HumanPlus — Selling NFC Chips to College Students

HumanPlus was my first real venture into entrepreneurship. While at John Abbott College, I started importing NFC chips from Australia and selling them to students in Montreal.

The Business

The idea: sell NFC chips people could implant in their hands, turning their body into a digital identity. The chips were about the size of a grain of rice. They could store digital business cards, link to profiles, or unlock compatible smart locks.

I handled:

• Sourcing — importing chips from Australia
• Sales — marketing to students and the local tech community
• Distribution — individual sales and small batches

What I Learned

Entrepreneurship at a Young Age

I learned quickly that having a cool product isn't enough. You need to understand your customer and how they perceive value. Students were intrigued by the technology, but pricing and trust were real barriers.

Supply Chain Basics

Importing taught me about logistics, customs, and the realities of cross-border trade. Sourcing from Australia meant shipping costs and delivery times that ate into margins.

Marketing Without a Budget

With no marketing budget, I relied on word-of-mouth and live demonstrations. Showing someone they could unlock a door with a wave of their hand was more convincing than any ad copy I could've written.

Why It Matters

HumanPlus was my first taste of building something from scratch. It taught me I could identify a market, source a product, and close sales — all while juggling classes. That drive stuck with me through MilmoLabs, the work at Matrox, and everything since.

It's also why I build products people actually use, not code for its own sake.