According to startup blog: They are any form of visual or language communicate which provide meaning to humans and provide elementary recognition or decision shortcuts. This may only exist as a word, an event or even a memory in the human mind.
Brands have existed as long as homo sapiens have and possibly longer. From an aboriginal waterhole to mountain peaks of significances to any clan anywhere in the world. Even animal names are brands…..although the product was manufactured by mother earth!
Startup lesson: Don’t get hung up on words and visuals. Focus on creating and communicating meaning.