CreatorConnect — Creator Collaboration Marketplace App
A cross-platform mobile marketplace connecting brands with content creators, with real-time chat and role-based dashboards.
- Role
- Solo developer — full-stack mobile build
- Timeline
- 2025
- Status
- Completed — personal project
- Team
- Solo project
Tools
Overview
CreatorConnect is a full-stack, cross-platform mobile app built with React Native and Expo that connects brands with content creators for collaborations. It includes role-based dashboards for brands and creators, along with real-time chat powered by Socket.IO.
The Problem
Brands and creators were coordinating collaborations over DMs and spreadsheets, with no shared record of deliverables or timelines. I wanted to prototype a focused mobile app that gave both sides a single place to negotiate, track, and chat about a collaboration.
Architecture
Mobile client
React Native app built with Expo, with separate navigation stacks for brand and creator roles.
API
Node.js/Express REST API handling collaboration requests, profiles, and dashboard data.
Real-time layer
Socket.IO server for live chat, with rooms scoped per collaboration thread.
Data
MongoDB storing users, collaborations, and message history.
Key Features & My Role
- Cross-platform mobile app built with React Native and Expo
- Role-based dashboards for brands and creators
- Real-time chat between brands and creators via Socket.IO
Video Walkthrough
Video walkthrough coming soon
Outcomes & Results
- Built and tested a working prototype across both iOS and Android via Expo Go.
- First project where I designed role-based UI from scratch rather than adapting an existing pattern.
- Real-time chat was the trickiest part — came out of it comfortable with Socket.IO room management.
Reflection
Mobile navigation state surprised me — coordinating two very different role-based flows in one app took more upfront planning than the web projects I'd built before. Next time I'd sketch the full navigation tree before writing any screens.