OutTheGC

A collaborative event planning web application that helps friend groups follow through with plans - finally getting them out of the group chat.

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Inspiration

We built OutTheGC to solve a problem almost every friend group runs into: making plans in the group chat that never actually happen. Messages get buried, decisions drag on, and good ideas fade away. OutTheGC turns those scattered conversations into real plans by giving friends a simple, organized way to coordinate events together.

What it does

OutTheGC is a collaborative event planning platform that makes organizing with friends easy and actionable. Users can create or join friend groups through invitation links, suggest and plan events, and build out details like location, time, and budget. Events sync directly with Google Calendar, and upcoming plans are displayed within each group for better visibility and follow-through.

How we built it

We built OutTheGC using Next.js for the frontend and Firebase for authentication and real-time data storage. Our UI was designed in Figma with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. We integrated the Google API for seamless calendar syncing and used the Gemini API to help generate activity ideas and planning suggestions.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was integrating with the Google Calendar API, which involved navigating a complex system of permissions, scopes, and OAuth configurations. We also spent time refining the user interface to strike the right balance between functionality and simplicity, ensuring it supported collaboration without overwhelming the user.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're proud to have built a complete first version of OutTheGC, bringing together collaborative planning tools, calendar syncing, and smart suggestions in one cohesive platform. Successfully integrating multiple APIs into a smooth, unified experience was a major milestone. Most importantly, we’re proud that the platform is something we genuinely want to use with our own friends.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we gained experience working with Firebase and third-party APIs in a collaborative dev environment. We also learned how to approach product design with a user-first mindset, and how to keep our feature set focused to avoid unnecessary complexity while still solving the core problem.

What's next for OutTheGC

We’re excited to keep growing OutTheGC. Next steps include integrating payment platforms like Venmo or PayPal to simplify cost splitting, adding push notifications to keep users informed, and developing a mobile version so planning can happen on the go.

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