TagBack: Find, Return, Earn

found items directory
report found item
account settings
report lost item
my profile
lost items directory
report lost item
login page
report lost item-2
signup page
privacy & security
help & support
privacy policy
help & support-2
terms of service
store

Inspiration

We’ve all lost something important — a phone, wallet, or ID — and felt the frustration of not knowing where or how to recover it. Traditional lost-and-found systems rely on outdated processes, word of mouth, or chance. This inefficiency inspired us to build TagBack, a smart, cross-platform app designed to make lost item recovery faster, fairer, and rewarding.

With campuses, transit systems, and public spaces becoming increasingly digital, we envisioned a system that could harness technology — like real-time location, secure user authentication, and automated matching — to connect the right finder with the right seeker. TagBack adds purpose and incentive to doing the right thing.

What it does

TagBack is a smart lost-and-found platform that enables users to:

📍 Report lost or found items with descriptions and live location.
🧠 Use smart-matching algorithms to automatically pair lost items with similar found items (by category and location).
📬 Notify both users of a successful match.
🏅 Award points to finders for verified returns.
🔐 Securely authenticate via email/password using Supabase Auth.
📱 Access the app via Web, iOS, or Android.

It streamlines the item recovery process while encouraging helpful behavior.

How we built it

Frontend: React Native with Expo SDK 52 and TypeScript for cross-platform support.
Backend: Supabase (PostgreSQL + Auth + Realtime) for authentication, storage, and live updates.
Navigation: Expo Router 4 for structured, scalable navigation.
Styling: Native React Native StyleSheet.
Icons: Lucide React Native for sharp, consistent UI icons.
Fonts: Inter from Google Fonts for a clean, readable design.

Deployment is handled via Netlify (for web) and Expo EAS (for mobile), with full CI/CD integration.

Challenges we ran into

Ensuring smooth cross-platform support (Web + iOS + Android) without layout inconsistencies.
Handling environment configuration securely, especially Supabase keys and RLS.
Managing routing and 404s on Netlify, requiring SPA-friendly redirects.
Structuring the smart matching algorithm to balance simplicity with usefulness.
Automating reward point logic reliably using triggers and matches.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built a fully functional app that runs seamlessly on web and mobile.
Integrated Supabase Auth, database, and Realtime services with secure RLS policies.
Developed a working smart matching algorithm that successfully notifies and rewards users.
Created a clean, intuitive UI/UX that scales across devices.
Deployed the app live via Netlify with working environment variable injection.

What we learned

Deepened our understanding of Supabase and how to use RLS and auth together effectively.
Mastered Expo Router 4 for scalable navigation flows across platforms.
Learned how to structure full-stack apps using serverless architecture with real-time features.
Improved deployment workflows with Netlify, .env files, and build optimization.
Gained insight into writing feature-rich, user-focused apps while balancing security and simplicity.

What's next for TagBack: Find, Return, Earn

🧠 Integrate AI-based image recognition to match items visually (in addition to metadata).
🔔 Add email and push notifications for match alerts and reward achievements.
🎖️ Introduce leaderboards and achievement badges to gamify helpful behavior.
🌎 Expand the platform to schools, universities, and event venues via custom dashboards.
🗺️ Add a map view with real-time lost/found pins for hyper-local matching.
📦 Bundle the mobile version for App Store and Play Store via Expo EAS.

💡 TagBack isn't just a lost-and-found app — it's a system that rewards integrity, builds trust, and turns small acts of kindness into meaningful digital experiences.