Pocha

Inspiration

In the age of digital connectivity, the rise of mobile applications has transformed the way we navigate and discover local treasures. However, while restaurants benefit from app-driven visibility, Korea's beloved street food vendors, steeped in tradition and flavor, often remain hidden gems, unsearchable through conventional means. Our mission is to leverage the power of technology to bridge this gap. By introducing an innovative app, we aim to spotlight these cherished street food stalls, connecting them with eager consumers craving authentic experiences while revitalizing and preserving Korea's rich culinary heritage.

What it does

Is a unique and socially impactful geolocation app designed to bring visibility to small, often overlooked businesses that do not have traditional street addresses. Here’s a concise overview of what the app does:

1. Maps Non-Traditional Businesses: Pocha specifically targets businesses like mobile vendors, local artisans, and cultural food stalls (pochas) that typically operate without a fixed, formal address, making them discoverable on a digital map.

2. Promotes Cultural Heritage and Community Engagement: By focusing on these unique businesses, Pocha plays a role in preserving cultural heritage and fostering a sense of community. It connects users with local traditions and offers a platform for community-driven recommendations and reviews.

3. User-Friendly Interface for Discovery: The app provides an easy-to-use interface that allows users to discover, locate, and explore these businesses, enhancing their accessibility to a wider audience.

4. Real-Time Updates and Information: For mobile or temporary vendors, the app would offer real-time updates on their locations and available services or products.

5. Inclusive and Accessible Design: Designed to be inclusive, Pocha aims to be accessible to users of all ages and backgrounds, emphasizing ease of use and community involvement.

6. Supports Small Businesses Economically and Socially: While it does have an economic component by driving customers to smaller businesses, the primary focus of Pocha is on the social good—supporting local economies, empowering marginalized or older business owners, and reinforcing community ties.

In essence, Pocha is more than just a navigation tool; it's a platform that aims to enrich community connections, celebrate cultural diversity, and provide a voice to small, culturally significant businesses that are often hidden in the urban landscape.

How we built it

1. Flutter for Frontend Application:

   • Cross-Platform Efficiency: We chose Flutter for its ability to build natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. This ensures a consistent and high-quality user experience across all platforms.
   • Rich UI and Smooth Animations: Flutter's rich set of pre-designed widgets and powerful UI capabilities allowed us to create an intuitive and visually appealing interface, essential for engaging users in exploring local businesses.

2. SQL Database for Metadata and Geospatial Data:

   • Robust Data Management: We utilized SQL databases for their proven reliability in handling structured data. This allows efficient organization and retrieval of metadata associated with each vendor.
   • Geospatial Capabilities: The SQL database's geospatial data handling capabilities are crucial for accurately mapping vendors' locations and enabling location-based search functionalities.

3. Real-Time Events for Application Updates:

   • Dynamic Content Delivery: By implementing real-time events, we ensure that users receive up-to-the-minute information, which is vital for mobile and temporary vendors whose locations or availability may change frequently.
   • Enhanced User Engagement: This real-time update mechanism keeps the app content fresh and engaging, encouraging repeated user visits and interactions.

4. Blob Storage for Consistent Content Delivery:

   • Scalable Storage Solution: We used blob storage to handle large amounts of unstructured data, such as images and videos. This offers a scalable solution that grows with our content needs.
   • Reliable and Fast Access: Blob storage ensures the fast and reliable delivery of content to users, enhancing the overall user experience by reducing load times and improving accessibility.

5. Google Maps as Map Provider:

   • Trusted and Familiar Interface: Leveraging Google Maps, a leader in mapping technology, provides users with a familiar and trusted interface for navigation.
   • Comprehensive Coverage: Google Maps offers extensive coverage and detailed mapping, which is critical for accurately locating and showcasing even the most hidden vendors.
   • Advanced Features: Utilizing Google Maps’ advanced features, like Street View and route planning, adds value to our app, making it more practical and user-friendly.

Challenges we ran into

1. Finding New Stores to Add to Our Library:

   • Extensive Outreach: One of the primary challenges was identifying and adding new vendors, particularly those without a digital footprint. We tackled this through extensive community outreach, partnerships with local business associations, and by actively engaging in on-ground research.
   • Utilizing User Submissions: We also encouraged users to submit details of their favorite local vendors, turning our user base into a valuable resource for discovering new stores.

2. Validating Crowdsourced Information:

   • Accuracy Checks: Given the importance of accurate information, we implemented a robust validation process for crowdsourced data. This included cross-verifying submissions with multiple sources and using algorithms to detect inconsistencies or erroneous entries.
   • Community Moderation: We leveraged community moderation, where users could report inaccuracies, complementing our internal validation efforts. Regular updates and corrections based on user feedback also played a significant role in maintaining data integrity.

3. Working with Google Maps to Create Intuitive Interaction:

   • Seamless Integration: Integrating our platform with Google Maps posed challenges in ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience. We focused on creating a fluid interface that leverages Google Maps' functionalities without overwhelming the user.
   • Customized Features: We worked on customizing map views and incorporating additional features like personalized routes to vendors and interactive markers for each vendor. This customization was aimed at making the exploration of local vendors both user-friendly and informative.
   • User Testing for UX Optimization: Conducting extensive user testing was crucial. We gathered feedback on navigational ease, map responsiveness, and overall interaction quality, which informed our iterative design improvements.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Addressing a Market Gap: The development of Pocha's MVP stands out as our proudest achievement because it addresses a significant gap in existing digital mapping and local business discovery platforms. By focusing on non-traditional businesses, especially those without fixed addresses, we've created a unique solution that caters to a previously underserved segment. Integrating Culture with Technology: The app isn’t just a technological solution but a cultural bridge, bringing the rich and diverse street food culture of Korea into the digital age, thus preserving and promoting this integral part of the local heritage. Impact-Driven Design and Functionality:

Social Good at the Forefront: Our MVP was designed with a strong emphasis on social impact, not just as an afterthought. This included features that directly benefit small vendors and artisans, providing them with visibility and connecting them with a broader customer base, which in turn supports local economies. Community-Centric Approach: A key aspect of the MVP's success is its community-driven nature. We incorporated features that allow for user-generated content, reviews, and recommendations, fostering a sense of community and shared ownership over the platform. Technical Robustness and User-Centric Design:

Balancing Simplicity with Functionality: Developing an MVP that was both technically robust and user-friendly was a significant achievement. By using technologies like Flutter for a seamless cross-platform experience and integrating with reliable services like Google Maps, we ensured a high-quality user interface and experience. Real-Time Data and Accessibility: Implementing real-time updates for vendor locations and ensuring the app's accessibility to users of all backgrounds and technical abilities were key accomplishments in our MVP development. Validation and Positive Feedback:

What we learned

• We discovered that Pocha can play a crucial role in aiding local governments to effectively support and regulate street food vendors. Our platform offers a unique solution that aligns with public policies, assisting in the organization, monitoring, and legitimization of these vendors.

What's next for Pocha

• Deepening Community Connections: As we expand, a key focus will be on cultivating deeper connections within communities. By encouraging user interaction and participation, Pocha aims to become a tool not just for discovery but also for community-building and engagement.
• Expanding Social Impact: Market the app to users to mass-produce user-generated content and further enrich our database.
• Partnerships with Local Entities: Forge stronger partnerships with local governments and entities. This collaboration will not only enhance the app's functionality but also aid in the execution of policies and operations related to street food vendors.
• Iterative Development Through Feedback: Continue iterating Pocha based on user feedback, aiming to extend its social impact beyond the MVP. This includes tailoring the app to better serve government needs in managing vendor operations, ensuring a harmonious balance between cultural preservation and regulatory compliance.

Team

Daniel Prueitt - Backend and Infrastructure Engineer Sharon Levi - Mobile Engineer Tiaan Van Der Riel - Mobile Engineer Jonothan Sue - Backend Engineer Jared Lynskey - Geospatial Engineer

Built With

• flutter
• node.js
• supabase