Rishabh Goel
CEO & Co-Founder
Jun 9, 2025
|
5
min
Ever wondered how a flightless bird became our namesake?
You might be thinking, “Dodo? Like that extinct bird?” Believe it or not, there’s a story behind our quirky name and it all started with a cold beer, a sunny island, and a lightbulb moment.
Grab your favourite drink, and let us take you through the tale of how “Dodo” took flight at Dodo Payments.
Stand out in a sea of generic fintech brands
Be instantly memorable for merchants anywhere in the world
Feel fun without being gimmicky
The idea struck me during a New Year’s vacation on Reunion Island (near Mauritius). The island’s popular beer, Bourbon, is affectionately nicknamed “Dodo” thanks to its iconic bird logo.
Over two weeks, I kept hearing the same phrase: Let’s grab a Dodo.
It rolled off everyone’s tongue with ease.
That’s when it clicked: Dodo is simple, universally understood, and culturally neutral.
In that moment, I realised: Dodo checks all the boxes. Easy to pronounce. Culturally neutral. And it clicked exactly how memorable names are supposed to be.
Why “Dodo” Fits Our Global Vision?
We built Dodo Payments to be a global-first solution, helping merchants from Buenos Aires to Bangalore accept payments seamlessly. To make that happen, our brand needed to:
Roll off the tongue: No awkward pronunciations in Tokyo or Toronto.
Transcend cultures: A little bird image, zero cultural baggage.
Feel friendly and approachable: Because cross-border payments can be stressful, and we wanted our name to put a smile on your face.
“Dodo” embodies all that. When someone hears “Dodo Payments,” they don’t think “confusing fintech jargon”, they think “a name I can say, remember, and trust.”
The Dodo Bird
Source: Dodo Bird
Of course, the real Dodo bird went extinct centuries ago after losing its battle with invasive species and changing trade routes. It lived on Mauritius, was flightless and rather friendly, and didn’t adapt quickly enough when hungry sailors and new predators arrived.
That story has a certain irony for a cross-border payments platform. We want businesses to thrive in an ever-changing global economy, not become obsolete.
So here’s our twist on the Dodo legacy:
Adaptability is everything. With Dodo Payments, you won’t face extinction in overseas markets. We handle new payment methods, shifting tax laws, and unexpected regulatory hurdles, so you can keep soaring.
What “Dodo” Means for Our Mission
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that cross-border commerce is messy. From juggling compliance in multiple countries to mapping out new payment rails, merchants often get lost in paperwork and tech integrations rather than focusing on growth.
That’s where Dodo Payments comes in. When you partner with us, you gain:
Effortless cross-border payments: Accept local and global methods without building countless integrations.
Automated compliance: We calculate and remit taxes in every region you sell into.
Resilience: Adapt to new markets, currencies, and regulations without missing a beat.
Think of Dodo as your friendly, unflappable sidekick handling all the backend complexities, so you can keep your eyes on growth and your users happy.
Branding & Design
Source: Dodo Payments
Big shout-out to our design lead, Varun, who took the simple Dodo silhouette and turned it into a playful logo with subtle nods to global connectivity. We’ve got:
Fun mascots (wait until you see our first campaign character!)
Merch ideas (yes, there are Dodo pins and stickers in the works)
Bird-themed emojis and bird puns (come on, who doesn’t love a good “flap your wings” pun?)
Every piece of our branding: website, socials, even our sticker designs, speaks to the spirit of adaptability and friendliness that the Dodo bird represents.
The Three Pillars of the Dodo Name
Universal Recognition
A single syllable, zero confusion. Whether you’re a merchant in Brazil, a developer in Japan, or a shopper in South Africa, you can say Dodo without pausing to figure out the pronunciation.
This simple, memorable name means people don’t waste a second wondering, “Wait, how do I say that?
Depth & Resilience
The real Dodo’s story is a cautionary tale about change. We flipped that cautionary tale on its head and made it about resilience. Dodo reminds merchants that staying flexible, evolving with market shifts, and embracing new payment methods are the real secrets to long-term success.
In short, our name serves as a daily reminder: adapt or risk being left behind.
Creative Playground
Whenever we launch a new feature or share a big announcement, there’s room to play from playful visuals to engaging content. Dodo gives us endless room to create memorable brand experiences, whether you spot us on a merch drop, an emoji, or a tweet.
Because at the end of the day, if you’re going to pick a quirky, extinct bird as your mascot, why not have fun with it?
Come, Spread Your Wings with Dodo!
We picked “Dodo” because it’s simple, global, and reminds us daily to adapt and thrive.
Now, we invite you to join us on this journey. We’re building a community of merchants, developers, and creators who believe in making global commerce as smooth as possible.
Sign up and see how Dodo Payments can help you expand internationally.
Follow us on X, LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes peeks, bird-themed puns, and more.
So, are you ready to spread your wings? Because with Dodo Payments, the world is yours.
