Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

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 Décrivez votre startup en détail

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 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

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 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service fourni par votre startup (au moins 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 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adresse le produit/service de votre startup. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

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 Quand votre entreprise a-t-elle été créée ?

14/06/2023

01.06 Vendez-vous déjà votre produit/service ?

Oui

01.07 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires de votre entreprise en plus de vous ?

2

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

1

01.09 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre startup (compétences, expérience, 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 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

https://www.ropeme.io/

01.11 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre entreprise ?

Technologies de l'information (services numériques, équipements et logiciels)

02.01.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

5

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

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

02.02.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

3

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.03.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

5

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Éducation de Qualité'

5

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

4

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

5

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

4

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.08.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

5

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovation et Infrastructure'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

5

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

5

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

We reduce waste from paper usage and increase digitization.

02.12.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsables'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques'

6

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

5

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma 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 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

3

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.17.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

3

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

06.01 Un grand nombre de clients utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire au nôtre.

2

06.02 Notre produit/service représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

5

06.03 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

5

06.04 Notre produit/service est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.05 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

4

06.06 Notre produit/service répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

5

06.07 Notre produit/service est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

5

06.08 Justification

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 Analyse compétitive

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 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes 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.