Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We provide digitally-enabled business cards that stop the need for printing multiple cards, as contacts are transferred seamlessly through NFC and QRC technology.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Radically transforming how people network, build contacts and manage leads by introducing disruptive tech in the ecosystem. Our flagship product is the Rope Card, which we created to change the way networking is done, and reduce the felling of trees for paper. We are creating a sustainable society through the Rope Card.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The current methods of networking are broken and unsustainable. Currently, a major part of networking is meeting people at events and exchanging business cards. Firstly, there is no way for companies to properly ascertain, collate and follow up with who their staff network with. The process of transferring the mobile devices is also cumbersome. Furthermore, these business cards are obtained from paper, which are obtained from felling trees – leading to deforestation.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Our product, the Rope Card provides the following benefits: a. Easier networking and data collection. b. Companies can track their network and follow up on discussions better. c. Our product relies less on paper and ink by eliminating the need to print multiple cards, with one card that digitally shares contacts.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

a. Business Professionals: these are working class professionals in established companies and startups. They typically use their business cards on a regular basis in networking sessions, trainings and impromptu. Depending on the organization size, we acquire them individually or through their companies. b. Lifestyle influencers: these are individuals who showcase items they use and enjoy to a massive crowd. This segment would typically enable Rope to have a ‘status symbol’ brand attached to it, increasing its desirability.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-06-14

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

a. Usen Udoh is an experienced performance management leader. He was a former partner at Accenture and HR Director at Dangote Industries Ltd. b. Vanessa Rotimi has 7 years of experience in the media industry and growth.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.ropeme.io/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Rope is a financial and technical partner of the Nigerians for Prosperity NGO, which works towards poverty alleviation.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Our NFC/QRC method of sharing contacts reduces human contact with the cards, reducing the transmission of disease when present. Rope is a financial partner in a free healthcare programme for less privileged communities in Lagos Mainland.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

We sponsored the adoption of the Ansar-Ud-Deen nursery and primary school, to provide books, infrastructure enhancements and clean energy to ensure the students learn in a conducive environment.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

45% of our employees are ladies, and 80% of our senior leadership (excluding founders) is female, because we believe in diversity. Furthermore, this has enabled us to grow and achieve feats we may not have achieved without incorporating this view.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

We greatly reduce the number of cards being discarded. These cards (paper) occasionally find their ways into water bodies, blocking drainages, and negatively affecting sanitation. The annual savings of a 100-person company that typically orders 250 cards per employee, upon switching to digital cards would be 500 gallons of water. At 2 million users by year 5, we would save 38 million litres of water.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Rope hires over 20 young and innovative employees, and ensures all staff hired receive proper employee welfare and work in a conducive environment.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Rope ensures that networking infrastructure is digitized, bringing a new era in industrial printing needs. This is a sustainable alternative to the heavy dependence on paper cards.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

At Rope, we ensure that everyone is treated the same, irrespective of their experience, age, gender, religion, and tribe. We have built a cohesive team, with mutual respect.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

We reduce waste from paper usage and increase digitization.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

We are ensuring that less trees are cut down to make paper by revolutionizing how business cards are distributed. Our technology enables an individual use one card for thousands of contacts, and multiple businesses. The annual savings of a 100-person company that typically orders 250 cards per employee, upon switching to digital cards would be 500 gallons of water. At 2 million users by year 5, we would save 480,000kg of waste.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

We are reducing trees being felled, and this would reduce the rate of climate change, because more trees are left to capture carbon dioxide and other GHGs. As we scale up, we would be able to save thousands of trees, and at the end of the financial year, we would plant trees to match the number of trees saved. In five years, we would save at least 500 trees per annum, and plant at least 500 trees per annum, with 2 million users per annum.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

The manufacturing of paper requires a lot of water, and reducing paper produced would reduce the depletion of water resources in which the marine ecosystem depends upon.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Rope cards ensure that life on land – especially arboreal – is undisturbed by reducing the demand for tree felling. The annual savings of a 100-person company that typically orders 250 cards per employee, upon switching to digital cards would be one (1) tree. At 2 million users by year 5, we would save 12,000 kg.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

5

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

5

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

Rope is improving how networking is done. People and organizations have had issues tracking their contacts, and the current process of exchanging paper cards is both unhygienic and bad for the environment. We are bringing a product in its nascent phase to the [Nigerian] market. There exists competitors in Europe and the United States, but we are the first supplier of our products (the Rope Card) in Nigeria.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our competitors are V1ce (UK) and Purple (yet to launch). V1ce is about four (4) years old and has a higher international presence than we do, but we have a few key competitive advantages over them: a. Service Coverage: Our services are holistic, i.e., we offer a new networking experience, not just a card. We offer analytics and contact progress tracking. Our persona and organization features give users a better suited means to achieve their personal or company-wide networking goals. b. Price: We are better suited for the local market i.e. Nigeria and Africa. By producing our cards locally, we are a more cost-effective option compared to V1ce and Purple. Furthermore, when we scale to foreign markets, we can keep some production factors local, reducing our cost to end-user.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes I started the Nigerians for Prosperity community which has given the girl child better opportunities to learn in the modern age, with projects such as: • Provision of free internet connections in Ebute-Meta, Lagos. • Introductory training of children on digital skills (we ensured female children were adequately represented). • Supported young women through our healthcare programme in Lagos.