Rally

How it works (Landing page)
Login page (with Auth0)
Landing page
Rally Buddy (AI Chatbot, powered by Gemini API)
Chat (sending text)
Chat (after joining event)
Live event (photo feature, for points)
Rally Buddy (answer after request)
Event description
Exploring filters
Main page (with Event highlights)

Inspiration

Rally originally started as a more general map-based platform where anyone could share places, photos, and activities. But as we developed the idea, we realized it would be more meaningful if we focused on a problem we actually experience ourselves. As college students, we noticed how difficult it can be to discover what is happening around campus, meet new people, or find others to join simple activities like sports, study sessions, or club events.

Our goal became to create something for our own community first, with the potential to expand to other universities later.

How We Built It

We started with pen and paper, sketching how we wanted the app to work. Then we moved the idea into Figma and created a digital prototype.

From there, we built the website around an interactive map using Leaflet, where students can discover events happening nearby. We used Auth0 for authentication, including Google and Microsoft login, integrated the Gemini API to power a chatbot, and used Bible Strong Avatar Lab to create and animate our custom avatar. Codex also helped us with implementation, debugging, and improving parts of the code.

Challenges

The live map was one of our biggest challenges because we wanted it to feel interactive, not like a static event list.

Authentication was also new to us. Working with Auth0, multiple providers, callbacks, and integrations required a lot of learning. Integrating Gemini was another new experience and taught us how AI can be used as a practical feature inside a web application.

What We Learned

The biggest lesson was the importance of solving a problem we actually experience ourselves. We also learned a lot about interactive maps, authentication, APIs, AI integration, and how to turn a simple sketch into a working product.

Discover. Join. Rally.