Meetball

One App, every event. Ask what you need, offer what you know. Meetball is a Social Network built on Bolt by 140 strangers worldwide to solve one problem: Meeting the right people at events sucks!

Comment 2

Inspiration

Professional networking sucks. Most people leave events without making meaningful connections. We wanted to fix this by skipping the small talk and helping people find others through moments of shared curiosity that spark meaningful connections. The Bolt Hackathon was the perfect catalyst to form our team, build, test, and iterate our idea, and quickly ship our MVP.

What it does

Meetball flips networking on it’s head. Instead of chasing people who can help, the help comes to you. We create a safe space for people to ask real questions and share what they need. Then others can reply:

  • ✋“Me Too” - to connect with people who resonate with their question
  • ✋”I Can Help” - to connect with people offering their help

It turns “Does anyone know…?” into “I can help!” which makes real connections happen around a shared purpose. Meetball simplifies networking across all events, creating one portable network instead of leaving your connections stuck in single-event apps.

How we built it

On May 30th, 2025, Stuart asked, "Can you help me build this?" 140 people aligned with the mission said, “I can help.” We built on Bolt, one prompt at a time. It was human-powered, AI-enhanced collaboration: five prompt engineers supported by designers, marketers, community builders, and a little bit of magic. We paired two weeks of market research with a strategic design system to craft precise prompts, allowing us to move faster on Bolt than any solo founder could. Our dev team, new to Bolt, went from skeptics to amazed, and together we created a new framework for how teams can collaborate on a single project. Stuart’s Post on 30 May:

Challenges we ran into

None of us had used Bolt before and we were a team of 140 strangers across time zones, skills, and backgrounds. The challenge was finding the right way to collaborate at scale using Bolt. Prompts that were too prescriptive limited creativity while prompts that were too open-ended surprised us in unexpected ways. Eventually, we found our groove: one prompt engineer leading the workflow, supported by a team of designers, developers, marketers, and builders enabled us to test ideas rapidly while letting bolt do it’s magic. This is how we build on Bolt

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built an app people love in 4 weeks. Proved a bunch of strangers can build something meaningful quickly using Bolt. We have a great product that earned early user love and a globally dispersed A -Team that came together.

What we learned

Meetball is what we built AND how we built it.

We learned that community-driven development moves faster and delivers better results than traditional hierarchies. Bolt let us test and ship ideas quickly.

What's next for Meetball

We’re soft launching with selected events and community managers who are excited to use Meetball to gather feedback, refine, and scale. We plan to launch in Lisbon’s tech scene, then grow to become the “One App for All Events,” eventually expanding into every community where people need to connect through shared purpose. Our goal is to prove that open startups can compete with traditional corporate structures while sharing value fairly with contributors.

We submitted the link of what we built for the Hackathon on bolt.meetball.fun so you see what we built on Bolt during the Hackathon. This does not get updated. But we’re moving fast so you will find out latest version of our app on app.meetball.fun

We’re incorporating Meetball as a real startup and will fundraise in July to accelerate growth. We plan to continue using Bolt to build fast, learn fast, and keep our team moving as we grow. This hackathon didn’t just kickstart Meetball, it supercharged it.

We've been so busy building and amazing app, we had no time to even make a website. But a movement was born around our mission. By the time you see this pitch we may have a website up, but for now, find us on [LinkedIn]( . Website will be here: meetball.fun

Note on Tech Stack We chose to self-host on Hetzner using Python due to existing team expertise and easy access to infrastructure. We relied heavily on Supabase, and we love it, but for authentication, we went with Logto, because our vision is to be our own authentication provider. This hackathon was a starting point for something we plan to continue building, so scalability and alignment with future goals were key factors in our decisions. But for the Demo we left it without authentication for the Judges.

Built With

+ 2 more
Share this project:

Updates

posted an update —

100+ people came together in a few days to build this startup, called by the mission, all strangers to each other.

One of the pillars to our success is effective communication. Internal Comms becomes crucial for:

  • Mission, Culture and getting to know each other,
  • Make sure everyone knows what's going on, and where to go for help.
  • Empowering the community to help the Mission,
  • Giving everyone a Voice: Were a community of users building the product we want for ourselves.

Since the start, all our Product, Dev, Marketing OPS and any calls have been happening in the open, on Discord; anyone in the team can join, listen in, and contribute. Beyond the topic of the call, it's the place where strangers get to know each other. Lots of repetitions as new people come may sound messy, but it's how we got where we are: strong bonds are forming and commitments to each other are emerging out of the shared mission. Divide and Conquer.

We have a strong OPS team forming, and beyond making sure we run well, Internal Comms is a fundamental part of this. Thank you, Khairul Bahriah and André Veiga, for taking the initiative to improve how we communicate, and thank you to all the others who are offering to help bring order to our OPS: Adrian Coutinho, Sofia O. Frias, Francesca Giacomelli, and Gabriel Gama, and to the Marketing and communications experts who can also help shape how we communicate our mission internally and build our culture of collaboration and human-centered startup building: Mabel Orbea, Nátaly Dauer Fiege, and May Z. and The domain experts who are helping with specific parts of OPS like Helena Tender, who is helping Francesca on Legal and helping flesh out the Dynamic Equity Model I'd like to build this startup with.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

Startup Update: Meetball - 2 Weeks In, 2 Weeks to Launch!

It's been an intense two weeks of deep build mode, and we're thrilled to share our progress as we hurtle towards launch!

Meet Meetball: That's right, our startup name is Meetball – designed to help people connect at events by asking for help and stepping up for others.

Our Progress At A Glance: Launch Date: Mark your calendars for June 28th!

Built in Public: We're incredibly proud that over 140 contributors have already joined us on this journey.

Product: We've stripped the product down to its essentials, focusing on empowering community managers to activate their people seamlessly.

Operations: Adrian is doing a phenomenal job coordinating our rapidly growing base of contributors.

Development: Our infrastructure is solid, wireframes are nearly complete, and the core build officially starts now!

Branding: Our logo and broader communication strategy are in progress. Meetball is all about empowering users to be heroes for each other.

Incorporation: This crucial step is happening this week in Portugal.

Marketing: Shifting Gears This Week!

Interestingly, we have no website and no formal marketing team yet, but we're already seeing organic traction and media interest, even before the product is live. That changes this week—marketing now becomes our central focus!

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

Does the Startup Name Matter? Here's How We're Choosing Ours!

We're on the cusp of a big moment: launching a community poll to choose our startup's name! Let's walk you through how we got to this exciting point and what's next.

While a great brand can make any name iconic (our focus is always on building an amazing business first!), since we're building something truly BIG, doing a little homework now saves us a lot of headaches later.

Our 6-Step Naming Process: Community at the Core

We followed a comprehensive 6-step naming process, always keeping our community at the heart of it:

Community Braindump: Anyone could drop their name ideas in our dedicated #Name channel on Discord.

AI-Powered Initial Screening: We leveraged a ChatGPT prompt to quickly check for trademarks, domain availability, and the overall vibe of suggestions.

Manual Verification: Our team double-checked domains and trademarks, even purchasing some promising ones and reaching out to sellers about premium domains.

Community Vibe Check: On our calls, we consistently asked, "Which name sticks with you?" One name in particular consistently stood out – some loved it, some hated it. That's usually a good sign of a strong, memorable contender!

Expert Consultation: We gathered invaluable insights from SEO specialists and branding experts to refine our shortlist.

Community Poll: And that brings us to where we are right now!

Our Name Evaluation Framework: What We Considered

Here's the framework we used to rigorously evaluate each potential name:

Bar Test: Can someone hear it clearly in a noisy environment?

Memorability: Which name sticks after hearing it just once?

Gut Check: What's the immediate emotional response? (Love/hate reactions are both good indicators!)

Domain Availability: Are usable URLs actually available?

Trademark Clear: Can we legally use it without issues?

Cultural Sensitivity: Does it work across different languages and cultures without unintended meanings?

Market Relevance: How well does it fit our space and stand out from competitors?

SEO Potential: Are there relevant search trends and keyword opportunities?

Street Test: What do random people think when they hear it?

Tools We're Using

Domain & Availability: Instant Domain Search and Namecheck

Market Research: Google Trends, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Mom Legal/Trademark Checks: USPTO (US), WIPO Global Brand Database, EUIPO, CIPO Trademark Database Poll Platform: Mentimeter (with a custom poll on Bolt.new as backup)

We always believe that a startup's name doesn't make or break it. Our ability to build an amazing product and truly serve our users is what will transform any name into a powerful brand.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

The Power of 100+ Strangers: Our Secret Sauce for Startup Success!

In just a few days, over 100 people—all strangers to each other but united by a shared mission—have come together to build this startup. It's truly incredible to witness!

One of the foundational pillars of our rapid progress and future success is effective communication. For a distributed, open startup like ours, Internal Communications isn't just important; it's absolutely crucial for:

Building Mission & Culture: Helping everyone understand our purpose and get to know the amazing people behind it.

Ensuring Clarity: Making sure everyone knows what's going on, where to find information, and who to go to for help.

Empowering the Community: Equipping our contributors to actively help advance the mission.

Giving Everyone a Voice: Fostering a community where users are building the product they want for themselves.

Open Communication: Our Way of Working

Since day one, all our Product, Dev, Marketing, and Operations calls have been happening in the open, on Discord. Anyone on the team can join, listen in, and contribute. Beyond the specific topics, these calls are where strangers get to know each other. Strong bonds are forming, and commitments to each other are emerging out of our shared mission. It's our unique "divide and conquer" approach!

Shout-out to Our Ops & Comms Heroes! We have a powerful Operations (Ops) team forming, and beyond ensuring we run efficiently, Internal Comms is a fundamental part of their work. A huge thank you to Khairul Bahriah and André Veiga for taking the initiative to improve how we communicate, and to all the others who are offering to help bring order to our Ops: Adrian Coutinho, Sofia O. Frias, Francesca Giacomelli, and Gabriel Gama.

And to the incredible Marketing and communications experts who are helping shape how we communicate our mission internally and build our culture of collaboration and human-centered startup building: Mabel Orbea, Nátaly Dauer Fiege, and May Z.

Finally, special thanks to the domain experts like Helena Tender, who's helping Francesca on legal aspects and fleshing out the Dynamic Equity Model we envision for this startup.

This is what an open, community-driven startup looks like. It's messy, it's dynamic, and it's incredibly powerful.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

Vibe-Building: Day by Day, We're Shipping an iOS App in 30 Days!

We're stretching the limits of collaboration on bolt.new, aiming to launch an iOS app with its first users and customers in just 30 days. It's an ambitious goal, and we're tackling it one day at a time!

Operations First: Getting Organized for Hyper-Growth Our focus on Ops has been paramount. We've meticulously mapped every single offer of help we've received, and we're ready for our Ops kickoff tomorrow at 9:30 AM Lisbon time. We have a fantastic mix of seasoned "zero-to-one" veterans and fresh talent eager to roll up their sleeves and build the foundations for scale.

Product Sprint: User-Centered Design in Action The product sprint today was incredible! An all-day live stream saw Samvel Atayan, Pavitra ST, Joy Muttai, Abdurrahman Maged, and everyone who dropped in, shaping features and wireframes on the fly. This is user-centered design at its best: every builder is solving their own pain points, creating a truly intuitive product.

Hero Shout-Out: iOS on Track, Android Lead Needed! A huge hero shout-out goes to Akhlaq Ahmad! At 1 AM in Kuala Lumpur, he boldly declared, "We'll ship the iOS app by June 30," and took the lead. While our web app continues to advance, Akhlaq's commitment means our iOS app is now a priority for launch.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

What a Sunday! Building Momentum

Stuart woke up early today with one thought: our product is racing ahead with new features and fresh wireframes, so our Ops, Marketing, and dev capacity absolutely have to lock in to keep pace.

He put out a call for help, and his inbox exploded!

By 10:30 AM, we were live on Discord: devs, designers, product leads, and ops pros all in sync. Our Hackathon repo is up, Git is live, and the team energy is through the roof! It's amazing to see strangers unite with purpose—exactly the kind of connection we're building our platform to facilitate.

Midday, He had a fantastic sync with Anshul, a true powerhouse in community building, and then touched base with Mabel, who gave him the nudge to share this update with you all.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

The Real Talk: Building a Startup Isn't Always Glamorous (But It's Worth It)

The past week has been a whirlwind! Just seven days ago, We put out a simple question: "Who wants to help us build a startup?" The response has been incredible: over 100 people have stepped up, all drawn to our mission of fostering genuine human connection.

It's truly inspiring to see Product and Design coming together, our dev team strong, and amazing marketing minds offering their insights. We've achieved a lot in a single week!

However, we're now entering that crucial, messy stage where we need to turn brilliant ideas into solid execution, especially in Marketing and Operations. And to be honest, We're feeling that familiar weight. It's that moment where it feels like you're the only one pushing the cart uphill until true momentum kicks in. This isn't because things are going badly—quite the opposite!—but because I know that organization and execution are now as vital as our initial vision.

This is where the open startup model truly shines. We need dedicated help in Marketing Execution and Operations (think organizing people, optimizing our workflow, etc.). If you're a doer in these fields, passionate about building a social network that helps people make real, meaningful connections and empowers them to help one another, this is your open invitation.

If you've navigated the early stages of a startup, you know this feeling. The cart is still heavy, but the momentum is building. And despite the challenges, We are immensely grateful for, and inspired by, every single person who has joined this journey. We are making significant progress every single day.

If you're ready to jump in and help us push that cart, please reach out! Let's build this future together.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

Day 2 @ Bolt.new Hackathon: Building the Future, Together!

What an incredible Day 2 here at the Bolt.new Hackathon! We're deep into building our startup, a platform designed to help strangers connect meaningfully at events and wherever it matters most.

Here's a quick peek at what's happening today:

  • Discord is LIVE! We're busy organizing our server to welcome and empower our growing community of incredible builders.

  • Product Brainstorm in Full Swing: We're currently strategizing on key features and will share a summary soon, followed by a call this afternoon for anyone who wants to contribute.

  • Laying Our Foundations: We're also hammering out the details on how we'll organize as a company and team, setting us up for long-term success.

Remember, this is a startup anyone can join! We're actively seeking passionate individuals to contribute. If you can help, you're welcome aboard.

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update —

THE FUTURE OF HUMAN CONNECTION STARTS HERE!

At Hackathon Bolt, we're building something revolutionary. Ever struggle to find the right people for collaboration or simply to connect? We've got the solution!

Imagine Reddit meets Tinder, but for real-world collaboration. We've already proven this works: 100 strangers built a prototype in 24 hours, even making headlines! This showed the massive potential for creating meaningful connections.

Now, we're turning this into a real startup. Starting with tech events, then scaling to universities and every community where strangers crave connection around shared interests.

This is an Open Startup! Anyone who resonates with our mission can join and earn a stake in what we build through our dynamic equity model. No geographic limits, no traditional hiring constraints.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stuartcerne_openstartup-buildinpublic-humanconnection-activity-7335032232228581377-0aRC?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADd3AJ4BUB83F2LvIBNqRcducb5kH9WG-Sw

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.