I have a drawer full of business cards. Phone full of contacts with only a name. I have no clue who that is, then a bunch of other connections scattered across social platforms.
Each one represents a conversation I had. A person I met. A potential something.
Now they're just a graveyard. Names without faces. Titles without context. Phone numbers I'll never call because I have no idea why I should.
88% of contacts we make get forgotten within a week. Honestly, I'm surprised it's that low.
And we moved to Digital Business Card "Solution" from paper and thought this was progress.
Now instead of paper rectangles, we collect digital profiles. Same name. Same title. Same phone number.
Tap a phone or scan a QR code instead of exchanging paper. Revolutionary.
Don't get me wrong — it's better. No more typing in contacts manually. No more cards in the washing machine. No more "let me find a pen."
But here's the thing:
A digital business card is just a faster way to become a stranger.
You still end up in someone's contacts as "Alex - Conference" with no context about why you matter to each other.
The medium changed. The problem didn't.
What's Actually Wrong With Business Cards
Think about what a business card tells you:
- Name ✓
- Title ✓
- Company ✓
- Phone ✓
- Email ✓
- LinkedIn ✓
Cool. Now answer these questions:
- Why should I stay connected with this person?
- What could we build together?
- What do we have in common?
- What would we even talk about next time?
- How is this person relevant to what I'm working on right now?
A business card can't answer any of these. Neither can a digital one.
So we exchange contact info, feel productive about "networking," then slowly forget each other.
What If Your Business Card Was Actually Intelligent?
Stay with me here.
What if, instead of exchanging static information, you exchanged... understanding?
What if your "card" didn't just show who you are — but showed the opportunities you could unlock together?
Not a generic bio. Not your job title. Not a list of your social links.
Personalized intelligence. Revealing the unique potential between you and every person you connect with.
How This Actually Works
You meet someone. Let's call her Tina. You connect on Mētan.
Here's what Tina sees about you:
Professional synergies:
"Alex is building in the API space — your infrastructure experience at AWS could help solve their scaling challenges. They're fundraising and you've invested in 3 dev tool companies."
Personal connection:
"You're both rock climbers, both live in Tokyo, both obsessed with specialty cooking."
Collaboration potential:
"Based on your complementary skills, you could co-author a piece on cloud architecture for startups."
Now here's the magic: you see something completely different about Tina.
Because the insights are generated for YOUR specific personal perspective. Not her generic bio. Not your generic bio. The unique intersection of two humans. Unlocking their joint potential and opportunities.
This is what a business card should do. Not just transfer data. Create understanding.
"But I Like My Digital Business Card"
Look, if you just need to share your contact info quickly, any digital card works fine. They're all basically the same rectangle in different fonts.
But let's be honest about what they actually are: faster ways to become forgettable.
You're not memorable because someone has your phone number. You're memorable because they see the potential in connecting with you.
A contact is data. A connection is context.
mētan doesn't give you a business card. It gives you a relationship.
The "I Don't Remember This Person" Problem
Three months from now, Tina will look at her contacts and see your name.
In the old world, she'd think: "Alex... who's Alex? Oh, some conference probably."
In the new world, she taps your name and sees:
"Alex Chen. Met at SaaStr 2026. API infrastructure founder, raising seed round. You discussed: AWS scaling patterns, Series A intros, that climbing gym in Shibuya. Collaboration idea: cloud architecture article."
You're not a stranger. You're a story.
And when she needs exactly what you offer — API expertise, a co-author, a climbing partner — she thinks of you. Because she actually knows who you are. And can find you by simply opening her Mētan and activating deep search.
What Happens After You Connect
Here's where it gets interesting.
Old business cards (paper or digital): Exchange info → maybe follow up → probably forget.
mētan:
Instantly: You both get personalized insights. You understand why this connection matters before you even finish the conversation.
That evening: You review everyone you met. Full context. AI suggests personalized follow-ups. One tap to send.
Three months later: You need help with exactly what Tina knows. You find her instantly. Message her with context. She remembers you.
A year later: The relationship has actually grown. Because it was built on understanding, not just contact info.
This is what exchanging "cards" should feel like.
The Insight Gap
Here's something nobody talks about:
It takes hours of conversation to really understand a connection.
Where your skills overlap. What you could build together. Why you should stay in touch. What you'd even talk about.
Most business relationships never get there. We exchange info, have surface conversations, move on.
mētan closes that gap instantly.
"Mētan reveals more about your new connection in a second than hours of conversation ever could."
That's not marketing speak. That's literally what it does.
The Real Flex
You know what's cooler than a metal NFC card?
Meeting someone and knowing — instantly — what you could unlock together.
Walking into a room and seeing which people align with what you're building.
Following up without effort. Staying connected without forgetting.
That's the flex. Not the card.
Your Business Card Is Dead
Paper cards? Dead.
Digital cards? Slightly less dead.
Static contact info? Dead.
What's alive:
Dynamic, personalized, intelligent connections that adapt to who you're meeting and give you actual understanding.
Not rectangles. Relationships.
Make the Switch
Next time you're about to tap phones and exchange another forgettable digital card, ask yourself:
Do I want their contact info?
Or do I want to actually understand this person?
Don't just exchange. Connect.
