Charlotte: Congratulations, Manuel, on TAGBASE.io being selected as one of the top 10 finalists for the Battle of the Builders at the Cardano Summit 2024 in Dubai. How does it feel to receive such recognition?
Manuel Mertl: Thank you! It’s an incredible honor for us. Being chosen as one of the top 10 finalists at such a prestigious event truly highlights the hard work and innovation we’ve put into TAGBASE. The Dubai summit is a gathering of some of the brightest minds in the blockchain and crypto world, and being part of it is a huge validation for what we’re building. We’re excited to showcase how TAGBASE bridges the gap between the physical and digital world.
Charlotte: What sets TAGBASE apart from others in the product authenticity space?
Manuel Mertl: (Laughs) You know, that’s a funny question because, in my opinion, we don’t really have serious competition. If you look closely at what other companies are offering, you’ll see why. Most of them are either not working at all, or their solutions are not user-friendly, not well-thought-out, or they don’t address the entire problem. Their approach is often too narrow, and in the worst cases, misleading.
We at TAGBASE have a much broader view of product authenticity. For us, blockchain integration is just a layer on top to prove digital ownership. But let’s be clear, blockchain itself has nothing to do with the core issue of verifying a physical product’s authenticity. What we do is ensure that TAGBASE serves as the key link between the physical object and the blockchain world.
Charlotte: Can you elaborate on how TAGBASE bridges this gap?
Manuel Mertl: Absolutely. We provide authenticity at two levels: First, we authenticate the physical product using our tamper-proof NFC tags and encryption. Then, we connect that product to the blockchain for digital verification. This dual approach ensures that the product is genuine, and if needed, the digital proof is also verifiable on the blockchain.
What others are doing—just linking a product to a blockchain token by writing a token address in some URL—is simply nonsense. That method doesn’t solve the core problem of whether the physical product is authentic. We think it’s ridiculous that some companies claim to provide product authenticity through such oversimplified approaches.
Charlotte: It sounds like you’re quite confident in TAGBASE’s approach. Will you be addressing these issues further?
Manuel Mertl: Definitely. We’re planning to start an article series where we’ll be discussing some of these so-called “competitors” and explaining why their solutions either don’t work at all or fall short in terms of user experience and thoughtfulness. Our goal is to educate people about what true product authenticity is and why TAGBASE leads the way. We believe it’s important for customers to understand that simply writing a blockchain token address somewhere doesn’t solve the issue. We aim to make this more transparent for everyone.
Charlotte: That sounds exciting! What can we expect from TAGBASE at the Cardano Summit 2024?
Manuel Mertl: We have a lot planned. We’ll be showcasing how our solution operates seamlessly with both the physical world and the blockchain ecosystem. As finalists, we are ready to demonstrate how TAGBASE is setting new standards in product authenticity. The summit is a great platform to share our vision with a global audience, and we’re confident this will take us to the next level.
Charlotte: Thank you, Manuel, and best of luck at the summit!
Manuel Mertl: Thank you very much! We’re looking forward to it.
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