ROAM
A real-time location-based social discovery platform for people chasing spontaneous moments.
3rd place on Hackathon
3rd place on Hackathon
PROJECT DETAILS
DURATION
24 hrs (2026 Hackathon)
TEAM
Riya (me!)
Kimaya
Duncan
Claire
Ryan
PROJECT
Location-Based Services
Real-Time Platform
Two-Sided Marketplace
AI assistance
ROLE/SKILLS
Product Design
UI Design
Prototyping
Pitch Deck Design
Cross-Functional Collaboration
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
What is Roam?
What is Roam?
What is Roam?
A real-time location-based social discovery platform that connects people through local experiences, making it effortless to find things to do and who to do them with.
A real-time location-based social discovery platform that connects people through local experiences, making it effortless to find things to do and who to do them with.
A real-time location-based social discovery platform that connects people through local experiences, making it effortless to find things to do and who to do them with.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
How did we
land on Roam?
How did we land on Roam?
How did we land on Roam?
Two years ago, Duncan set up a telescope on the sidewalk. Ryan walked past by chance, stopped, and saw Saturn's rings for the first time.
It was a spontaneous moment between two strangers that neither of them planned, and it left us wondering:
What if moments like this could happen more often?
Two years ago, Duncan set up a telescope on the sidewalk. Ryan walked past by chance, stopped, and saw Saturn's rings for the first time.
It was a spontaneous moment between two strangers that neither of them planned, and it left us wondering:
What if moments like this could happen more often?
This led us to understand why people crave these spontaneous moments and what is the underlying issue. After some research and some digging we narrowed down the main problem.
This led us to understand why people crave these spontaneous moments and what is the underlying issue. After some research and some digging we narrowed down the main problem.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
Despite being the most digitally connected generation, people are lonelier than ever, and no tool bridges that gap in real time.
Despite being the most digitally connected generation, people are lonelier than ever, and no tool bridges that gap in real time.
Despite being the most digitally connected generation, people are lonelier than ever, and no tool bridges that gap in real time.
PROCESS
PROCESS
How did we
build it?
How did we build it?
How did we build it?
We realized that a community app allowed us more room to reach and expand the app. A place where users are the shape the app.
Roam is designed for the seeker and the host.
We realized that a community app allowed us more room to reach and expand the app. A place where users are the shape the app.
Roam is designed for the seeker and the host.
Seekers
Seekers
Users looking for spontaneous moments.
Users looking for spontaneous moments.
Users looking for spontaneous moments.
Hosts
Hosts
Users creating niche experiences they want to share. The experience can be something like showing off a telescope to sharing some home baked cookies.
Users creating niche experiences they want to share. The experience can be something like showing off a telescope to sharing some home baked cookies.
How can we
bring spontaneity?
How can we bring spontaneity?
Spontaneity is to bring something unexpected. Companies market events days in advance, leaving us bombarded and over-planned.
What if you only knew about things happening right now?
Spontaneity is to bring something unexpected. Companies market events days in advance, leaving us bombarded and over-planned.
What if you only knew about things happening right now?
You have 30 mins before class. Roam finds what's happening near you right now, accounting for travel time, so you can enjoy the moment and make it back on time.
Real-time photos from hosts and other attendees let you see what's actually happening before you commit. Spontaneous, but on your own terms.
You have 30 mins before class. Roam finds what's happening near you right now, accounting for travel time, so you can enjoy the moment and make it back on time.
Real-time photos from hosts and other attendees let you see what's actually happening before you commit. Spontaneous, but on your own terms.
How it looks?
How it looks?
IMPACT
IMPACT
Roam won 3rd place on the University of Arizona x Parsons : AI Startup Design Hackathon. And from the users that we interviewed during the hackathon was deemed as something that they would love to use.
Roam won 3rd place on the University of Arizona x Parsons : AI Startup Design Hackathon. And from the users that we interviewed during the hackathon was deemed as something that they would love to use.
