Location-Based Social Network
A cross-platform social platform that connects people through interactive maps, nearby communities, and location-based conversations.
- Client
- Under NDA
- Industry
- Social networking
- Platform
- Mobile & Web
- Services
- Product strategy, UI/UX design, Mobile app development, Backend development, DevOps & release management
The challenge
This project is protected by a non-disclosure agreement: some product details and visuals remain confidential. We describe our work without revealing the client's product.
The product is a mobile-first social networking platform built around geolocation. The core idea was to make the map more than a navigation tool: it became the primary social interface - a place where users discover conversations, communities, people, and activity connected to real locations.
The product required a scalable experience across mobile and web, supporting map-based discovery, user positioning, geochats, onboarding, profiles, notifications, social interactions, payments, analytics, and administrative workflows.
What we built
We helped build the platform from the ground up. On the design side, the work included market research, competitor analysis, product strategy, information architecture, user flows, interactive prototypes, usability testing, and a scalable Figma design system - more than 15 tested prototypes reduced ambiguity and sped up handoff.
On the engineering side, the work included React Native development, geolocation flows, AR and camera features, AI integrations, a microservice and API Gateway architecture, GraphQL, gRPC, and REST communication, Stripe payments, attribution, deep linking, Expo and EAS release management, performance optimization, and production infrastructure.
Delivery ran as one shared process across product design, mobile engineering, backend development, AI integration, QA, marketing, and project coordination - with tracked priorities, dependencies, and milestones. Our contribution covered research, product strategy, system design, user experience, technical architecture, implementation, infrastructure, release management, and continuous product improvement.
Social discovery through maps
Users explore nearby activity, discover location-based conversations, and interact with communities directly through an interactive map.
Geochats and local communities
Conversations are connected to real places, so users communicate around neighborhoods, venues, events, and shared locations.
AR and camera interactions
Augmented reality and camera-based features extend map interactions beyond standard 2D discovery and create more immersive location-based experiences.
Cross-platform product ecosystem
Mobile experiences, web interfaces, administrative tools, and internal workflows designed to remain consistent across devices.
Payments and subscriptions
Stripe-based payment flows support subscriptions, checkout, payment-status synchronization, and webhook-driven automation.
Analytics and attribution
AppsFlyer, deep links, deferred deep links, and product events support acquisition tracking and user journey analysis.
Scalable system architecture
A microservice and API Gateway architecture separated client-facing modules from core backend services and improved development efficiency.
Faster design-to-development workflow
A scalable design system and more than 15 tested prototypes reduced ambiguity, improved handoff, and supported a faster development cycle.
User-centered onboarding
Surveys, focus groups, and usability testing helped simplify onboarding and improve early user activation.
Mobile performance optimization
Caching, state synchronization, memoization, rendering improvements, and asset optimization improved responsiveness across supported devices.
Production release management
Expo SDK upgrades, EAS builds, OTA updates, release channels, CI/CD, domains, SSL, staging, and store readiness were managed as part of delivery.
Cross-functional coordination
Design, engineering, QA, marketing, AI, and product teams worked within a shared delivery process with tracked priorities, dependencies, and milestones.
Results
~30%
Faster design iteration
~25%
Faster development cycles through early validation and clearer handoff
+18%
Higher user activation after onboarding and flow refinements
~45%
Faster delivery after architectural changes
~33%
Better app responsiveness from caching and state synchronization
Technologies
- React Native
- TypeScript
- Expo & EAS
- GraphQL
- gRPC
- REST APIs
- Microservices
- API Gateway
- AR Features
- Geolocation & Maps
- AI APIs
- Stripe
- AppsFlyer
- Deep Links
- Over-the-air updates
- CI/CD
Build a social product with us
From interactive maps and social flows to payments, analytics, and production infrastructure - we can help move a complex platform from concept to release.