PMO | Devpost

Inspiration

The idea for PMO came from the need to create an innovative, fair, and accessible job marketplace for homeless individuals. We wanted to challenge social stigmas with a unique and engaging approach, making job opportunities more accessible while sparking meaningful conversations.

What it does

PMO is a mobile bidding platform that connects homeless individuals with local odd jobs. Job providers post tasks, and homeless individuals bid for them in real time. The platform ensures fair competition, quick payouts, and community engagement, empowering people to earn money while breaking down societal barriers.

How we built it

We developed PMO using:

Gadget.dev as our backend platform, which allowed us to rapidly prototype and build the application without dealing with complex infrastructure.
React Native for a smooth, cross-platform mobile experience.
Firebase for real-time updates and user management.
Stripe integration for secure and instant payments.
Authentication and verification with phone number-based sign-up and optional biometric verification for added trust.

Challenges we ran into

User adoption: Convincing both job providers and homeless individuals to try the platform.
Verification hurdles: Balancing ease of access with security measures.
Stigma and branding: Creating an engaging yet respectful approach to homelessness and job-seeking.
Limited access to devices: Many users don’t have reliable internet or smartphones, so we explored text-based job alerts.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built a fully functional MVP using Gadget.dev, cutting development time significantly.
Successfully integrated real-time bidding and instant payments for gig workers.
Established early partnerships with local shelters and nonprofits to onboard initial users.
Designed a branding strategy that mixes humor with social impact, making the project attention-grabbing but still meaningful.

What we learned

Gadget.dev is a game-changer for rapid development, saving us tons of backend work.
Accessibility matters—we needed offline-friendly features for users without stable internet.
Trust is key—a job platform for vulnerable people needs strong verification, dispute resolution, and community engagement.

What's next for PMO

Expanding pilot programs to multiple cities.
AI-powered job matching to recommend tasks based on user history and location.
Employer incentives like tax benefits for hiring homeless workers.
A low-tech SMS version for users without smartphones.
Community-built features, allowing users to request improvements and feedback directly in-app.

Would you like me to refine any sections further?