HangOut+

Tech professionals thrive on problem solving, whether it's writing code and seeing it run, analysing data to find insights, or building a product that comes to life. That feeling of accomplishment fuels creativity and motivation. But what if socialising could be just as rewarding?

Our app gamifies real world connections, allowing users to track meetups, reflect on interactions, and earn points, just like leveling up in a game or optimising an algorithm. By leveraging AI-powered reconnection suggestions, a meetup calendar, and mood tracking, the app helps users identify who truly adds value to their lives while rewarding them with tech products, games, and software tools for maintaining strong relationships.

Why should only code and data give us satisfaction? It’s time to make meaningful social connections just as fulfilling and rewarding.

Framing the Problem

What is the problem you are trying to solve? Who does it affect?

Pain Points: Why do people struggle to reconnect?

·       Many professionals get caught up in work and life, unintentionally losing touch with friends & colleagues.

·        Reaching out can feel forced or awkward if too much time has passed.

·       People struggle to recall names of past colleagues, especially after multiple job changes.

·       Without clear prompts, they may never think to reconnect.

·       Traditional networking (LinkedIn messages, coffee invites) feels transactional and unnatural.

·       People don’t always realize which relationships are truly valuable and uplifting.

·       Many maintain low-value or draining connections out of obligation.

Tech Professionals

·       People who have worked in multiple companies and remote teams.

·       Struggle with maintaining social connections outside of work.

·       People who have left companies but want to reconnect with past co-workers.

·       University/bootcamp graduates who lost touch with classmates.

·       Need structured, low effort ways to stay in touch

Our app aims to make social reconnection easier and more intentional by tracking hangouts, encouraging interactions, and rewarding real-world meetups.

Idea Explanation

What is your idea? How does it fix the problem?

Our idea is a "social reconnection tracker" like a period tracker but for friendships, that helps users:

• Log meetups with friends/colleagues & track how often they meet.

• Receive AI-based reminders: “You haven’t met [X] in a while, want to plan a catch-up?”

• Use a calendar feature: Schedule meetups, get reminders, and confirm attendance.

• Earn points for real-life interactions, with rewards like tech discounts.

• Rebuild old connections: The app cross-references past workplaces, universities, and locations to suggest people the user might know.

• Work & School-Based Suggestions

  During sign-up, users enter their past workplaces and schools.

  The app shows reconnection prompts like:

  • "You worked at Microsoft in 2022. Want to reconnect with someone from that time?"

  • "People from X University have monthly meetups. Join one?"

Why it works:

• Uses gamification (points system, leaderboards, streaks) to encourage socialisation. The points system can go towards games or tech products and we used inspiration from the app "Step Up" for a leaderboard as it is interactive and could potentially lead people to find socialising rewarding:

Badges for different levels:

·       Reconnection Pro (for reviving old friendships).

·       Networking Guru (for meeting 3+ colleagues in a month)

• Makes socialising effortless with AI-driven reminders & reconnection suggestions:

  The app analyses past interactions and suggests who to meet next.

  AI prioritises positive connections (e.g., “You always feel happy after meeting Lisa—schedule another meetup?”).

• Focuses on "logging off" and meeting in real life instead of adding another social media platform.

Implementation

Use Case Diagram

How do all the pieces fit together? Does your frontend make requests to your backend? Where does your database fit in?

How do all the pieces fit together?

• Frontend (Web App):

  • User logs meetups, schedules meetups, and tracks emotions post-meetup.

  • AI-powered suggestions for reconnections & meetup locations.

  • Point system & leaderboard for motivation.

  • Minimal chat function (only for confirming meeting up).

• Backend:

  • Database stores meetup history, moods, user profiles, and reconnections.

  • AI algorithms process data to give weekly insights & recommend reconnections.

  • API integration with calendar apps to schedule hangouts easily.

  • Security & privacy: Users control what data is shared or stored.

• Database Structure:

  • Users Table: Name, email, phone, work history, past locations, etc.

  • Meetups Table: Friend name, date, location, mood, confirmation status.

  • Reconnection Suggestions Table: AI-based matches based on shared work, school, past locations.

  • Points Table: Tracks social points & reward system.

Challenges

What did you struggle with? How did you overcome it?

Challenge: Keeping the app focused on real-world interaction
-> Solution: Limited chat functionality (only for exchanging contact details). The goal is to log off & meet in person, not chat endlessly.

Challenge: Keeping UI simple and intuitive
-> Solution: Inspired by Hinge & Period Tracker apps—minimalistic, clean design with quick actions.

Accomplishments

What did you learn? What did you accomplish?

• Built a structured onboarding flow that ensures seamless user experience.

• Visualised idea through Figma

• Created use case and class diagrams

• Developed a unique AI-based reminder system for social reconnection.

• Created a gamification model that rewards users for disconnecting from tech & meeting in real life.

• Designed a way to track emotions post-hangout—helping users identify who positively impacts their well-being.

• Integrated work/school history to enhance friend recommendations.

Next Steps

What are the next steps for your project? How can you improve it?

Phase 1 - MVP Launch (Target: London)

• Test in tech circles.

• Gather feedback on AI reminders & reconnection accuracy.

• Validate point system & rewards program.

Phase 2 - AI Enhancements & Expansion

• AI improves friend recommendations (e.g., “You and X both worked at Barclays in 2020. Want to reconnect?”).

• Personalized weekly reports: “You saw 3 friends this week and felt 70% happier!”

• More data insights (introvert vs. extrovert analysis, preferred meetup locations).

Phase 3 - Expand Beyond London

• Open to more UK postcodes & other professions.

• Introduce corporate partnerships (e.g., LinkedIn integration for work-based connections).

Final Summary

Our app combines AI-powered reconnection, gamification, and emotional tracking to help busy professionals rekindle friendships and prioritise social well-being. Unlike traditional social media, this app encourages real-life interaction rather than endless online scrolling.