Inspiration
The idea for CIVIORA came from a shared frustration we had as students and developers. We often missed out on great hackathons, innovation programs, or grant opportunities simply because we were unaware of them.
We noticed a gap between innovative people and the opportunities available to them. That’s where CIVIORA steps in. It’s a platform that connects people with the programs, schemes, and hackathons that fit their interests, skills, and goals.
How We Built It
Frontend: We built it with html,javascript and used CSS for a clean, responsive user interface.
Backend: We powered it with Node.js and Express, using a MongoDB database to manage users and opportunity listings.
APIs: We integrated third-party APIs to fetch open opportunities and added our own filtering system to recommend relevant schemes.
User Auth: We implemented secure login and signup using Firebase Authentication.
Challenges We Faced
Data sourcing: Finding and organizing reliable information on global hackathons and schemes proved to be more difficult than we anticipated. We had to write custom scrapers and standardize inconsistent data formats.
Time constraints: With limited time during the hackathon, we had to focus on essential features like personalized recommendations and opportunity search.
User experience: Striking a balance between simplicity and useful functionality required several iterations on UI/UX.
What We Learned
Working with messy real-world data made us understand the importance of a flexible backend design.
Integrating APIs and third-party tools provided us with practical experience in managing asynchronous workflows and handling errors.
Most importantly, we learned how to build quickly and work together under pressure, all while keeping the user in mind.
What’s Next
We plan to:
- Add a matching algorithm to link users with schemes based on their profiles and interests.
- Build mobile support to widen access.
- Partner with universities and innovation hubs to offer exclusive opportunities.
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