Project Summary

Cache-it is a scavenger hunt app that combines elements from several different areas of tech: web3, AR, and AI.

In the app, users can login by connecting an existing wallet using WalletConnect, or create a new wallet which we do for them through a custodial wallet provider called Venly. Users can then go around and see what caches have been created near them. This is similar to the “Geocaching” app where users find actual geocaches hidden throughout the world, except in this case the geocaches are entirely digital. When a user finds an item in a cache, they have an AR screen that pops open, similar to Pokemon Go. The user can then tap the item to claim it. If the creator of the cache wants to, they can configure additional tasks the user must do before claiming an item in their cache, such as answering a trivia question. The user then can claim the item, which mints it to their wallet.

Users can also create their own geocaches. They go to the “new cache” screen and specify properties such as the name of their cache, the size of it (in meters), and some information about it. We then use some AI APIs to generate a cool origin story of how the cache item was created along with artwork for it. We also have been adding more customizability for what caches can look like. For example, we are adding more things to do upon finding a cache item than just trivia questions, adding the option to make multi-step caches, and more. The end goal for this app is to target brands, making it a platform where brands can create excitement among their customers by dropping different kinds of caches. For example, if Nike wanted to create hype around a new shoe, they could drop a cache of 10 items in NYC, and the first 10 people to claim (mint) the cache could redeem it for a free pair of the shoes.

This has been a really fun project to work on. It's my first real mobile app (besides a crappy one for a class awhile ago), so it's been great to see how mobile dev differs from building desktop web apps (and how it's similar). My cofounder in the project is Trey Rudolph (https://twitter.com/T_Goody3), who you should also check out if you're looking for a great SWE. I am temporarily putting this project on pause to focus on the end of college, as well as some summer travel plans I have.