Challenge
The challenge lies in ineffective networking at industry business conferences and the absence of a suitable networking tool in electronic form to facilitate the collection, organization, and management of contacts acquired at events. The key issues identified by respondents to our survey, when examining the needs of app users, were:
Finding useful information about speakers and attendees at an event.
Selecting people to engage with.
Identifying the right business partner.
Maintaining contact after the event.
Solution
The ZUMA application is a database application designed for industry conference users. With its user-friendly interface, we offer a straightforward solution that meets the needs of even the most demanding conference guests who expect the highest quality of service. Our application includes all the necessary functionalities for efficient event registration and allows users to gather contacts acquired during the event in one place, eliminating the need to use other applications or programs.
The golden circle - start with “WHY”
Why?
Because we identified a gap in the market and want to enhance the comfort of conference participants. Work on the ZUMA application began while attending various industry, social, political, or cultural events, where we noticed a lack of a suitable tool for managing contacts gathered at these events. For this reason, we decided to create our own – easy to use – tool.
How?
By providing a full-featured product whose functionality is based on researched user needs. The application will compile extensive databases and assist in organizing contacts.
What?
ZUMA is an application for collecting contacts acquired at conferences and useful during events. Our mission is to create an networking app that will become a powerhouse in both the business and public events market.
Business Model
B2C
The application is aimed at users who are aware of their needs and skills. The target group we are targeting with the ZUMA application is people who are open to using innovative technological solutions. They are people between the ages of 18 and 60 living in cities that host business conferences, community festivals and other themed events. Users of the application are people working in corporations, foundations, think-tanks, scientists, experts, entrepreneurs or freelancers running their own businesses.
Development
Roadmap
September 2024
Apply for start-up development contests.
October 2024
Build business infrastructure, choose software house, find CTO.
November 2024
Obtain first grant funds, register LLC.
December 2024
Begin software development.
January 2025
Develop the first application version.
February 2025
Launch MVP, gather tester feedback.
March 2025
Improve the application.
April 2025
Start searching for investors.
May 2025
Acquire more funding, work on final application version.
June 2025
Recruit and onboard team members.
July 2025
Release final ZUMA version, host launch event.
August 2025
Reach 100,000 users in Poland and Europe.
September - December 2025
Scale company, continue application development.
2026
Implement AI, expand to 5 CEE countries.
2026-2030
Global expansion.
New technologies
Artificial intelligence
Big data analysis
Cloud computing
Machine learning
Virtual Reality
Internet of things
Pricing
Our primary revenue stream comes from a paid subscription model. We envision our business model as SaaS. We are targeting both the European and global markets, and therefore, we offer price lists in euros and dollars.
Sustainable Developement Goals
Which UN Sustainable Development Goals does the ZUMA application meet?
ESG Index
The ZUMA app is a sustainable mobile tool designed for networking before, during, and after events. Our mission is to shape the society of the future by fostering strong connections among young Europeans. These connections will enable individuals and groups to self-develop and enhance their future career paths. The momentum of growing networks serves as the catalyst for creating new social circles. These circles aim to transform the society of tomorrow and shape a brighter future, ensuring a better life for everyone in Europe and around the world.
The application’s main feature is to facilitate finding potential business partners, freelancers eager to co-create innovative projects or start-ups, and to guide users in building lasting interpersonal relationships.
Our goal is to establish a business model rooted in values. The primary objectives of the business of the future should focus on social inclusion, reducing social inequality, and acting to protect the climate. In our case, this involves reducing water usage in the production of business cards. By doing so, we combat deforestation, decrease water consumption, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The ZUMA app aims to introduce sustainable solutions within a closed-loop economy model to protect the planet through technological innovation. We strive to improve the quality of life, promote green transformation, and create new job opportunities.
The mission of the ZUMA app is to create a European community that, through informed participation in the development of new technologies, strives to reduce disinformation in society, ensure equal access to education and decent work, and combat the climate crisis. The year 2024 is a pivotal moment for ZUMA as a socially engaged start-up. The future of a project that can influence Europe’s future and improve the quality of life for Europeans hinges on this crucial time. My goal is to unite European society and enhance its resilience to international crises.
ZUMA aims to be a company that not only has a positive impact on the environment but also generates social impact on multiple levels. In our future company, we intend to prioritize diversity in management and the team, as well as uphold workers’ rights. We aspire for ZUMA to operate sustainably.
Founder Experience
Founders Experience
Founder Experience
Zuzanna Kowalewska holds two degrees, a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management and a master's degree in International Relations.
Zuzanna is among the alumni of prestigious programs for young innovators in start-up development, such as the regional program organized by the City of Łódź, Młodzi w Łodzi – Mam Pomysł na Start-Up (2022); the Shesinnovation Academy by Perspektywy Women in Tech (2023); the pan-European GAEA competition (2024); and the incubator ASPIRE by Social Tides EU (2024), from which she received a grant for MVP implementation. She has gained professional experience working as a long-time manager of marketing conferences (Executive Summit) and organizing market-recognized competitions for marketers (Marketing Director of the Year) and innovators (Innovative Leader). Her recent professional experience includes working as a consultant and business coach at the Twój Startup Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development where she combined her passion with professional development by providing training in the area of start-up growth. In 2024, she attended the Youth Development Forum World Congress in China, focused on the development of new technologies and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (UN) by 2030. She is passionate about the Blue Ocean Strategy.
Founder Experience
Wiktor Pasternak gained a master degree in architecture at the I. Łukasiewicz University of Technology in Rzeszów, where he expanded skills in creating sustainable and functional designs, as well as understanding human needs and combining them with practical solutions - now uses this knowledge by building an application for establishing business relationships and managing contacts in the form of a digital portfolio.
During the work in architectural offices, he gained experience in space design and process management, which he now uses in building technological solutions. He created the design of modules for residents in public spaces, which developed the ability to create sustainable, creative solutions. His experience in 3D graphics has helped him create aesthetically pleasing, intuitive interfaces that are crucial to the convenience of app users. In turn, his work in social media marketing has given him the ability to build an engaged community and promote effectively – which is invaluable in growing a startup. Wiktor is passionate about startups because of their dynamism and ability to innovate quickly to meet current market needs. As co-founder of ZUMA, he aims to expand the application globally, based on the Blitzscaling method.
Recent achievements
