zelani

Inspiration

Zelani was inspired by Quin Gable simple frustration: most dating apps match people based on static location and shallow signals. But real life especially for travelers and vanlifers is dynamic. People are constantly moving. We wanted to build a platform where connection is based on journey, not just proximity.

The idea was to create something that feels intentional, community-driven, and aligned with people who are traveling with purpose.

What it does

Zelani is a route-based social and dating platform.

Instead of matching users by distance alone, it visualizes where someone is heading — their start, stops, and destination — and shows potential overlaps between journeys. Users can: Plan their route Discover people along similar paths Swipe to connect

Apply to join a curated travel-focused community It combines route planning, discovery, and real map visualization into one smooth experience.

How we built it

I built Zelani using: React Native with Expo Convex for backend and real-time data Clerk for authentication Reanimated for smooth gesture-driven animations Google Maps (Expo Maps) for real route visualization

We refactored major parts of the app architecture, including: Converting large screens into orchestrated guided flows Splitting complex components into modular files Using local state batching instead of per-screen async saves Implementing Tinder-style card stacks with gesture animations

The project evolved significantly from its early version into a clean, scalable structure.

Challenges I ran into

Swipe gesture glitches and card stack performance issues Managing smooth animations without UI hiccups Avoiding async save delays during onboarding Designing a guided flow that feels premium and not overwhelming Integrating real map visualization in a lightweight, elegant way

A lot of time was spent debugging micro-interactions — especially swipe transitions — to achieve a polished feel.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Turning a 1,200-line route planner into a clean, orchestrated architecture

Creating a smooth multi-step onboarding flow

Implementing a real mini-map widget inside profile discovery cards

Achieving near-Tinder-level swipe fluidity

Designing an experience that feels minimal, elegant, and intentional

We’re especially proud of how the UX evolved from functional to refined.

What we learned

Small animation details make or break user experience

Architecture decisions early on directly affect performance later

Guided flows should focus on one intent per screen

Real-time systems require careful state management

Polishing micro-interactions takes more effort than building features

We also learned how important iteration and deep debugging are when building something interactive.

What's next for zelani

Further refine swipe physics and depth animation

Expand map-based matching logic

Improve route overlap visualization

Add community moderation and verification layers

Launch publicly on Android and grow the travel-focused community

Long-term, Zelani aims to become the go-to platform for travelers who want meaningful connections along their journey.

Built With

• clerk
• convex
• expo-map
• expo-router
• expo.io
• google-maps
• node.js
• react-native
• typescript