Democratic Republic of Congo - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

"Mbote" means "hello" in Lingala, reflecting our commitment to seamless, modern networking. MboteTech is a revolutionary digital business card platform that empowers professionals and businesses to create, share, and manage virtual business cards.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Mbote Tech is a startup based in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), providing virtual business cards enhanced with NFC technology. Mbote means hello in Lingala, reflecting our commitment to seamless, modern networking. Our mission is to revolutionize professional networking with an eco-friendly, efficient, and advanced solution tailored to the DRC and African markets. MboteTech aims to eliminate paper business cards and the associated waste and pollution they cause. Traditional paper business cards are often inefficient, prone to loss, and environmentally unfriendly. Professionals need a modern, convenient, and sustainable way to share contact information. We enable our users to make stronger connections, elevate their personal or corporate brand, and measure the impact of their networking efforts.

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

MboteTech aims to remove paper business cards and the waste and pollution they generate. Traditional paper business cards are wasteful, easy to lose, and environmentally harmful. Every year, over 10 billion business cards are manufactured, resulting in the destruction of around 7.2 million trees. Paper manufacture, including business cards, consumes a lot of energy, water, and generates waste.Paper manufacture leads to severe deforestation, with approximately 15 billion trees taken down each year. This alarming rate of deforestation causes habitat loss, climate change, and biodiversity loss, prompting the issue of how many trees are being sacrificed for paper. However, by adopting sustainable alternatives to paper, we may significantly lessen our environmental impact. By switching to Mbote Tech, our smart digital business cards provide improved global business contacts while also providing you with the option to contribute to environmental conservation.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The main advantage of Mbote Tech is that it can be easily shared with others and can be accessed quickly and easily on a smartphone or other digital device. This makes it a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper business cards. 1. Mbote Tech can be updated easily, so you can always have the most current information available. 2. Mbote Tech can be easily shared digitally, making it easy to exchange contact information with others. 3. Mbote Tech is more environmentally friendly than traditional paper business cards because it does not require the use of physical materials. 4. Mbote Tech can include additional information and multimedia content, such as links to your website or social media profiles, or even a photo or video. This can help you stand out and make a stronger impression on potential clients or business partners.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The professional landscape in the DRC and Africa is rapidly evolving, with increasing demand for digital solutions. Mbote Tech's primary target market is professionals, entrepreneurs, and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the DRC and surrounding regions. Also, event organizers: conferences, trade shows, and networking events need efficient contact-sharing solutions. and educational institutions: universities and training centers for networking among students, faculty, and alumni.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-10

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

0

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

N/A

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

https://mbotetech.com/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

3

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

The Traditional paper business cards are wasteful, environmentally harmful. Every year, over 10 billion business cards are manufactured, resulting in the destruction of around 7.2 million trees. Paper manufacture, including business cards, consumes a lot of energy, water, and generates waste.Paper manufacture leads to severe deforestation, with approximately 15 billion trees taken down each year. This alarming rate of deforestation causes habitat loss, climate change, and biodiversity loss, prompting the issue of how many trees are being sacrificed for paper. However, by adopting sustainable alternatives to paper, we may significantly lessen our environmental impact. By switching to Mbote Tech, our smart digital business cards provide improved global business contacts while also providing you with the option to contribute to environmental conservation.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Our smart digital business card solution helps preserve the environment.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

The Mbote Tech Project is the most innovative virtual business card. This cutting-edge technology and integrations are transforming how the business world connects.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Right now, in the DRC, they are not really competitors for this project. 

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

As an information technology, marketing, and communications specialist, I always encourage and mentor women in their professional lives.