Cowch: Your AI Growth Squad

💡 Inspiration

Many people have the drive to succeed but lack the structured guidance of a personal mentor. Cowch was born from the idea of democratizing high-level coaching. We wanted to build a platform where anyone could "summon" a specialized squad of AI mentors—experts in focus, discipline, and strategy—to turn vague ambitions into a concrete roadmap.

🛠️ How we built it

Cowch is built on a modern, scalable stack designed for rapid deployment and cross-platform performance:

Framework: Built with Ionic and Capacitor for a seamless native mobile experience.
Intelligence: Powered by Google Gemini API, utilizing advanced prompt engineering to simulate distinct mentor personalities and conduct deep performance audits.
Monetization: Integrated with RevenueCat to manage subscriptions and "Pro" coaching features.
Backend & Logic: Clean TypeScript architecture ensuring fast response times and reliable data handling.

🧠 What we learned

Building Cowch was a masterclass in AI Persona Engineering. We learned how to constrain LLMs to act as specific advisors without breaking character. We also gained deep insights into the Android deployment lifecycle, specifically managing app signing certificates and navigating the Google Play Console's rigorous review requirements under intense pressure.

🚧 Challenges we faced

The biggest challenge was the "Final Boss" of mobile development: App Signing. We encountered a critical SHA1 certificate mismatch during the release phase. With the hackathon deadline looming, we had to pivot instantly—refactoring the applicationId, generating new keystores, and re-configuring the entire Google Play project to ensure a successful submission. It was a race against the clock that tested our technical agility.

📈 What's next for Cowch

We plan to introduce Real-time Voice Coaching, allowing users to have hands-free debriefs with their mentors. We also aim to implement algorithms to maximize user focus, defined by:

$$FocusScore = \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{GoalProgress_{i}}{TimeSpent_{i}}$$

Cowch: Move from the couch to the win.