Building the Future of Discovery

Clear vision, focused execution

Product Vision

We're solving a simple problem: people see amazing spots on social media but can't find where they are. We make discovery effortless while building valuable location intelligence for businesses.

Core Principle

Every feature should answer: Does this help users find and visit photogenic spots? If not, we don't build it. Simplicity and quality over feature bloat.

User Experience Flow

Browse → Save → Visit → Share ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Discover Plan Navigate Validate Quality Trip There Spot

Core Features

  • Curated spot discovery
  • Exact locations & directions
  • Photo tips & best times
  • Save & organize spots
  • Community verification

Technical Architecture

Frontend Stack

iOS: Swift + SwiftUI (launch platform) Android: Kotlin + Compose (6 months post-launch) Maps: Native MapKit/Google Maps State: Core Data (iOS) / Room (Android) Analytics: Mixpanel for user insights Media: CloudKit for photo optimization

Native apps for the best user experience. iOS first because our target users are predominantly iPhone users.

Backend Infrastructure

APIi: Node.js + Express Database: PostgreSQL for spot data Cache: Redis for performance CDNi: CloudFront for images Search: PostgreSQL full-text → Elasticsearch (at scale) Auth: JWTi + standard OAuth providers

Proven, scalable technologies. No unnecessary complexity.

Data & Analytics Pipeline

Events: Segment → Data Warehouse Analytics: SQL-based insights Location Intelligence: Custom algorithms Curation: Community signals + quality filters Business Dashboard: Real-time foot traffic impact

Focus on actionable data: which spots drive visits, what content helps users discover.

Architecture Principles

  • Quality where users notice - Beautiful UI, smooth maps, fast search
  • Reliable infrastructure - PostgreSQL, Redis, proven tools
  • Smart data collection - Track what matters for improving discovery
  • Scale when proven - Start simple, optimize based on real usage

Development Philosophy

User-Centric

Build features users actually need. Test with real people finding real spots. No features for the sake of engagement metrics.

Quality First

Better to have 100 amazing spots than 10,000 mediocre ones. Every spot should be worth visiting.

Local Expertise

Partner with local photographers and explorers. They know the hidden gems algorithms can't find.

Data Strategy

What We Track

Focus on data that improves the product and proves business value:

Discovery Metrics

  • Which spots users save
  • Search patterns & filters used
  • Time from discovery to visit
  • Spot quality ratings
  • Successful visit confirmations

Business Intelligence

  • Foot traffic changes post-feature
  • Geographic coverage gaps
  • Peak visit times & seasonality
  • Cross-spot visit patterns
  • Tourist vs. local behavior

Launch Strategy

Phase 1: Seed Content

Partner with local photographers to curate 200+ quality spots per city. Real photos, verified locations, insider tips.

Phase 2: Beta Community

Invite active explorers and content creators. Let them discover, verify, and add their own finds.

Phase 3: Public Launch

Open access with quality controls. Featured spots, trending discoveries, personalized recommendations.

Phase 4: Network Growth

Add social features carefully. Follow other explorers, create collections, share itineraries.

Success Metrics

User Success

  • Discovery → Visit Rate: % who actually go
  • Spot Quality Score: User ratings
  • Monthly Active Explorers: Real usage
  • Cross-Platform Shares: Organic growth

Business Success

  • Foot Traffic Influence: Measurable impact
  • Coverage Density: Spots per city
  • Enterprise Contracts: Revenue validation
  • Curation Efficiency: Quality at scale

Team Culture

We build products we'd use ourselves. If we wouldn't excitedly show a spot to a friend, it doesn't belong on SpotFynder. Quality over quantity. User value over vanity metrics. Real-world impact over app addiction.

Building Philosophy: Pragmatic Idealism

We're idealistic about our mission - getting people out exploring and connecting with their cities. We're pragmatic about growth - understanding that breaking through the noise requires creativity and aggressive execution.

If you're interested in the unvarnished truth about how consumer platforms achieve scale, we should talk.