an intellectual property lawyer, pointed out a crucial issue: using a verb like “flick” could be legally problematic. We’d already produced our first wooden samples with the FLIK branding, so this was a frustrating setback. With upcoming demos, we needed a new name fast.

During a brainstorming session with friends, one of whom is Spanish, the word “Juego” (Spanish for “game”) was suggested. I liked the “Go” ending, leading to “JUGO.” However, the J didn’t quite fit with our design.

Inspiration struck when I looked back at our FLIK logo, which featured a rebounding puck forming the K. I borrowed the K, and KUGO was born! While I initially tried incorporating the puck into the new KUGO logo, it looked too busy. Instead, the flying puck became our logo icon.

While our naming story might lack the romance of a Himalayan adventure, it’s a testament to the organic evolution of ideas and the importance of flexibility and good legal advice. Maybe one day, we’ll concoct a more whimsical tale, but for now, you’re in on the real story! 😉🤫