upload the lab results on the genmate to get matches based on the VCS lab results
setting up profile page
login page
profile card preview after setting up user profile
match feed page, matching either based on lab results or normally
genetic match

Genmate

A genetics-informed dating platform designed to make meaningful connections, not just superficial ones.

Inspiration

After trying out every major dating app out there, including Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder, I noticed they all had the same fundamental problem. Matching was almost entirely driven by physical appearance. A small fraction of men received the overwhelming majority of attention, most went completely unseen, and the playing field felt anything but fair. The experience felt shallow, repetitive, and broken.

The real spark came from a news story I came across about a family suffering from a critical hereditary illness passed down through generations. Children inheriting these conditions as an unwanted gift from their ancestors. It made me think: what if a dating platform could actually reduce the likelihood of hereditary diseases being passed on to future generations?

The idea behind Genmate is to match users not just on personality and preferences, but also on genetic compatibility. If a person carries a recessive gene for a hereditary condition, they could be matched with someone whose corresponding gene is likely to be dominant, reducing the probability of that condition being expressed in their children. Gene expression is complex and also depends on environmental factors and triggers, which is exactly why this is also a research initiative. In the future, I plan to bring on molecular biology PhDs to take this work to a rigorous scientific level.

What It Does

Genmate flips the script on how people are introduced to each other online.

Blind Dating by Default: Two users do not see each other's photos until both have mutually liked each other. First impressions are built on personality, values, and shared context rather than looks alone.
Genetics-Based Matching: Users can optionally submit genetic data to receive compatibility insights aimed at reducing hereditary disease risk in future generations.
User-Controlled Profiles: The information shown before a match is made is entirely in the hands of the user, covering their "About" section and other meaningful aspects of who they are.

How We Built It

The stack was chosen for reliability, scalability, and developer productivity.

Layer	Technology
Database	PostgreSQL via Neon.tech
Caching	Redis
Backend	Node.js with Express
Frontend	Embedded JavaScript (EJS) with Tailwind CSS
AI Assistance	Kilo AI, GitHub Copilot in VS Code
DB Tooling	Neon.tech MCP Server

Challenges We Ran Into

My academic background is in Computer Science and Engineering. Genetics was entirely foreign territory. Last summer, I made a deliberate decision to sit down and teach myself the fundamentals of genetics from scratch, all while keeping up with my university coursework.

Since then I have been taking genomic data science courses, studying how genetic traits are inherited and expressed, and working toward building recommendation systems that can incorporate this biological layer meaningfully. It has been one of the most challenging and rewarding self-directed learning experiences I have had.

Accomplishments We Are Proud Of

Reached 98% completion and successfully shipped to production
Built and launched a working genetics feature as an optional add-on for users who want deeper insights
Laying the groundwork for lab partnerships to offer discounted genetic testing reports directly through the platform
Self-taught an entire domain of science while building a full-stack production application simultaneously

What We Learned

No bootcamp could have taught me what I learned building Genmate. Going from zero genetics knowledge to designing a biologically-informed recommendation system, while shipping a full-stack application to production, required learning by doing at a level that formal coursework rarely demands. The project proved that the most meaningful growth happens when the stakes are real.