Project Alpha

The idea for Project Alpha started when the three of us were watching TikToks about people making huge returns from stocks. We became curious about investing but quickly realized we had no idea where to start. Most investing platforms felt intimidating, full of complicated jargon, and weren't built for students. We wanted to create something that made financial literacy approachable, social, and genuinely fun for young people.

What it does

Project Alpha is a gamified paper trading platform that helps students learn investing together without risking real money. Users create investment clans, collaborate in real-time chats, propose trades, and vote on investment decisions using a shared virtual portfolio. At the center of the experience is Alpha Meow, Jam Jam's witty and energetic AI-powered best friend. Alpha Meow breaks down confusing financial jargon into simple, relatable explanations while guiding users through the world of investing. Through leaderboards, achievements, team-based challenges, and social collaboration, Project Alpha transforms financial literacy from a solo learning experience into a connected, multiplayer adventure.

How we built it

We built Project Alpha using React for the frontend and Supabase for authentication, database management, and real-time chat functionality. We integrated Finnhub to provide live stock market data, OpenAI's GPT-4o-mini to power Alpha Meow's financial jargon explanations, and ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech to create dynamic voice alerts and spoken tutorials. To accelerate development during the hackathon, we leveraged AI-assisted development tools including Warp, Antigravity, and Codex for code generation, debugging, research, and rapid prototyping. These tools helped us iterate quickly, solve technical challenges, and focus on building a polished user experience. By combining AI, real-time collaboration, market data, and gamification, we created a platform that makes financial literacy more engaging and accessible for students.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest challenge was designing an experience that genuinely resonated with teens and young adults. We wanted financial literacy to feel engaging and approachable without sacrificing educational value. Finding the right balance between learning and entertainment required constant iteration. Another major challenge was integrating multiple APIs into a seamless experience. We needed real-time stock data, AI-generated explanations, voice narration, authentication, and live chat systems to work together reliably while maintaining a responsive user experience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Creating a unique social-first investing experience designed specifically for students. Building Alpha Meow, an AI mascot that allows us to firstly, have a small creative input as well as show our love for Jam Jam by creating a friend, and thirdly, makes financial literacy more approachable and fun. Also successfully integrating OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Finnhub, and Supabase into a single application with the development (with AI Tools) of a real-time clan system where users can collaborate and vote on trades together. Turning a complex topic like investing into an engaging and accessible experience.

What we learned

Throughout Project Alpha, we learned how to build a full-stack application from the ground up, from planning features and designing the user experience to integrating multiple APIs into a single platform. We gained experience working with AI, real-time databases, stock market data, authentication systems, and text-to-speech technology. Beyond the technical skills, we learned the importance of teamwork, problem-solving, and building products around real user needs. Most importantly, we learned that turning an idea into a working product requires constant iteration, communication, and adaptability.

What's next for Project Alpha

We plan to continue expanding Project Alpha by adding more interactive financial literacy tools, personalized learning experiences, and additional gamification features. We want Alpha Meow to evolve into a personalized AI financial coach capable of answering more complex questions and guiding users through their investing journey. In the future, we hope to bring Project Alpha into classrooms, student clubs, and communities to help make financial literacy more accessible for students everywhere, with more accessibility tools