Craft Connect

💡 Inspiration

Many talented artisans struggle to reach the right audience because they lack digital exposure or marketing tools. We wanted to bridge this gap using technology — to help artisans showcase their crafts globally while maintaining authenticity and fair trade.

⚙️ What It Does

Craft Connect is an AI-powered marketplace that connects artisans and craft sellers with potential buyers, businesses, and collectors. Our platform uses AI-driven recommendations to match artisans with buyers based on preferences, style, and location. It also ensures secure communication and transactions through verified profiles.

🧠 How We Built It

Frontend: React.js + Tailwind CSS for a clean and responsive interface

Backend: Node.js + Express.js for APIs and user authentication

Database: MongoDB for storing users, listings, and orders

AI Layer: Python-based recommendation system integrated via REST API

Hosting: Netlify for frontend and Google Cloud / Render for backend deployment

🚧 Challenges We Faced

Building and integrating the AI recommendation system within limited time

Handling CORS and API authentication between frontend and backend

Designing a user-friendly interface that works across devices

Managing secure environment variables during deployment

📚 What We Learned

Implementing AI/ML recommendation algorithms for real-world marketplace data

Efficient API design and CORS management

Working collaboratively under a tight hackathon timeline

The importance of UI/UX consistency for better user engagement

🚀 What’s Next

Integrating blockchain-based artisan verification

Adding in-app payments and logistics tracking

Expanding the AI model for personalized suggestions and price optimization

Launching mobile support with React Native

Built With

• apigoogle
• express.js
• gemini
• google
• javascript
• jwt
• mongodb
• node.js
• react
• tailwind