Intro (Convention Networking) - cs428TAs/w2025 GitHub Wiki

Pitch

Background

I've gone to multiple conventions over the years, and the biggest problems I've seen with them is

  1. The apps they have people download are pretty low quality and often buggy
  2. It is hard to meet the people I want to meet (i.e. vendors at the convention)

Validation

I've talked to multiple vendors at conventions and have met with convention organizers as well. One vendor told me they pay upwards of $50,000 for spot at conventions hoping they can get ONE customer. They showed interest in streamlining the process of meeting customers.

Idea

Intro is an app designed to replace existing convention apps and have functionality to connect vendors with buyers at conventions by matching users with similar interests. For example, a vendor selling accounting software could connect with buyers looking for such tools.

Summary of Features

Short Term

  1. Use mock convention data for
  • Vendor name, contact information
  • Vendor Product Information
  1. User Actions
  • Browse all vendors in attendance and view their information
  • Send a connection invite to meet with a vendor they are interested in
  1. Possible AI features
  • User can just describe what they want (i.e. a certain type of software) and app will automatically find related vendors

Long Term Features (Not expected to complete during timeframe of semester)

  1. Incorporate a template app where:
  • Conventions can upload their maps, schedules, etc.

(Meant to replace their current apps as well include our connection functionality)

Possible Architecture (This is flexible)

Native App - Use Flutter framework for cross-OS compatibility

Hosting - AWS (AWS Amplify makes this very easy as a server-less option)

DB - AWS DynamoDB

(Note: Flutter is beginner-friendly, especially with AI tools.)

Proposed by Brandon Paul