Those boring conference name tags are getting an upgrade, thanks to a group of students.
Like many college kids, Andrew Grant and Joshuai Grant found themselves going to a lot of networking events and conferences to get their careers off the ground. And by attending those events, they ended up with a large stash of lanyards and name tag holders.
While they were helpful when it came to getting to know a person’s name at the beginning of an event, they served little purpose after. Andrew noticed that those name tags don’t add much to the event experience, since attendees still have to get out their phones or business cards to connect and needed to pull out a paper schedule in order to make the most of the event.
But there was another thing the college students noticed: Name tags are not at all sustainable.
The US alone hosts more than 1.5 million corporate meetings, events, and conferences each year. After most of those events, millions of name tags are ultimately discarded. Each time, plastic badge holders go into the trash.
Andrew, a Mechanical Engineering student at Georgia Tech, thought there had to be a more tech-savvy, sustainable name-tag solution.
So he and his team started working on Tapn (formerly Maker Papr), a new startup that turns event name tags into essential networking tools.
What’s In A Name (Tag)

Tapn’s team has created an engineered paper that has NFC (near-field communication) capabilities embedded inside. That allows for instant contact sharing and real-time updates with attendees all from one smartphone tap of the name tag. Its streamlined event experience platform can replace the need for event-specific apps, programs, and business cards.
Importantly, Tapn can improve the overall event experience for attendees, organizers, and sponsors alike. The startup collects important metrics for event organizers so that they can see the impact of their in-person event in real-time.
Tapn is looking to add AI features down the road to help event attendees create their first follow-up messages to a new connection they’ve made. They are also working on making their paper waterproof, something that will help make name tags more durable and reusable.
“We saw a hole in the [event] market to not only make a large company but also a sustainable impact,” Andrew told Hypepotamus. “We want to help turn your contacts into contracts.”
Building College-Led Startups In Atlanta
The Tapn team, previously known as Makr Papr, competed in the 2024 InVenture Prize at Georgia Tech, a popular student-focused pitch competition that happens on campus each spring.
Andrew Grant and the Tapn team have spent the summer focused on figuring out Tapn’s core customer base and bringing on new customers. The team was able to focus on building the startup with the help of the inaugural Technology and Innovation Learning Experience (TILE) program, which was created by the Atlanta Mayor’s Office.
The program helps university students from Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges get the funding and support they need to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions. Students receive a $3,000 stipend, free room and board, and mentorship and training resources throughout the summer.
To date, Tapn has brought on D R Horton, Create X, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, Georgia Tech OMED, Sayers, and Fine Line Productions as customers.