Where did you get the idea for your product and how did you realize it?

During his university studies, he self-taught web and webshop development, as well as graphic and content creation. He graduated with a degree in marketing and almost immediately started his own business, where he operated as a one-man agency. One of his best friends started his own company and asked Sebestyén to design the website, business card, and logo. It was then that he realized he needed his own business card, but not in the traditional format. He delved into the topic and concluded that the most optimal solution would be to use an NFC-enabled card. At that time, no one in Hungary or the surrounding countries was dealing with this, so he started designing and created Urilcard.

To validate the product, he developed a prototype and installed it on an NFC card. He attended an expo where he introduced himself to everyone present and asked for their opinions on his startup. Except for one person, everyone was enthusiastic about the idea, and by the end of the event, he had collected 50-60 pre-orders. This marked the beginning of the product’s development, which continues to this day.

 

How did you get to the “Sharks Among Us” show? How did you feel on stage?

He was selected during the pre-screening of the show and given the opportunity to pitch live to the Sharks. He recalls that if he could, he would go back to the show as many times as possible because he considers it an incredibly good format. The show was a great help because, in the first year, he consciously avoided using online marketing and instead focused on perfecting the product based on the needs of the target audience. His appearance on the show was absolutely positive, almost “explosive” in success, as they have been growing month by month since then.

 

Were you disappointed that they didn’t invest after all?

Naturally, it was a disappointment at the time, but he considers their decision logical, as it wouldn’t have been worthwhile for either party to enter the deal back then. After the show, they managed to tenfold their results in the first year following the Sharks and doubled their previous year’s results this year, so they hope to maintain this growth trend next year as well. They have several major partners and are planning to expand abroad, which is supported by the fact that they already receive several orders from beyond the borders indirectly.

 

How did the campaign you launched on Brancs help you? Why would you recommend Brancs to other entrepreneurs?

Like “Sharks Among Us,” Brancs is a particularly good format for the ecosystem. The goal of the campaign launched on the platform was to validate his product. “We are currently planning to run new products on Brancs before launching them to test and validate them. It is not only a great PR opportunity but also a way to reach a new audience. My goal on Brancs was to show my product to a new audience, and it turned out well.”

His campaign won the “Crowdfunding Campaign of the Year” category at the Best of 2023 Gala, which is the greatest confirmation that the Brancs community and its supporters liked the idea.

 

How do you acquire corporate clients, or how do you get into a corporation?

“Friends or business circles often ask how I managed to get the contact details of companies like Telekom, E.ON, and Konica Minolta Optime. There is no specific recipe for how to enter large companies. I usually try to find intermediaries who can skillfully get things to the right people. I’ve learned that it’s never the top boss you need to go to because they won’t have time to deal with it. Fortunately, now there are larger corporate inquiries that we don’t initiate directly, but our reputation spreads by word of mouth, and they contact us because they also want such a card.”

The company is growing slowly but steadily, with more and more users and presence in more places. At several companies, it can be observed that they initially used 10-20 cards, then observed the results in an experimental phase and subsequently ordered larger quantities.

 

What new products do you plan to introduce?

In the near future, they will launch some new products and solutions along with significant developments. One of the main goals is to acquire a foreign corporate client, which would provide significant momentum to their activities. Initially, they are focusing on perfecting and introducing the webshop for international expansion, as many users already use their products, and more and more people recommend them to their foreign partners and companies. There are also companies domestically through which foreign units can be found.

Now they use their own equipment and manufacture the cards themselves, having developed their own know-how. This allows them to offer completely unique solutions to their customers. They control the entire process from ordering to delivery, ensuring quality products and a smooth process.

 

How does Urilcard work?

Urilcard is a revolutionary digital solution aimed at replacing traditional paper business cards. The process is very simple: you simply tap the Urilcard to the other party’s phone, and you can access the received digital business card via NFC or QR code. There is also the option to send your card as a link via message or SMS, and the recipient can easily store it using the “save contact” button.

“Users can enter keywords that they want their clients to use to find them in the phone. For example, if a real estate agent has an Urilcard, they can enter keywords like ‘real estate’ or ‘buying and selling,’ and the client only needs to search for that keyword to find them. Additionally, you can upload a profile picture that will also be saved in the phone’s contacts along with all the desired contact details.”

 

Where do you see yourself in five years? What will be a success for you? Will you be satisfied with yourself?

“I haven’t fully decided yet. About five years from now, when Urilcard will be eight years old, I’m planning an exit in my mind. There are ideas about which sectors this can work in, new developments are coming that will open quite a few doors. It’s certain that we often talk in friendly circles that, unfortunately, I will never be completely satisfied because I’m quite a perfectionist and never feel like I’m doing everything perfectly. There’s always room for improvement.”