Squarify StudioOverview
Our own consumer app, from first research to a 10k waitlist.
OurBestie helps solo travelers find a group trip wherever they’re headed, say yes to the plan and meet people along the way. It’s our own product: we researched the market, designed and built the iOS and Android app, and launched the website and waitlist, which 10k travelers have joined ahead of launch.
Research
We started with how solo travelers meet people.
Before designing a single screen, we studied how people traveling alone find company today, from hostel common rooms to walking tours and group chats, and where it breaks down. Three findings shaped the product: meeting one stranger feels riskier than joining a group, plans with new people stall over dates and money, and nobody wants to share their exact location with people they haven’t met.
Solution
Find a trip, say yes, plan it together.
We designed the app around group trips. Anyone can start one in about 30 seconds, and travelers join from the city they’re in or heading to. Inside, the group shares one plan everyone can add to, splits the bill without awkward money texts, and can forward a flight confirmation to have it show up on the right day.
Safety
Making the safe path the easy one.
Meeting strangers is the whole point, so safety is built into the product. Meetups happen in groups rather than one to one, and others only ever see the city you’re in, never your exact location. Members choose what their profile shows, can report anyone from a profile, trip or chat, and must be 18 or over, backed by Community Guidelines we enforce.
Build
One backend for the app, and the site around it.
We built the app on Firebase, which runs sign-in, profiles, trips and messages, photo storage, push notifications and crash reporting. Around it we shipped the website, the waitlist, a travel blog, and a self-serve portal where local businesses can put their activities on the map for a monthly price set by their city.
Result
10k travelers on the waitlist before launch.
The waitlist reached 10k travelers ahead of the public launch, early testers are already using the app on their trips, and local businesses can sign up through the partner portal to reach them while they plan.