Project Description
Team Name: Croc and Chips
Team Members:
Team Member 1: Max (Ngoc Cuong Hoang)
Team Member 2: Kingsley (Kar Keat Koh)
Team Member 3: Felix (Tien Minh Nguyen)
Team Member 4: Avery (Le Quynh Nhu Doan)
Team Member 5: Jane (Phuong Tran Tran)
Team Member 6: Echo (Tianhui Ke)
Team Member 7: Emma (ThiXuan Thanh Tran)
Project Description
Problem
Starting a business is already challenging — but figuring out which regulations apply to you shouldn’t make it harder.
Right now, small business owners face:
- Fragmented rules across local, state, and federal levels
- Conflicting information that’s hard to verify
- Time-consuming research just to figure out the first steps
This maze of red tape frustrates entrepreneurs, delays business launches, and takes valuable focus away from running the business itself.
Solution – The Clear Tape
Take a look
We built The Clear Tape to cut through complexity and make starting a business simpler:
- Translates legal language into plain English summaries
- Generates clear to-do & avoid lists tailored to the business type and location
- Links directly to official government sites for verification
- Tracks progress and updates as laws change
With The Clear Tape, business owners know exactly what to do — and what to avoid — to stay compliant.
AI Chatbot Integration
We know business owners need quick answers.
That’s why The Clear Tape includes an AI-powered chatbot, acting like a 24/7 legal assistant:
- Answers regulatory questions instantly
- Clarifies terms and eligibility criteria
- Provides links to trusted sources so users can double-check
Demo – The Clear Tape in Action
Meet Joe, a mechanic starting his own shop:
- Register: Joe enters basic info about his business.
- Dashboard: The app displays urgent tasks and a progress bar.
- Localised Compliance: Tasks are prioritised and filtered by location — Joe only sees what applies in his state.
- One-Click Access: Each item links to the correct government page.
- Track & Update: Joe marks tasks as complete and receives updates if laws change.
Why It Matters
- Saves time by reducing hours of research
- Avoids costly mistakes by keeping users compliant
- Builds confidence so entrepreneurs can focus on running their business
- Keeps users updated when regulations change
Preconditions & Limitations
- Requires access to up-to-date government data sources for accuracy
- Users must enter correct business details for tailored compliance results
Future Plans
- Expand database to cover more industries and regulations
- Document auto-scan to extract key compliance data from uploaded letters
- Push notifications when legal requirements change
- Multilingual support to make compliance easier for non-English-speaking business owners
Call to Action
We’ve been there too — lost in the paperwork and confusion.
Now we’re here to make sure no small business owner is held back by red tape again.
🚀 Try The Clear Tape and start your business with confidence.
Please help us to improve by filling the survey
https://tally.so/r/mZMvDA
Data Story
From 2023 to 2024:
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) spent over $85 million in total legal services.
~$47 million on internal legal teams
~$38 million on external law firms
The Department of Finance spent ~$53 million, almost entirely on external legal services
✅ These figures show that even federal agencies with dedicated legal departments still rely heavily on external legal help — costing tens of millions of dollars annually.
One of the biggest barriers faced by small businesses in Australia is navigating complex legal regulations. Unlike large institutions that have access to internal legal teams or can afford expensive external consultants, most small business owners are left confused, overcharged, or non-compliant — simply because the system isn’t designed for them.
By turning legal complexity into clear, guided steps, we help business owners focus on what matters most: building their future, not battling the fine print.
Link: https://www.finance.gov.au/publications/legal-services-expenditure/legal-services-expenditure-2023-2024
Link: https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/what-we-do/how-we-operate/accountability-and-reporting/asic-s-legal-expenditure
