PinPoint

About the Project: PinPoint – Hyperlocal AI Marketing and Discovery Platform

Inspiration

Every city depends on its local businesses – cafés, retail stores, and service providers that keep communities vibrant. However, many small businesses struggle to reach nearby customers effectively, while citizens often miss out on relevant local offers or verified information.

We wanted to solve this civic challenge by using technology to bring local communities and businesses closer. That led to the creation of PinPoint, a geolocation-powered community engagement platform that combines real-time location intelligence with a social interaction layer.

The core idea came from a simple question: What if local citizens could discover nearby offers, verify authenticity, and share real feedback – all from one smart, civic-focused platform?

What It Does

PinPoint connects businesses and citizens through geofencing and verified community engagement. It allows shop owners to create geolocation-based campaigns, while customers receive alerts and can interact socially through posts and reviews.

Key functionalities include:

Shops can create and manage location-based offers or campaigns.
Citizens receive real-time notifications when they enter a shop’s defined area.
Location and SIM authenticity are verified using Nokia’s Network-as-Code APIs.
Users can post, like, and comment in a community feed similar to social media platforms.
The community feed encourages authentic reviews and promotes civic trust.

How We Built It

We developed the project using a modular and scalable architecture. Frontend (Flutter)

Built a cross-platform application using Flutter and Dart.
Designed an intuitive, modern UI inspired by social media interfaces.
Integrated smooth animations and responsive layouts.
Added community posting, liking, and commenting features.

Backend (Flask + PostgreSQL)

Implemented REST APIs using Flask.
Used PostgreSQL as the primary database with SQLAlchemy ORM.
Integrated Nokia’s Network-as-Code APIs for geofencing, SIM swap verification, and location validation.
Enabled communication between the app and backend using HTTP requests.

APIs and Integrations

POST /api/geofence/trigger
# Validates user’s location using Nokia’s verifyLocation API.

POST /api/sim-swap/check
# Checks if the SIM associated with a user’s number has been recently swapped.

Challenges We Faced

Understanding and integrating the Nokia Network-as-Code API structure and authentication model.
Managing accurate geolocation triggers with minimal delay across devices.
Designing a social-media-like feed that remained responsive and visually consistent.
Coordinating backend and frontend modules within a short hackathon timeline.
Ensuring the app architecture remained flexible for future AI and analytics integration.

What We Learned

The practical application of API-driven architectures in civic-focused projects.
The value of location intelligence in solving real-world engagement challenges.
How to build scalable cross-platform experiences using Flutter and Flask.
The importance of reliable data verification (SIM and location) for user trust.
Effective collaboration between frontend and backend components in a rapid prototyping environment.

Civic Impact

PinPoint contributes to civic innovation by enabling smarter local engagement and fostering trust between businesses and citizens. It supports local economies, encourages responsible consumer behavior, and provides a transparent space for authentic feedback.

By combining location-based intelligence and social interactivity, the platform aligns with broader smart city goals – connecting communities through meaningful digital participation.

Future Enhancements

AI-driven engagement predictions and smart campaign suggestions.
Real-time interactive maps showing nearby offers and engagement heatmaps.
Loyalty programs and verified “PinPoint Pass” for frequent users.
Voice assistant integration for hands-free location-based discovery.

PinPoint is designed as a civic innovation platform that bridges technology and community life. By merging location verification, digital engagement, and transparency, it helps cities grow more connected and resilient.

It is not just a marketing tool, but a vision for smarter citizen-business collaboration — where trust, proximity, and participation redefine how people experience their local world.