Hingine

Inspiration

As college students ourselves, we noticed how complicated and intimidating the car leasing and financing process can be especially for young adults with limited financial literacy or credit history. We wanted to make this process not only simpler but also educational and engaging. Our inspiration came from popular dating apps like Hinge and learning apps like Duolingo. That’s how Hingine was born, a gamified, student-centered platform that helps users discover affordable car options while learning how to manage auto finances responsibly.

What it does

Hingine helps students find cars that fit their budget and credit profile through a swipe interface connected to Toyota Financial Services. Users can save cars they like in their personal garage and learn about car financing through short, interactive lessons. As they complete lessons, they unlock real incentives such as APR reductions, making learning directly beneficial.

How we built it

Languages & Frameworks: TypeScript with React 18 and React Native 0.74 inside Expo SDK 51’s managed workflow powers the entire app.

Navigation & UI Layer: Expo modules plus React Navigation tab routing, React Native Gesture Handler, Animated/Reanimated gestures, Expo vector icons, and Expo Google Fonts handle interaction and theming

Platforms: Built and run with Expo’s bundler for iOS and Android

Challenges we ran into

Blending serious financial concepts with a fun and easy-to-use design was not simple. It took a lot of teamwork and trial and error. Toyota’s data turned out to be more complex than we expected, so we had to keep reworking our models. Finding the right balance between exciting rewards and realistic numbers while racing against the hackathon clock pushed us to stay flexible and creative.

What we learned

The hackathon forced us to move fast and stay focused. One teammate worked on lesson content while another refined the quiz flow, and our quick daily check-ins kept everything consistent. Building the swipe interactions together helped design changes roll out smoothly, and rotating code reviews made sure we stayed fast without breaking anything before the final demo.

What's next for Hingine

Next, we plan to keep refining Hingine’s features and expanding its content library. We want to improve the matching algorithm, add more lessons, and explore real integrations with financial partners. Our goal is to make Hingine a reliable, engaging tool that helps students confidently navigate car ownership and personal finance.