In today’s tech-focused world, a company’s name can act as its mission statement—bold, memorable, and full of meaning.
For Interstellar Group, a simple placeholder turned into a brand that reflects their identity, goals, and dedication to innovation.
We spoke with Maarten van Montfoort, founder and CEO of Interstellar Group, to find out how this accidental name became central to the company’s mission.
What does Interstellar do?
Based in Amsterdam, Interstellar was founded in 2021 by Maarten van Montfoort, Remy Cuny, and David Schaap.
The company was created to unite a group of six promising IT companies to become a leading IT provider in the Netherlands.
Interstellar collaborates with various experts in IT Managed Services, cybersecurity, Microsoft cloud solutions, and platform solutions. This approach allows them to offer tailored services to meet the unique needs of their clients.
Cosmic identity
When the team first came together to build a platform company, they didn’t spend weeks thinking about a name.
“The name Interstellar was originally chosen as a working title. At the time, we were forming a platform company and simply needed a temporary project name. Someone on the team suggested Interstellar, inspired by the film: futuristic, ambitious, full of exploration, and big ideas. A new star on the horizon. It felt right for something new and promising,” shares Montfoort.
Montfoort, who isn’t a science fiction fan, found the film’s visuals and emotions surprisingly touching.
“To be honest, I’m not a big sci-fi fan at all, but this movie really stuck with me. I’ve seen it several times. The quest for another galaxy, a new ‘home’, the role of time, it all feels mysterious and unexplainable. And the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer? Absolutely phenomenal,” he continues.
The name, initially a placeholder, quickly became more than just a label. When the team hired branding experts, the advice was clear—don’t change it.
“The name started as a placeholder but quickly grew on everyone. When we brought in a branding agency to help shape our identity, their advice was clear: keep the name. It was bold, memorable, and full of narrative potential,” Montfoort says.
Built for exploration
Post finalisation, the name Interstellar began to shape the company’s visual and internal culture, influencing everything from metaphors to meeting room names.
“We’ve fully embraced the name in how we tell our story. Interstellar isn’t just a name, it’s a universe. Our branding lives and breathes space travel metaphors: from ‘Welcome to our universe’ to the names of our services and internal programs,” reveals Montfoort.
Even their managed services reflect a launch sequence—Launch, Boost, Accelerate.
“We also deliberately chose the brand archetype of the Explorer. It reflects our mission perfectly: empowering ambitious IT companies and entrepreneurs to venture beyond their own limits. Just like in space, we believe in boldly entering the unknown and building new frontiers together,” Montfoort adds.
How it all came together
According to Montfoort, the naming process was never formal at the beginning
“The naming process was unintentional at first; it started with a project code name. But as we kept building, Interstellar started to mean more. It captured something essential about who we are and where we’re going,” explains Montfoort.
Once branding professionals were brought on board, they encouraged the team to develop the Interstellar identity further.
“When we brought in branding professionals to help shape the company identity, they didn’t suggest changing it. On the contrary, they encouraged us to lean into the strength of the name and build a brand around it. So what started informally became the foundation of everything we are today,” he shares.
Domain, trademark and more
While branding evolved naturally, securing the digital real estate and IP wasn’t always front of mind, for the team.
“At the start, domain name availability wasn’t a priority. We never intended Interstellar to be the primary brand; it was just the name of the holding company. But as the brand evolved and Interstellar became more central, the domain name quickly became more important. Luckily, we managed to secure it quickly,” states Montfoort.
Surprisingly, trademarking the name across Europe was relatively smooth.
“Surprisingly few. We were able to trademark the name quickly in the Benelux and across Europe, specifically for IT services. At one point, a company in the UK attempted to launch under the same name, but thanks to our registration, we were able to block it. Being proactive and strategic about IP from the start helped us avoid major conflicts later,” he says.
Scaling Ambition, Keeping the Name
As Interstellar grows, its name remains the anchor, believes Montfoort.
“Interstellar is a monolithic brand, it’s our umbrella, and we’re building everything underneath it. Today, we already have nine companies under the Interstellar name, and that number will only grow,” confirms Montfoort.
While the business scales, the name stays, expanding in depth, not changing in nature.
“In the coming years, the brand will expand in breadth and depth, but the name will remain the foundation. We’ve only been building the brand seriously for the last two years, even though the group has been around for four and a half years. We’re just getting started,” he adds.
Value of a strong name
Montfoort is clear about the role of naming in business success: it matters a lot.
“Absolutely. A strong name is a strategic asset. It gives you distinction, meaning, and memorability. It helps you stand out, especially in competitive markets like tech.”
“Our name opens doors, sparks curiosity, and gives us a narrative to build on. It supports how we show up at events, in media, and in partnerships. We’ve chosen a tone of voice and storytelling approach that’s just a bit different from our peers, and it works. We’re becoming increasingly recognisable, and that’s a direct result of the brand and the name working together,” he concludes.
