BOGO Buddy – Project Story

Maker Track

Inspiration

We’ve all seen Buy-One-Get-One-Free (BOGO) deals at places like Target, Walmart, and Amazon, but how often do we actually need two of the same item?

This idea came from a simple frustration: shoppers (especially students) miss out on deals or waste products because BOGO offers force them to buy more than they want.
I wanted to build a system that makes it possible to enjoy discounts without overbuying , by connecting people who want the same deal.

What It Does

BOGO Buddy helps users split BOGO deals by matching them with someone who wants the same item.

• Users choose a product they'd like to buy through a BOGO deal.
• They're added to a waitlist for that product.
• Once another user joins the same waitlist, they're automatically matched and both notified.
• Now they each get one item at half the cost , no overbuying, no waste.

How We Built It

• I mapped out the logic and user journey, then used Replit to prototype the core matching algorithm.
• The algorithm uses a hashmap-based queue system to group users by product and match them in pairs.
• I used Replit AI to scaffold the initial Python logic based on my design, and refined it to simulate user input and matching output.
• The pitch deck was created using Google Slides, and the demo logic was built to be simple, testable, and easy to explain.

Challenges I Ran Into

• I originally tried building this using Glide and Airtable, but quickly realized it added too much complexity for a short hackathon.
• Matching logic sounds simple, but thinking about how to scale, handle odd numbers, or filter by user location took more time than expected.
• Balancing technical depth and simplicity for judges was a challenge, I wanted to show real CS skills without over-engineering.

🏆 Accomplishments That I am Proud Of

• Built a working matching algorithm from scratch that cleanly solves the problem.
• Created a clean, clear pitch deck and demo that shows the real potential of the idea.
• Managed to reduce the idea to its most essential parts, which is a skill in itself during fast-paced builds.
• Crafted a realistic future roadmap grounded in strong technical thinking.

What We Learned

• Sometimes the hardest part isn’t coding , it’s defining the problem clearly and choosing what not to build.
• How to rapidly prototype and communicate an idea with limited tools and time.
• The value of data structures in real-world applications: using a queue and hash map made the system simple but powerful.
• How to leverage AI tools as a teammate, not a crutch, AI helped, but the thinking and logic came first.

What's Next for BOGO Buddy

• Build a real backend with Firebase or Supabase, and a mobile frontend using Flutter or React Native.
• Integrate with retailer APIs like Target, Walmart, or even use affiliate deals to pull live BOGO offers.
• Add user authentication, location-based filtering, and secure payments.
• Partner with colleges or community centers to offer local pickup hubs for shared purchases.
• Long-term: build a platform that redefines how we shop , smarter, together.

Built With

• python
• replit