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Welcome to my blog! Below are my latest posts.

Building HypeCrew: A Marketplace for Hype Performers on Bolt.new

As someone who has spent 15+ years in product security, I'm always interested in how new platforms can accelerate development while maintaining security best practices. Enter Bolt.new and my latest project: HypeCrew.

What is HypeCrew?

HypeCrew is a two-sided marketplace that connects people who need hype talent for events with professional hype artists and crews. Think Airtasker meets TaskRabbit, but for entertainment and energy services.

Live Demo | GitHub

The Concept

Whether you need: - A hype person for a birthday party ($120) - Wedding entrance energy crew ($300) - Gaming tournament host ($80/hour) - Corporate team building energizer ($200)

HypeCrew connects you with verified performers who specialize in different energy types and event styles.

Why Bolt.new?

Having built secure systems at companies like Bose, Amazon, and Uber, I appreciate platforms that let you focus on innovation rather than infrastructure setup. Bolt.new enabled me to rapidly prototype this marketplace concept while maintaining professional development standards.

Technical Architecture

Frontend: React/Next.js with TypeScript (75.7% of codebase) Backend: Supabase with PostgreSQL (22.4% PLpgSQL) Styling: Tailwind CSS with mobile-first design Deployment: Netlify with continuous integration

Security-First Marketplace Design

My security background influenced several key architectural decisions:

Row Level Security (RLS)

  • Supabase RLS policies protect user data
  • Performers only see their own bookings
  • Clients only access their posted gigs

Authentication & Authorization

  • Separate user types (performers vs clients)
  • Role-based access control
  • Secure file upload for portfolios

Data Protection

  • User privacy controls
  • Secure messaging system
  • Payment processing integration ready

Key Features

  • Two-sided marketplace with distinct user flows
  • Real-time messaging between clients and performers
  • Advanced filtering by location, price, hype style
  • Portfolio system for performer showcases
  • Review and rating system for trust building
  • Mobile-first responsive design

Innovation in Entertainment

This project represents something new - there wasn't really a dedicated platform for booking hype talent before. It's a gap I identified where technology could solve a real problem in the entertainment industry.

Lessons Learned

  1. Rapid Prototyping Value: Bolt.new let me validate the concept quickly
  2. Security by Design: Even in rapid development, security principles matter
  3. User Experience Focus: Two-sided marketplaces need intuitive flows for both sides
  4. Modern Stack Benefits: TypeScript + Supabase + Tailwind is a powerful combination

Looking Forward

HypeCrew demonstrates how security professionals can apply their systematic thinking to new domains. The same principles that secure enterprise systems - authentication, authorization, data protection - apply to consumer marketplaces.

This project shows the intersection of: - Security expertise applied to consumer applications - Modern development tools for rapid iteration - Market innovation in the entertainment space


What do you think about the intersection of security thinking and marketplace development? I'd love to hear your thoughts - feel free to reach out!

ExitPal: Social Anxiety Meets Innovation at Bolt.new Hackathon

I'm thinking about entering my ExitPal project into the Bolt.new hackathon.

What is ExitPal?

ExitPal is a TypeScript application designed to help users plan socially acceptable exits from awkward or undesirable social situations.

Key Features: - Exit planning interface - Smooth user experience
- Mobile-responsive design for accessibility

Why This Matters

Social anxiety is tough...been there! ExitPal is an app that let's users schedule text or voice at specific times from a specific number. This allows users to use the ExitPal number on any Contact with any Name they choose. For example, "Boss" or "Auditor".

The Bolt.new Connection

The Bolt.new hackathon is the perfect platform to showcase how modern web technologies can solve real-world challenges. ExitPal demonstrates that TypeScript and modern web frameworks can create applications that truly matter—tools that could help save you from the most cringe-worthy situations.

Recent Development

I've been actively updating ExitPal (last commit just 4 days ago!) with new features and improvements.

You can check out the ExitPal project page for more details, or view the code on GitHub.


I'd love to hear your thoughts—feel free to reach out!*

First

Let's try the whole static pages thing.

  • Lists
  • Bold and italic
  • Links