Sprout

Welcome Page
Purchase Results Page
Community Leaderboard Page

ONLINE TEAM

Video Demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LN1lTBbI2nqxmTnA5vknt2LIDgOVXlse/view?usp=sharing

Inspiration

We were inspired by the gap between eco-conscious intentions and actual sustainable habits in our daily lives. Many people want to make greener choices but lack the time, knowledge, or tools to understand the real environmental impact of their purchases. We wanted to create a tool that bridges that gap—something effortless, insightful, and even fun. After exploring existing sustainability apps, we realized there wasn’t a product that combined personalized insights, AI automation, and gamification into one accessible experience. That’s how Sprout was born—a way to make everyday sustainability feel rewarding and socially connected.

What it does

Sprout is a mobile app that uses AI to help users understand and reduce the environmental impact of their everyday spending. By uploading receipts, screenshots, or manually entering purchases, users receive a personalized eco score that factors in carbon footprint, plastic usage, and brand ethics. Sprout offers smart tips and alternative suggestions to encourage more sustainable choices, while visual dashboards track progress over time. The app includes a gamified system where users earn points for eco-friendly actions, complete weekly challenges, and unlock badges and customizations—like avatar outfits bought with eco points. With a strong social component, users can join a community leaderboard, view friends' eco scores, and celebrate shared progress. Unlike competitors, Sprout combines AI-powered receipt scanning, detailed brand evaluations, and flexible input methods into one holistic, playful, and personalized sustainability tool.

How we built it

We began by mapping out essential features based on user research and competitive analysis. We designed a clean, intuitive UI that highlights personal progress and makes eco insights easy to digest. Our app flow centers around five core pages: Home, Add Purchase, Analyze, Community, and Profile. For AI functionality, we implemented receipt scanning logic to extract item names and prices, and trained a simple classifier to categorize purchases (e.g., food, fashion, transit). We also incorporated modular components for avatars, goals, and gamification elements to keep things scalable and flexible.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was designing an AI experience that felt seamless without overwhelming the user. Parsing receipts and screenshots with varying layouts was tricky, especially when paired with the need for accurate categorization. We also had to carefully prioritize which gamified elements to include—ensuring the experience stayed meaningful and not overly cluttered. Lastly, balancing personalization and privacy was top of mind; we wanted users to feel in control of their data while still receiving tailored insights.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of how holistic and cohesive Sprout became in such a short amount of time. From AI-powered receipt analysis to avatar customization and eco progress tracking, we were able to integrate complex features into a smooth, user-friendly flow. The design system is accessible and fun, the community aspects are motivating, and the eco score provides real value. We also loved that our app stood out in competitive research—especially for its brand ethics insights and flexible input options, which weren’t available in most other apps.

What we learned

Working on Sprout taught us how thoughtful front-end design can make sustainability feel empowering and approachable. We learned the importance of creating a user interface that balances clarity, motivation, and fun—especially when dealing with topics that can sometimes feel overwhelming or guilt-inducing. Designing for accessibility and inclusivity was also a key focus, ensuring that users of all backgrounds could benefit from the app. Throughout the process, we sharpened our skills in visual design, interaction flow, and crafting an intuitive user experience that encourages consistent engagement and habit-building.

What's next for Sprout

Looking ahead, we want to expand Sprout’s AI capabilities to include barcode scanning and brand databases for even richer insights. We’re also excited to build out more community-driven features like challenge groups, eco tips from friends, and in-app sustainability events. In future versions, we plan to partner with ethical brands to offer rewards or discounts for high eco scores. Ultimately, our goal is to empower users to make a positive impact—one small, thoughtful purchase at a time.