The Moment I Forgot My Business Cards – And How It Led to TAPiTAG
By Mark Gibbons, CEO & Co-Founder, TAPiTAG
Some moments in business do not seem important at the time, yet they change the entire direction of your life.
For me, that moment happened at CES in Las Vegas.
I had travelled there excited and prepared. CES is one of the largest tech events in the world. It offers many chances to meet partners, customers, and innovators. I was ready for long days of networking, product conversations, and new relationships.
Then I reached into my bag to take out my business cards.
Nothing was there.
I had forgotten every single paper card.
We tried to set up emergency printing in Las Vegas. However, all the options were either too slow or not possible. So I found myself at the world’s leading tech show with no practical way to share my details. At an event built around innovation, I was stuck relying on a tool that simply was not working for me anymore.
In that moment I remember thinking very clearly:
There must be an easier, more reliable way to connect with people.
That thought became the beginning of TAPiTAG.
From a Lost Stack of Cards to NFC Business Cards
The problem I faced at CES was simple but powerful:
I could not share who I was, what I did, or how to reach me in a professional way.
On the flight home, I kept replaying the experience in my mind:
- Why are we still depending on paper business cards?
- Why do we accept running out, losing them, or throwing them away?
- Why isn’t there a simple nfc business card that you can use everywhere?
That frustration turned into a clear idea:
A digital business card nfc solution that would work with a single tap, never run out, and could update in real time.
I did not plan to create one of the best nfc business cards in the world. I just wanted a better answer to a very real problem I had personally experienced. But once you feel that kind of pain yourself, it becomes difficult to walk away from it.
That is how TAPiTAG started: from one forgotten stack of paper cards and one important question.
Building TAPiTAG the Hard Way: Bootstrapped and Personal
TAPiTAG did not begin with big investors, large offices, or a huge team.
It began with a shared belief, and a willingness to invest everything we had.
We bootstrapped the company from the ground up.
No outside investors.
No large financial backing.
Just founders determined to solve the problem we saw at events like CES:
professionals looking for a simple way to connect that did not fail them.
We spent our time designing and testing nfc business cards, experimenting with different materials, chips, and layouts. We worked on the software behind the experience — how a nfc digital business card should feel when someone taps it with their phone. We wanted something fast, secure, and truly simple.
Every order, every customer, every event where someone chose TAPiTAG over traditional cards meant a great deal to us. It still does.
Why In-Person Events Still Matter So Much
Even with digital tools, AI, and remote communication, I believe strongly in the power of in-person events.
When you are in the same room as someone, you can:
- Read their energy and intent
- Build trust more quickly
- Ask deeper questions
- Form relationships that go beyond a single transaction
Conferences, trade shows, and meetups are still where many of the best opportunities start. That is why we worked hard to make NFC business card solutions fit real-world settings. These include loud halls, busy booths, quick chats, and short times to make a strong impression.
People often ask me, “What are nfc business cards, and how do nfc business cards work in practice?”
For me, the answer is simple:
They are modern tools made to focus on human interaction. They help avoid the hassle of sharing information.
You tap, they see your details, they save them instantly — and the conversation continues without interruption.
From Digital Business Cards to a Full NFC Ecosystem
What started as one NFC business card idea has now become a complete system of NFC solutions. These solutions make life and business easier.
Today, TAPiTAG is recognised as a world leader in NFC digital solutions, helping hundreds of thousands of people with:
- Digital Business Cards – Our core product. Many customers say it is the best NFC digital business card for networking events, client meetings, and sales teams.
- Google Review Solutions – Tap-to-review tools that make it easier for happy customers to leave public feedback.
- Gamified Donations – NFC solutions that help organisations raise funds in a more engaging and interactive way.
- POS Systems – NFC-enabled experiences that simplify how customers interact and pay.
- TAPiTAG Pets – Smart tags that help protect pets and reunite them with their owners.
- TAPiTAG Tip X / Striketip – Tools that allow people to tip service workers and performers digitally, quickly, and securely.
Each one is built on the same principle that started at CES:
reduce friction, simplify connections, and let technology support human relationships rather than replace them.
Are NFC Business Cards Safe and Worth It?
Another question I hear often is, “Are nfc business cards safe?”
It is an important concern, especially as more professionals move from paper to digital tools.
TAPiTAG uses secure links and controlled information sharing. Our NFC card business solution does not read data from a phone. It only shares the information you choose to program into it. You control what people see and can update it at any time.
For many users, the benefits are very clear:
- They never run out of cards
- They can update their role, number, or website instantly
- They avoid reprinting costs
- They appear modern, organised, and ready
In my view, NFC business cards are valuable. They solve the problem that began my journey at CES: not being ready to share information when it matters.
Gratitude for Everyone Who Chose TAPiTAG
When I think about how far we have come from that one moment in Las Vegas, I feel a deep sense of gratitude.
We began with no guarantees.
We learned by building, listening, and improving.
We put everything of ourselves into this company.
Today, I find it inspiring to see many places using TAPiTAG. You can find it at events, in offices, in stores, and at charity fundraisers. Every tap represents a connection, a lead, a new relationship, or an opportunity that might not have happened otherwise.
To our customers, partners, and supporters:
Thank you for trusting TAPiTAG.
Thank you for choosing our nfc business cards and our wider range of NFC solutions.
And thank you for being part of this journey with us.
We built this to make real-world networking easier.
We will keep building, because we know how much those human moments matter.
— Mark Gibbons
CEO & Co-Founder, TAPiTAG
