Ignition <3

Inspiration

Between confusing specs, irrelevant details, and endless options, finding the right car can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, choosing the right car can feel a lot like love at first sight.

We make decisions about what we like in a person in seconds when we swipe on dating apps, so why not bring that same instinct and simplicity to car shopping? That’s the idea behind ignition: sparking your dream ride!

Whether you're taking your family of seven on a cross-country adventure in a Toyota Sienna, hitting the trails on your honeymoon in a Toyota Tacoma, or just commuting every day in a dependable Toyota Corolla, we have your perfect match.

What it does

Ignition makes car shopping as easy as swiping right. We simplify the process by pinpointing your preferences, showcasing the important features in a quick card view, and helping you find the car of your dreams with a simple swiping feature.

How we built it

Ignition makes car shopping as easy as swiping right. We simplify the process by highlighting what matters to you, presenting key features in a quick, visual card view, and helping you find your perfect car in just a few short steps.

Challenges we ran into

Since our team had limited experience with React, getting comfortable with the framework took time. We also weren’t sure which database solution to use or how to integrate it effectively, which added complexity. While we had plans for additional features (as noted in our What’s Next section), we weren’t able to complete them due to time constraints.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re especially proud of the matching feature and the real-time interactivity of the preference settings. We also were intentional about making the car cards modular and dynamic, and we’re excited about how flexible and scalable that design can be.

What we learned

We learned a lot about full-stack development and how to bring different components of an application together. We also learned more about how users approach car buying: like what they value, what overwhelms them, and where the decision-making friction points are. This helped us think more empathetically about the user journey and where our product can make the biggest impact.

What's next for Ignition <3

We want to refine the user experience to be even more intuitive and user-centered. We want the flow to feel seamless—helping users quickly understand their matches without needing to sift through endless options.

We also want Ignition to go beyond simple numerical preferences. Instead of asking users to manually adjust the scale for every feature, we want Ignition to understand why you drive: whether it’s daily commuting, weekend adventures, or family travel. Ignition would translate those needs into the right vehicle metrics automatically.

We’re also developing a matching algorithm that learns from the types of cars people tend to connect with. This means the swiping experience becomes even more personalized over time to show you vehicles that not only meet your needs on paper, but also align with your style, habits, and lifestyle.