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Chatmap was my final project for Engineering and Computer Science. I was selected to participate in Startup School UAI, a special graduation program where we had to create a startup from scratch. So, my team built an app—a social network that let people find events and parties happening around them in real time.

The idea came from the struggles people faced during the pandemic. Social isolation took a toll on mental health, and planning social activities became harder than ever. In Chile, 34.6% of the population reported mental health symptoms during the pandemic, making it clear how important it was to reconnect. At the same time, post-pandemic restrictions and the overwhelming number of apps people use, made it difficult to figure out where to go. Chatmap aimed to fix that by making it easier to find events, restaurants, and nightlife options all in one place.

Beyond just helping people connect, Chatmap also supported the struggling nightlife and events industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic. Global initiatives like #SAVENIGHTLIFE highlighted the importance of keeping these businesses alive. Chatmap helped by giving people a simple way to discover and plan outings, making it easier to support local spots while bringing people together.