GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), delivering you a daily startup idea that’ll make your networking unforgettable.

Check out 2k+ more ideas with NTE Pro for only $99

And there are lots of more ideas in our past newsletters

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

• Daily Idea - Scan. Claim. Connect.

• Real World > Internet > Idea

QR codes. NFTs. Meaningful connections

Inspired by this tweet

The One Liner

Turn conference handshakes into lasting connections with exclusive digital perks.

The 140 character tweet (or X) version

Conferences are chaotic. QR codes and exclusive NFTs make networking seamless. Scan, claim merch, and stay connected—without the awkward follow-up.

The Longer Story Version

The Problem

Conferences are a networking goldmine, but most connections fade into the abyss. You collect business cards, scribble notes, and promise to follow up—but then what?

People forget. DMs get ignored. Leads go cold.

And for companies? Booth engagement is a guessing game. How many real prospects did they actually connect with? Who’s genuinely interested versus just grabbing a free tote bag?

Traditional conference networking = outdated.

The Solution

What if every interaction had built-in follow-through?

Here’s how it works:

1. You scan, you win. Companies place QR codes at their booth. Attendees scan to claim a limited NFT that unlocks exclusive merch, perks, or discounts.

2. Instant engagement tracking. The company now has a direct line to warm leads—who scanned, when, and what they engaged with.

3. No more lost connections. Attendees get something cool; companies get real-time prospect data.

Instead of just another business card in a stack, you’re in their wallet (literally).

How We’d Build It

🛠 Backend: Use thirdweb or Crossmint for NFT generation and easy claim processes.
🔗 QR Code Magic: Use TonicPow or Blinq for trackable QR codes with embedded UTMs.
📊 Data & CRM Sync: Pipe everything into Notion, Airtable, or a HubSpot integration via Make (Zapier is too basic).
🛒 Merch Redemption: Integrate with Shopify's digital product API for seamless fulfillment.
🚀 User Experience: Build a lightweight Webflow landing page with Framer animations for that premium touch.

No blockchain headaches. No clunky onboarding. Just seamless engagement that feels like magic.

Why It Works

🔹 Attendees get an incentive to engage—who doesn’t love free, exclusive merch?
🔹 Companies turn booth traffic into trackable, high-intent leads.
🔹 Conference organizers get a futuristic networking layer to pitch sponsors.

Bonus Play

Want to gamify engagement? Drop a rare, golden NFT that unlocks something huge—VIP dinner access, backstage passes, or a meeting with the CEO. Scarcity drives action.

Why It Needs to Exist

Because spending $50K on a conference booth and walking away with a spreadsheet of names isn’t enough.

Because people remember experiences, not sales pitches.

Because the future of networking isn’t about collecting business cards—it’s about creating connections that last.

Needs To Exist Pro

Unlock the Ultimate Startup Idea Repository for Only $99/Year

• 2,000+ Startup Concepts and Counting: Gain access to an ever-growing database of innovative business ideas.

• Effortlessly Searchable and Categorized: Find the perfect idea quickly with our easy-to-use search and categorization features.

• Handpicked from Hundreds of Reputable Sources: Benefit from ideas curated from a vast array of trusted sources.

• Comprehensive Action Plans Included: Get detailed steps to help you take action and bring your chosen idea to life.

Connecting the physical world to the internet

QR codes. GPS. NFC chips. NFTs (yes, still useful). All boring-sounding tech… until you use them to unlock magic in the real world.

🍜 The Ramen Rule

If I can’t explain an idea to someone at a ramen shop in under 60 seconds, it’s too complicated.

This is one of the simplest and most repeatable ways to come up with startup ideas:

Look at things people are already doing IRL and ask: "How could this be better if it were connected to the internet?"

Here’s how to apply it.

👀 Step 1: Observe Offline Behavior

This works best when you're out in the world.

You're not looking for tech. You're looking for behavior:

• People lining up outside a club or a merch booth

• Someone checking in at a front desk

• Handing out flyers at a farmer’s market

• Free samples at Costco

• Event wristbands

• That awkward moment when someone says “Hey! Text me later” and no one follows up

All of these are analog actions… which means there's room to upgrade.

⚙️ Step 2: Ask “What if this was connected?”

Use the holy trinity: QR codes, GPS, and NFC.

Some examples to get your wheels turning:

• Farmers market loyalty program: Vendors hand out a card with a QR. Scanning it mints a collectible that doubles as a digital punch card. Visit 5 times? Get a free basket. Vendor gets repeat customers + data.

• Bar wristband challenge: Friend group enters a bar and gets a wristband with a QR. Scan to join a game—maybe trivia, maybe dares. Leaderboard on the TV. Social + sticky + shareable.

• Post-event follow-up: Every booth at a conference gets a unique QR that lets attendees claim an NFT for swag. You get their email + they get a reason to care. Bonus: track who scanned, when, and where.

The point isn’t the NFT. It’s that you’ve created a bridge between moment and memory. And you can now follow up with intent.

🛠 Tools to Make It Real

You don’t need to be a dev wizard to build this stuff. Here’s a tech stack to get started:

• QR Codes: TonicPow or QR Code Monkey for free/static. Want dynamic tracking? Use Bitly or Blinq.

• NFTs (simple & fast): Crossmint or Thirdweb — they abstract the blockchain stuff so it feels like any other digital download.

• No-code Frontend: Carrd for a landing page. Or Webflow if you want it fancy.

• Workflow Glue: Make.com (more powerful than Zapier) to connect forms, APIs, and data flows.

• Data tracking: Start simple with Airtable, level up to Supabase or PostHog when needed.

💡 Final Thought

The next big idea isn’t in ChatGPT’s output.
It’s at your kid’s soccer game.
It’s on your morning walk.
It’s anywhere people are interacting in the real world and the internet hasn’t caught up yet.

So go outside. Watch. Listen. Then build the digital layer that makes it better.

These ideas?
They don’t just need to exist.
They already exist. They just need someone (👋 you) to make them real.

One More Meme