AccountaBuddy

AccountaBuddy
Collaborative to-do list
Dashboard and scheduled check-ins

Inspiration

As college students, we know how hard it can be to stay motivated, especially when tackling long to-do lists alone. That’s why we created AccountaBuddy, an AI-powered accountability assistant that gives you the push you need to get things done. Instead of relying solely on willpower, AccountaBuddy brings motivation to you—through scheduled calls and personalized guidance, the assistant helps you tackle your tasks, prioritize, and organize your thoughts into actionable steps. With AccountaBuddy, staying on track feels less like a solo battle and more like having a supportive partner by your side.

What it does

AccountaBuddy is a collaborative accountability assistant that goes beyond simple to-do lists. After creating an account and adding tasks, users schedule check-in times for each item on their list. At the designated time, AccountaBuddy will call and check on their progress. If a user has completed a task, the assistant celebrates their accomplishment. If not, AccountaBuddy dives in to understand any obstacles, helping users prioritize and reorganize their tasks to move forward. The assistant can even assist in breaking down vague goals into clear, manageable action items, making it easier for users to tackle what needs to be done.

How we built it

With just the two of us, we used JavaScript, React, and Next.js to create a simple yet dynamic user interface. We chose Prisma to manage our user and task database, ensuring that user data was both accessible and well-organized. For the voice calls, we integrated bland.ai, allowing AccountaBuddy to call users at scheduled times. ChatGPT powers the conversational aspect, enabling AccountaBuddy to provide personalized guidance based on each user’s unique needs. By leveraging these tools, we created an app that helps users organize, prioritize, and take action on their tasks with AI-driven support.

Challenges we ran into

As a two-person team, handling the technical and logistical complexities of this project was challenging. React’s component lifecycle required careful management, especially when implementing real-time updates for new lists and data changes. Coordinating between multiple APIs (ChatGPT, bland.ai, and our own backend) added another layer of complexity, especially for real-time interactions. Managing background processes for the scheduled calls also tested our problem-solving skills, but we found effective solutions that kept the app running smoothly.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud to have taken on a project of this scale with just two people. Integrating real-time AI-driven calls was a new challenge for us, and seeing it come together was incredibly rewarding. Getting bland.ai to work seamlessly with ChatGPT and our backend created a truly interactive experience, allowing users to feel supported at every step. The fact that AccountaBuddy can actively engage with users, helping them prioritize and organize their tasks, makes the app more than just a reminder tool. It’s an actual accountability partner, and we’re thrilled with how it turned out.

What we learned

This project taught us a lot about working with React and the intricacies of managing state and component lifecycle in a dynamic app. We learned how to handle asynchronous processes with multiple APIs, ensuring smooth real-time experiences for users. Working with ChatGPT and bland.ai gave us insight into managing API limitations and creating a natural, engaging user experience.

What's next for AccountaBuddy

Our next steps for AccountaBuddy include integrating Stripe so we can offer it as a subscription-based service for ongoing, personalized support. We also plan to expand the assistant’s capabilities with real-time voice interactions powered by ChatGPT, enabling users to have live conversations with their AI assistant. This will make it possible for users and the assistant to collaborate on organizing and refining tasks, discussing priorities, and making real-time changes to their to-do list. We envision AccountaBuddy as a comprehensive productivity tool that not only helps users stay accountable but also actively supports them in achieving their goals.