Better Connect
TL;DR
- Better Connect is a lightweight web app that fixes the pain of networking in groups, where 1:1 tools like LinkedIn QR codes break down and waste conversation time.
- It uses temporary “rooms” so attendees scan a single QR, instantly see everyone else, and connect to LinkedIn/WhatsApp/Arattai in a few taps, all built as a solo MVP in under 7 hours with Lovable and Supabase.
The Spark
The idea for Better Connect was born out of frustration during a recent product meetup.
After the initial introductions, the room naturally shifted to networking. As 10+ attendees tried to connect on LinkedIn simultaneously, the dynamic broke down. Everyone pulled out their phones, hunted for their own QR codes, and then awkwardly took turns scanning each other’s screens one by one.
1:1 connection tools fail in group settings.
If 10 people want to connect with everyone else, that requires 45 separate interactions. The result? Valuable conversation time was lost to “digital friction” as the focus shifted from connecting to administrative fumbling.
The Problem
For Attendees: In group networking, people stop listening because they are busy wrestling with QR codes and profile pages instead of staying in the conversation.
For Hosts: There is no easy way to get everyone connected digitally. You either force people to download a heavy event app they will delete tomorrow, or you just hope they figure it out themselves.
The Core Friction
The time it takes to connect is longer than the user’s attention span.
Market Validation
Existing tools left a clear gap.
- Digital Business Cards (HiHello, WaveConnect): Great for meeting one person. Bad for meeting ten. You still have to share your link with every single person individually.
- Event Platforms (Webex Events, Sched): These have networking features, but they are bloated. They require app downloads and registrations. It is overkill for a casual Tuesday night meetup.
The solution needed to be browser-based, download-free, and instant.
The Solution: One Room, One Scan
Better Connect is a web app based on “Rooms.”
A host creates a temporary room for the event. Anyone who joins that room is instantly visible to everyone else. You scan one code, you join the room, and you see a list of everyone there. You can connect with all of them in a few taps.
Key Product Decisions
1. Speed is everything I stripped the onboarding down to the bone. You only need a name to start. Bio and social links are optional. From landing page to live room takes under 30 seconds, even in a noisy meetup environment.
2. The “Room” Architecture Instead of sharing my profile, I share the Room. As soon as you scan to join, you populate a list. Suddenly, everyone can see everyone.
3. Ephemeral by Design Accounts auto-delete after 7 days of inactivity. This ensures user data isn’t stored indefinitely when it’s not needed, keeping things private by default. Users can toggle this off if they want to keep a permanent profile. Rooms are strictly transient; when the last person leaves, the room disappears, leaving no long-term data trail.
UX Highlights
1. Frictionless Onboarding
A vertical form with smart skip logic reduces friction for users filling it out in busy environments. It asks only for essential information and gets people connected quickly, minimizing the time they spend on onboarding.
2. The Networking Room
A clean list view acts as the digital lobby. You just tap the LinkedIn or WhasApp or Arattai icon to connect. No more scanning once you are inside.
3. Quick-Share Modal
A QR code that’s huge, high-contrast and downloadable so it scans easily from a distance, or when projected on a screen.
4. Public Profile Link
Beyond the ‘Room’ concept, the tool also works for 1:1 sharing. Once a profile is built, users get a unique public URL + QR code. This creates an entry point for new users to onboard and create their profile easily.
Technical Stack & Strategy
As a Product Manager building this solo, I leveraged Lovable to go from concept to functional MVP in under 7 hours.
- Frontend: React.
- Auth & Database: Supabase via Lovable.
Next threads to follow
- Address the issues in the workflows and enhance them based on real-time feedback during next meetup.
- Arattai Integration: This could be a “Link-in-Bio” funnel to drive users to Arattai, and hand-off Room logic to Arattai groups.
- VCF Export: A “Save” button to add to your phone contacts.
You can play around with the live MVP here
🔗 Better Connect
Note: Since this was a rapid prototype, there are still a few edge cases and UI quirks I’m ironing out!