The name

The quest for the perfect name

A warm welcome to you all! We are Steph and Eglé Cruchon, the minds behind Genius Loci. Today we will tell you how our startup’s name came to be. It all began in 2014, but it was during a trip to Rome a few years later that everything fell into place.

Rome: an encounter with the past

During our visit to Rome, one iconic place caught our attention: the Colosseum. Despite its grandeur and history, we were surprised by how little information was available on site. Thankfully, with internet access, we were able to dive into the story of this incredible amphitheatre. That immersive experience inspired us to create something special.

Genius Loci: the spirit of place

The next day, in a Roman museum, we discovered statuettes representing the “Genius Loci”, the protective spirits of places. Fascinated by the concept, we dug deeper. The Romans believed that every place, every tree, every fountain was watched over by a “genius”, or spirit. These were not great gods, but rather small entities, there to protect and bless. The idea felt perfect for our project. After all, we wanted to reconnect communities with their heritage, and let them discover the authenticity of places and the stories tied to them.

The domain name challenge

Having a name is good; owning the matching domain is even better! Our quest to secure the “geniusloci.com” domain was an adventure in itself. After intense negotiations and a healthy dose of perseverance, we finally got our hands on this precious prize. It was the last piece of the puzzle, allowing us to officially launch Genius Loci.

Why the name matters

A name can be far more than just a label. For us, “Genius Loci” stands for a mission: helping people discover the soul and the hidden stories behind every place. And even though some suggested trendier names like “J-Lo”, we stayed true to our first instinct. After all, it is this authenticity and passion for heritage that drive us every single day.