Local Lite

Local Lite Banner
Local Lite Flow

For our Shellhacks 25’ Project we created Local Lite, a map-based mobile app that uses AI algorithms to discover and showcase small businesses in the user’s vicinity. The app’s core mission is to “make the invisible visible”, supporting local and remote communities where many independent vendors like roadside farm stands or mom-and-pop restaurants, may not have a formal presence online. Our Google Cloud Suite automatically identifies nearby small businesses and displays key details to present them in an interactive, user-friendly interface. The front end is built with Flutter for cross platform performance, while the back end is powered by Python Fast API, ensuring real time, location aware results wherever the user goes.

On our way here, we noticed there were many remote communities we passed through, we wondered how the local businesses 1. not only staying in business but 2. how they promoted business. We came up with LocalLite to put a spotlight on local businesses. Huge chain companies often overshadow a lot of these businesses and it was important for us to provide them with their own platform to shine and grow just like these bigger companies can.

Our team is comprised of one Health Sciences major, a Digital Media major, and an IT major. Together, crossing interdisciplinary, we've been able to brainstorm and come up with an idea that will not only impact targeted communities but people all over the world.

A few challenges we faced was not knowing how to even deploy let alone know how to use any mobile development coding. On top of this, getting used to using Google Cloud API's was definitely as struggle point but we persevered and let our determination waiver.

Thank you for reading and taking the time to explore our project, and we hope that there will be more to come!

Built With

dart
emulator
fastapi
figma
flutter
geminiapi
google-cloud
google-maps
mobile
python

Submitted to

ShellHacks 2025

Created by

I worked on implementing the API's and developing the backend between Flutter and Python. I have never made a Mobile App before, let alone use a mobile programming language so it was fun learning.

Preston Penn
I worked on our story as well as the design of our app on Figma. As this was my first time using Figma, it was super fun to learn a new program I had no prior knowledge about.

Avery Leas
Spearheaded the creative design behind Local Lite. Brainstormed sketches sketches, different ideations, and made a low fidelity prototype in flutter to demo. The designs I created were made using Figma. Thought behind the most simple way to have a user flow with still showcasing the critical feature and impact behind Local Lite.

Jade Penn