PalGo

PalGo - "Catch your Pal, like you catch-em-all!" PalGo helps you find and connect with nearby people who share your interests. Earn badges for every match and turn awkward hello into real friendship.

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Inspiration

During our time at Monash University, we realized that making new friends — even in a large student community — can feel surprisingly difficult.
Awkward icebreakers and guessing shared interests leave many students isolated.
We wanted to create something playful and meaningful, blending real-world networking with the spirit of "catch 'em all."
That’s how PalGo was born.

What it does

PalGo sends real-time alerts when someone nearby shares your interests — like music, sports, or favorite artists.
You can then take a fun quiz together, and if you answer correctly, you "catch" a new pal and earn badges!

How we built it

  • Frontend: Built with React Native and Expo Go.
  • Backend: Powered by Firebase Firestore, GeoFire for location matching, and FCM for push notifications.
  • Tools:
  • Deployment: Built with EAS Build for app store readiness.

Challenges we ran into

  • Integrating real-time location without sacrificing performance
  • Coordinating frontend design, backend logic, and user experience under tight deadlines

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Building a functional app blending real-time tech and human connection
  • Smoothly integrating geolocation, Firebase services, and design-to-code tools

What we learned

  • End-to-end mobile app development
  • Best practices in real-time data handling and location matching
  • Designing user-centric, emotionally engaging experiences

What's next for PalGo

  • Custom icebreakers
  • Spotify Sync
  • In-app chat
  • Interest-based local events

How to Run the App

Download Expo Go on your mobile devices and scan the QR Code.

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