1) What is exactly that you do, and what is your start-up about?
I am the Founder and CEO of Taaply, and we are a tech company specialized in RFID technology to facilitate the way businesses communicate with their clients by providing bespoke solutions within healthcare, payments, business practices and processes, education, etc.
2) What is the problem that your start up is trying to resolve?
We want to transition businesses from paper processes to digital, secure, and efficient processes, thus bringing in more revenue and business analytics for business owners to understand and properly manage their businesses and customers.
3) What inspired you to start this particular business?
I wanted a digital solution to easily exchange information since everything nowadays is more or less digital.
4) When was your start-up founded? What stage is your start-up currently at?
Taaply was founded in 2019 in Arizona. We are currently at the pre-seed stage.
5) Are you the sole founder? If not, how did your team meet? Who does what on your team?
We are a team of five with different sets of skills in management, IT, and marketing. We have a CMO and COO who are in charge of marketing and operations, respectively. Our CEO, who oversees everything, and two other members who are advisory members of the team
6) What is your start-up business model, and how does it work?
Our business model is to sell our products as a one-time purchase and encourage long-term subscribers to use our software.
5) What exactly differentiates you from your competitor in the marketplace? Can you name a few?
Most of our competitors focus only on digital business cards. We have extended our use of RFID technology into healthcare, payments, entertainment, and more.
6) At what stage is your start up currently at? (early-stage, growth stage, established)
Growth stage
7) Can you discuss any significant milestones that your start-up has achieved so far?
We have raised half a million dollars in funding and partnered with MTN Cameroon to digitize business cards.
8) Can you provide some information about your target market and its size?
Our target market is private and public businesses still using paper processes within healthcare, financial services, education and SMEs needing a digital solution to improve their customer experience, staff productivity, and increase their sales.
9) How do you acquire customers or users, and what is your customer acquisition strategy?
We are building a brand and an experience. We let our reputation speak for itself. Our customers have been very pleased with our work and have recommended our services several times.
10) What are your main revenue streams?
Our digital business cards were a success in Africa, and because of this, we have had opportunities to work with a lot of companies in different capacities. Our payment solution, called Taaply Cash, is readily available now, and that’s where our next focus is.
11) Have you received any funding or investment for your start-up? If yes, can you share details?
We have raised half a million dollars so far from strategic partners in the USA. This has helped us scale our business products.
12) How do you plan to scale your business in the future?
We are already working in several business sectors, and now we will be implementing AI algorithms to improve the quality of our services and the experience of our customers.
13) What are the biggest challenges you have faced so far, and how did you overcome them?
Our biggest challenge so far, and it still is, is making a name for yourself. People love the product and services, but because you are a start-up, people remain a bit sceptical. Partnering with a major brand like MTN has helped build credibility.
14) How will you measure success for your start-up or the achievements that your start-up has reached?
Success for Taaply is about making progress. As long as progress has been made from the beginning until now, we are on the right path. There has been a substantial amount of growth, including raising funds, product appreciation, partnerships, team development, and expansion into different countries.
15) How do you prioritize and manage your resources, such as time and budget?
Everything is about planning. We know plans change, so that’s why we always make room for that change. We focus on trends and what matters at the moment. In tech, things change a lot and very fast. What might be trendy now might not be trendy in one week.
16) What is your marketing and branding strategy?
We outsource our marketing to companies/agencies that have shown success in what they do.
17) How did customers/users find out about you?
Mostly via social media ads, social media influencers, word of mouth and our website. Mainly through ad campaigns.
18) What is your target audience?
Our target audience is SMEs and young entrepreneurs within most industries because we create bespoke solutions for their individual businesses.
19) Regarding your marketing strategy, do you use social media, and if so, is it in-house or outsourced?
We do use social media, and we sometimes use in-house but mostly outsource it.
20) Have you faced any regulatory challenges?
None so far.
21) Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations you have established?
We have established a partnership with MTN Cameroun, and we are about to launch MTN Smart Cards at several MTN service centers in Cameroon.
22) What are the key things about your industry that outsiders don’t understand or misperceive?
Most people still don’t understand what digital business cards are. They still think it is a form of credit/debit card. Most people in Africa, to be more specific.
23) How do you handle feedback and incorporate it into your product or service development?
At Taaply, we consider every feedback because it is our source of growth and helps us better understand what our customers want. We always want to improve our customer experience, so we make sure we collect feedback and act on it.
24) What is the biggest missing feature, meaning the one thing that customers/users keep asking for?
Our experience is that customers always want the impossible, and here at Taaply, we always love a challenge. We strive to make the impossible possible to improve our customer experience and growth.
25) Are you going to internationalize? If so, how are you planning to expand internationally?
We already have offices in the USA and Cameroon. We have distributors in about 7 countries, and we are always looking to spread our wings. We are very open to working with people all over the world.
26) Can you share any testimonials or success stories from your customers or users?
Many of our customers have appreciated our products and services. One in particular came all the way from Mali to Cameroon to shake my hand because of the amazing product we have and how it has changed things. Most people love technology and how easy it is to use.
27) How do you ensure the security and privacy of users’ data?
We take our customers’ security and privacy very seriously, which is why we have put measures in place to ensure their privacy is safe, such as biometric login and using reliable servers.
28) How do you stay updated on industry trends and adapt your strategies?
Tech is an industry where you always have to be alert to new trends; otherwise, you will be out of business. Watching the news, blogs and social media are one of several ways we stay informed. Attending tech conferences is also very refreshing to see what others in the industry are doing.
29) Are there any patents or trademarks associated with your start-ups?
Taaply is a trademark, and we are currently looking into patenting our services.
30) Can you discuss your pricing strategy and how you determine your product’s value?
We compare what is out there in the market and offer very competitive pricing. We also test the market and get customer feedback on pricing so as to better understand how we can position ourselves.
31) How do you plan to build and maintain customer loyalty?
By providing an exceptional experience for our customers, communicating with them, and always providing an after-sales service experience.
32) What are your plans for expanding your team in the future?
By the end of 2023, we are looking to increase our executive team so as to manage several aspects of the company. We also need to increase our field support team so as to quickly resolve any problems our customers and partners may be facing on the field.
33) Can you provide examples of any social or environmental initiatives your start-up is involved in?
Taaply is built on the premise of going green. By digitizing paper processes, our aim is to reduce our carbon footprint.
34) How do you approach customer support and handle any issues or complaints?
We have a support team that handles all inquiries over the phone or via WhatsApp. You can also contact us online at www.taaply.com to review our FAQ.
35) 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?
Be patient, committed, and consistent in what you do. Rome wasn’t built in a day. There are a lot of challenges you will go through, such as your team not putting in the same effort, customer complaints, partnership decisions, etc. You will make mistakes, but most importantly, learn from them and move on.
36) Six months from now, what will be the biggest problem?
How to know how a partnership deal works.
How to manage the growth and expansion into different countries.
37) Are you looking to hire new employees on your team? If so, what job openings do you currently have?
Not right now, but by the end of 2023, we will be looking for more after sales support staff.
38) Are you looking for start-seed investment or VC funding? If you are looking for funding, where can potential investors contact you?
Yes. We can be reached at support@taaply.com
39) How did COVID affect your start-up?
It helped our product get into the market due to contactless sharing.
40) How is artificial intelligence (AI) affecting your industry and your company?
AI is the new trend, and a lot of companies are looking into using AI in their current businesses. It’s an opportunity for us too to implement such a technology to improve our services.
41) Why should we feature you on our blog?
We are a very innovative start-up with a passion for what we do. Our progress speaks for itself.
42) How did you hear about our blog?
GITEX conference.
