Printing stacks of enterprise playing cards might be expensive and inefficient, but staying professionally linked stays important. Recognising this problem, a younger entrepreneur launched the Linkio digital enterprise card, an modern, reusable resolution designed to streamline networking whereas decreasing printing bills.
“I need folks to consider the corporate that has been capable of join Jamaicans by way of know-how,” stated Jonathan Singh, software program developer and proprietor of Linkio Applied sciences.
For Singh, conventional enterprise playing cards shortly grew to become a frustration fairly than a helpful networking instrument. Attending occasions meant amassing stacks of enterprise playing cards—a lot of which ended up forgotten in a drawer, by no means resulting in follow-ups. Likewise, handing out playing cards typically resulted in little to no response, making all the course of really feel ineffective. Realising the inefficiency, he started trying to find a contemporary various that will make networking extra seamless and sensible. That’s when he found close to area communication (NFC) know-how—the identical wi-fi system utilized in tap-to-pay bank cards and ID badge scanning. Whereas the know-how had been round for years, it remained largely underutilised for networking regionally. Initially, he was merely searching for a digital enterprise card to streamline his personal networking when he programmed his personal enterprise card for the primary time. As he started utilizing it, folks took discover and expressed curiosity in having one for themselves. Recognising the potential, his associate and co-founder, Gabrielle Whervin, inspired him to show the idea right into a enterprise. Although hesitant at first, he finally embraced the thought, because of Whervin’s persistence. With an preliminary funding of $25,000, Linkio was created in March 2024, a paperless choice that isn’t solely environmentally pleasant however can also be handy to simply have one card that’s totally customisable.
“Whenever you print enterprise playing cards, it’s caught the way in which it’s, and by that I imply if, for instance, you print a thousand enterprise playing cards or perhaps a hundred enterprise playing cards in January and your place modifications in March, then these previous enterprise playing cards wouldn’t change into ineffective just about. So being able to replace one thing everytime you need is a plus, for my part,” Singh advised the Jamaica Observer.
Whereas debates proceed between conventional and paper enterprise playing cards, Linkio’s digital enterprise card eliminates disconnect by preserving all important particulars in a single accessible place. With only a faucet or scan, contacts can immediately join, schedule appointments, or attain out straight, fostering stronger networking relationships and growing enterprise alternatives. By transferring to a paperless system, professionals not solely streamline their networking but in addition be certain that potential shoppers or collaborators can have interaction with them in a extra rapid and significant manner. Since its launch in March 2024, Linkio has produced roughly 100 digital enterprise playing cards, spending its first yr centered on elevating consciousness concerning the know-how. Now, as the corporate strikes into 2025, the technique shifts in the direction of aggressive social media advertising, concentrating on younger professionals and enterprise house owners trying to broaden their networks. From entrepreneurs and influencers to salespeople and company professionals, Linkio goals to supply a seamless, tech-driven various to conventional networking strategies. With rising curiosity in digital options for skilled networking, Linkio has set an formidable aim of securing 10,000 new sign-ups by the top of the yr because it continues to modernise the way in which folks join.
“Most of my shoppers just like the comfort of getting it, they usually like the truth that as a substitute of telling someone their quantity or telling someone their e-mail or telling somebody their social media, the whole lot is a one-stop store,” he stated.
