Zaliant: A Nepali Startup Reinventing Visiting Cards with Digital Innovation

Kathmandu: While running a marketing agency, Raunak Bhattarai’s wallet was overflowing with visiting cards. Exchanging cards had become routine in every meeting and event, but over time, the process felt increasingly tedious, costly and ultimately, meaningless. Of the many cards stacked in his wallet, only a handful ever proved useful. The rest became forgotten slips of paper.

“Cards were exchanged every time you met someone, but it was just a formality,” Raunak recalls. “The cards I collected often stayed untouched in my wallet. When I actually needed one, I’d either lose it or have to manually transfer the number into my phone and reintroduce myself. I realized they served little practical purpose.”

Like many professionals, Raunak questioned the real value of traditional visiting cards. How often did people save the card details they received at crowded events? How often did those cards translate into meaningful connections?

His search for a better solution took a turn when he saw an ad for a digital card using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology allowing users to share contact information instantly with a simple tap. “That ad re-ignited my earlier idea,” Raunak says. “Nobody was offering a streamlined, well-designed version of this in Nepal. It could really work saving paper, modernizing networking, and offering a more premium experience.” Unimpressed with the design quality and service standards of existing competitors, Raunak believed there was room to build something better.

Though experienced in marketing and business strategy, Raunak lacked technical expertise so he turned to his friend Anurag Subedi, a developer with strong credentials in web security and software development. Anurag quickly shared his enthusiasm for the idea. “We looked into the market and found some early attempts, but most products felt underdeveloped,” Raunak explains. “That’s when we decided to fill that gap.”

They had a concept but no name until Raunak remembered one he’d once thought of for a clothing brand: Zalient. “The name doesn’t have a literal meaning,” he laughs, “but we gave it one premium and reliable. We want people to immediately associate ‘Zalient’ with quality.” From a small room, Zalient began its journey nearly a year ago, aiming to disrupt outdated networking methods and offer a smarter solution.

The road wasn’t easy. According to co-founder and Head of Technology Anurag Subedi, one of the biggest decisions was going fully online. “NFC chips offer limited storage,” he explains. “If we stored data offline, we’d be restricted to just name, phone number, and email. Users wouldn’t be able to update photos, add links, or change details later.”

To solve this, they embedded a unique web link into each card’s NFC chip and QR code, opening a live profile hosted on their server editable anytime by the user. But an online system introduced a new challenge: data security. Anurag whose background is in web security did not want to compromise in this aspect at all. says. After encountering vulnerabilities with local hosting providers such as unauthorized backend access he migrated Zalient’s system to Hostinger, a global platform with robust security standards. “There’s a trend of selling user data or using it for unsolicited marketing,” he adds. “We’re building a long-term brand. We don’t sell data, we don’t spam, and we never contact users without consent.”

Security aside, another concern was what to do if a card was lost. Since Zalient cards link to personal profiles, the risk of misuse is real. But the company has a safeguard: “As soon as we’re notified of a lost card, we deactivate the link. That makes it unusable even if someone finds it,” Anurag assures. They’re also working on letting users replace the NFC link with another of their choice offering more control and flexibility.

The Zalient website also includes a live chat feature for customer support, though it’s still being improved.

Beyond tech, Raunak and Anurag learned that trust and customer service are equally vital. From those early days in a living room, Zalient has grown into an organized office, receiving hundreds of queries daily. More than 1,100 cards have been distributed in under a year, with demand rising by 15–20% monthly. “Business owners, influencers, and startups are using it,” Raunak says. “People appreciate the clean design and customization options.”

Still, questions remain, mainly about sustainability. How can a company survive by selling a one-time product for Rs 899? (After discount) “Our goal isn’t just profit,” Raunak responds. “The card is our gateway. When users experience Zalient’s quality and convenience, they’ll trust our broader brand. That’s the long-term vision.”

Future sustainability will also depend on premium “add-on” features. While the basic profile will remain free, Zalient plans to offer profession-specific tools such as appointment booking for doctors and consultants, digital menus for restaurants, or portfolio timelines for creatives. “These tools will help users and support our growth,” says Anurag.

Eventually, Zalient aims to launch a full digital marketplace, letting users build dynamic websites easily and affordably. “We’re developing a platform where users can create unique websites, whether they’re tech-savvy or not,” says Raunak. “That platform will also carry the Zalient name.”

The Market Landscape

Zalient isn’t alone. Other companies in Nepal also offer NFC-based digital cards, some with features Zalient doesn’t yet provide—like embedding videos or adding maps and personal services. However, many lack transparency. One company had incorrect contact details, while others required full prepayment before even seeing a preview. Some offer QR and NFC customization, but lack portfolio features or charge recurring subscription fees.

Zalient requires an internet connection to access full profiles via NFC or QR, which some see as a limitation compared to offline-compatible cards. Still, Zalient’s preview-before-ordering, real-time profile updates, traffic insights, and unlimited sharing stand out. But the promise of keeping all services free forever remains an open question.

User Experiences

Dr. Ambrish Tiwari, an audiologist at Grande Hospital, says the card is helpful in clinical settings  allowing patients to quickly access his details. But he points out that not all phones support NFC, and some patients don’t carry smartphones. “It’s great, but we still need traditional cards for some cases,” he says.

He also questions long-term viability. “One card might last four or five years. Can they really sustain this with a one-time fee?” Still, he says, the user experience is excellent.

Pramosh Adhikari, COO of Slash Plus, echoes this: “It’s a smart solution for tech-friendly professionals. No need to carry stacks of cards. The service is smooth.”

How Zalient Works

A Zalient card includes the user’s name, profession, phone number, email, website, and a QR code plus an embedded NFC chip. The NFC link is dynamic, meaning it can be updated later, unlike the static QR code.

Users design their cards directly on the Zalient website through these steps: 

• First, click here to visit the Zalligent website.

• Enter your name, email, and password. Use the same login credentials to access the dashboard later.

• Once logged in, the Zalligent site will open. Tap the “Card” option and select “Customize.” The information you enter here will appear on your card.

• You can add logos to both the front and back of the card and adjust their size and position as needed.

• After filling out the “Information” section, go to the “Styling” section.

• From there, you can choose the card color, adjust the name’s font size, and format the contact details.

• Once done, your virtual card is ready. Tap the “Next Step” button to place your order.

Once finalized, Zalient verifies the order via phone before printing and shipping.

Despite offering online customization, 60% of orders come via WhatsApp. Does that signal poor UX? Raunak disagrees. “Some users just find WhatsApp easier. They worry about messing up customization, so they leave it to us.”

Initially priced at Rs 1,599, Zalient later slashed the price to Rs 899 to make the cards more accessible and encourage ecosystem adoption. Printing remains a challenge. High-quality NFC card printers cost lakhs, so Zalient  currently works with third-party providers, raising concerns about data privacy. Anurag insists that they vet all partners strictly and never compromise user trust.

Occasionally, errors have led to mismatched designs or data on cards. While customers are asked to cover reprint costs, the team has refined its verification process to minimize these issues. “We thoroughly confirm every order before printing,” says Anurag. “Still, human error can happen.”

 

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