1) What is exactly that you do, and what is your start-up about?
Eazylink is a digital business card platform that makes networking easier and more efficient. Our platform allows professionals to create and share their digital business cards with anyone, anywhere, using just their smartphones. With our platform, you can easily update your contact information, add links to your social media profiles, and even track who has viewed your card. Say goodbye to the hassle of printing and carrying paper business cards and join the future of networking with Eazylink. Interested in learning more? Let’s connect!”
Eazylink digital business cards are an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional paper cards. By reducing paper waste, conserving resources, and promoting efficiency, they offer significant benefits to both businesses and the environment.
2) What is the problem that your start-up is trying to resolve?
While physical business cards have been a traditional way to share contact information with others, they also come with several drawbacks and limitations. Some of the common problems associated with physical business cards are:
- Environmental impact: The production and disposal of paper business cards contribute to environmental pollution and waste.
- Limited information: Paper business cards usually contain only basic information, such as name, phone number, and email address. They cannot accommodate additional details or links to online resources.
- Cost: Printing and designing business cards can be expensive, especially for small businesses or individuals.
- Accessibility: Physical business cards can be easily lost, misplaced, or forgotten. They may also be inaccessible to people with disabilities who rely on digital accessibility tools.
- Inflexibility: Once printed, physical business cards cannot be easily updated or modified to reflect changes in contact information or other details.
These limitations have led to the development of digital business cards, which offer a more practical and versatile alternative to traditional paper cards.
3) What inspired you to start this particular business?
I started this digital business card platform to UnlockBoundless Possibilities: Igniting the Digital Business Card Movement. Witness the potential to revolutionize networking, enhance professional interactions, and promote environmental sustainability.
4) When was your start-up founded? What stage is your start-up currently at?
-2020
5) Are you the sole founder? If not, how did your team meet? Who does what on your team?
I’m the CEO and founder of Eazylink Platform.
6) What is your start-up business model, and how does it work?
Freemium model: Eazylink will offer a basic digital business card for free, while charging for premium features and upgrades such as more templates, analytics, and additional customization options.
Advertising: Eazylink will generate revenue by displaying targeted ads on its platform or by partnering with other businesses to promote our products and services.
Affiliate marketing: Eazylink will earn commissions by promoting and recommending related products and services, such as web hosting, domain registration, or graphic design tools.
Enterprise solution: Eazylink will offer a customized solution for larger businesses that require multiple digital business cards and user management tools.
Ultimately, the success of a digital business card from Eazylink will depend on its ability to provide a user-friendly, innovative, and differentiated product that meets the needs of its target market, while generating revenue through a sustainable business model.
7) What exactly differentiates you from your competitor in the marketplace? Can you name a few?
Eazylink digital business card is affordable, has more features, and is AI-powered.
Some competitors are PoPCard and Taaply.
8) At what stage is your start up currently? (Early- stage, Growth stage, Established)
– Growth stage
9) Can you discuss any significant milestones that your start-up has achieved so far?
Our start-up has been selected by Expand North Star to showcase cutting-edge innovation at GITEX Africa 2023 in Marrakech. We are the roadshow winner in Rwanda.
We got the Youth Connekt 2022 Award.
10) Can you provide some information about your target market and its size?
Our market size is growing, compounding as annual growth in five next year’s industry will grow by 25% every single year.
11) How do you acquire customers or users, and what is your customer acquisition strategy?
Target audience: Are our customers the entrepreneurs, small and big business owners, sales professionals, or something else? What are their pain points and challenges?
- We will conduct interviews, surveys, or focus groups? We will also attend networking events or conferences to gather feedback in person?
- To reach out more potential customers we will use social media, email marketing, and other methods to reach out to potential customers and request their feedback. To be transparent about the purpose of your outreach and how their input will be used to improve your product
- Using the insights from our customer discovery to refine your product and test it with potential customers. Iterate based on their feedback until our have a product that meets their needs and solves their pain points.
12) What are your main revenue streams?
Research Partnerships: Eazylink may collaborate with research institutions, universities, or other organizations, which could involve funding, grants, or sponsorships.
- Custom Development and Consulting: Eazylink may offer custom development services or consulting to businesses that require specialized business card solutions, tailored models, or specific business projects.
13) Have you received any funding or investment for your start-up? If yes, can you share details?
No, I did not receive any funds or investments.
14) How do you plan to scale your business in the future?
Integration with other platforms: Eazylink Digital Business Card will expand its reach and user base by integrating their platform with other popular digital tools, such as email clients, social media platforms, and CRM software.
Global expansion: Eazylink Digital business card start-ups will expand services to other regions and countries, offering localized versions of their platform and tailored solutions for different markets.
15) What are the biggest challenges you have faced so far, and how did you overcome them?
Limited resources and funding: During the starting of Eazylink Start-ups often faced constraints in terms of financial resources, manpower, and infrastructure.
To overcome this, I tried to explore various funding options, such as seeking investments from angel investors and venture capitalists,
16) How will you measure success for your start-up or the achievements that your startup has reached?
Revenue and profitability: Revenue growth and profitability are essential indicators of our start-up’s success. We will track metrics such as monthly or annual revenue, gross profit margin, net profit margin, and customer lifetime value (CLV). Positive revenue trends and achieving profitability over time will demonstrate financial success.
17) How do you prioritize and manage your resources, such as time and budget?
Setting clear goals and objectives for my business goals and objectives, both short-term and long-term, and prioritizing activities based on their alignment with these goals. Ensure that my resource allocation supports the achievement of these objectives.
Identifying the tasks and projects that are most critical to the success of my start-up Determine which activities have the highest impact on revenue generation, customer acquisition, or product development. Focus your resources on these high-priority areas.
18) What is your marketing and branding strategy?
To reach out to more potential customers, we will use social media, email marketing, and other methods to reach out to potential customers and request their feedback. To be transparent about the purpose of your outreach and how their input will be used to improve your product
Using the insights from our customer discovery to refine your product and test it with potential customers. Iterate based on their feedback until we have a product that meets their needs and solves their pain points.
19) How did customers’ users find out about you?
Our customers are interested in what we are doing, and they loved our product and services because we are unique, which makes us stand out from our competitors.
20) What is your target audience?
Our customers are the entrepreneurs, small and big business owners, sales professionals, or something else? What are their pain points and challenges?
21) Regarding your marketing strategy, do you use social media, and if so, is it in-house or outsourced?
To reach out to more potential customers, we will use social media, email marketing, and other methods to reach out to potential customers and request their feedback. To be transparent about the purpose of your outreach and how their input will be used to improve your product
22) Have you faced any regulatory challenges?
No.
23) Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations you have established?
We have reseller partnerships with people from different countries, such as:
Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Kenya, etc.
24) What are the key things about your industry that outsiders don’t understand or misperceive?
Our digital business card product is unique because it has many more features than others, such as multiple themes and advanced data processing.
25) How do you handle feedback and incorporate it into your product or service development?
We do not reject or react badly to someone giving us feedback on our product; we try to understand them and hear if what they are saying really matters.
26) What is the biggest missing feature, meaning the one thing that customers’ users keep asking for?
Some customers requested that we add a payment solution to our digital business card, and my team and I are looking forward to it if it’s really needed so that we can integrate it.
27) Are you going to internationalize? If so, how are you planning to expand internationally?
28) Can you share any testimonials or success stories from your customers or users?
29) How do you ensure the security and privacy of users’ data?
Our privacy is really high; we host our system on a trusted server, and we do daily backups so that if anything happens, we are able to handle the issue.
30) How do you stay updated on industry trends and adapt your strategies?
Subscribing to relevant industry publications, magazines, newsletters, and blogs. Regularly reading articles and news updates to stay informed about the latest trends, developments, and insights within my industry. Follow influential thought leaders and experts who provide valuable industry analysis.
Participating in industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events. To gatherings provide opportunities to learn from industry experts, engage in discussions, and gain insights into emerging trends and best practices. Connect with peers, share experiences, and stay connected with the pulse of my industry.
31) Are there any patents or trademarks associated with your start –ups?
No.
32) Can you discuss your pricing strategy and how you determine your product’s value?
| PRODUCT | DESCRIPTION | MOQ (MINIMUM OF QUANTITY) | TOTAL AMOUNT |
| PVC BUSINESS CARD (UNCUSTOMIZED) | NFC & QR code enabled business card | ANY | $45 |
| PVC BUSINESS CARD (CUSTOMIZED) | NFC & QR code enabled business card | ANY | $70 |
| EPOXY CARD (UNCUSTOMIZED) | NFC Enabled Epoxy Card | ANY | $45 |
| EPOXY CARD (CUSTOMIZED) | NFC Enabled Epoxy Card | 100 PCS | $55 |
33) How do you plan to build and maintain customer loyalty?
Focus on delivering outstanding customer service at every touchpoint. Training staff to be attentive, responsive, and empathetic to customer needs.
Developing a strong brand identity that resonates with our target audience and clearly communicates our brand values, mission, and unique selling proposition. Consistently deliver on our brand promise to build trust and loyalty among customers.
34) What are your plans for expanding your team in the future?
We have a plan to expand our team, as we are looking for global expansion.
35) Can you provide examples of any social or environmental initiatives your start-up is involved in?
Eazylink digital business cards are an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional paper cards. By reducing paper waste, conserving resources, and promoting efficiency, they offer significant benefits to both businesses and the environment.
36) How do you approach customer support and handle any issues or complaints?
We have 24/7 live support, and our team is updated any time a client complains about any technical issue and is able to solve the problem quickly.
37) What have you learned so far from launching your start-up, and what pointers would you give a person reading this blog who is interested in having a start-up of his own?
What I can tell someone who is reading this article is that he or she may have a start-up running or be planning to build one in the future. As the founder of a start-up that is in a good stage now, I know that to make a start-up succeed, it takes time to put everything in order and push hard to take it to the stage you want it to be at.
38) Six months from now, what will be the biggest problem?
I think the printing machine for our card will be a problem because we will be receiving more orders.
39) Are you looking to hire new employees on your team? If so, what job openings do you currently have?
Currently, I’m not looking for new employees, but I will need them later during global expansion.
40) Are you looking for start-seed investment or VC funding? If you are looking for funding, where can potential investors contact you?
Email: elyseebrand@gmail.com
Tel/WhatsApp: +250789826383
41) How did Covid affect your start-up?
The global economic slowdown caused by COVID-19 has led to reduced consumer spending, disrupted supply chains, and decreased investor confidence. Our start-ups faced challenges in securing funding, generating revenue, and sustaining operations due to reduced market demand and financial constraints.
42) How is artificial intelligence (AI) affecting your industry and your company?
I don’t think AI is affecting anything in my company because we are using AI in data processing. In the future, we will integrate facial recognition.
43) Why should we feature you on our blog?
I have an interest in a start-up with an amazing journey, and I think this will be a great opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge innovation to the world.
44) How did you hear about our blog?
Recently, I met with one of your editors, Bob Debbas, during Gitex Africa 2023 in Marrakech, and I was very excited that you write articles on start-ups.
