Building the 2025 YSA Conference AI Dating App

In 2025, I had the privilege of leading a team of 10 engineers to build an AI Dating App for the United States Korean YSA Conference. This project was a masterclass in end-to-end product delivery and team management.

The Engineering Challenge

We built a multi-platform mobile application (iOS, Android, macOS, Linux) using Flutter for the frontend and a Python-based AI backend.

Technical Stack:

• Frontend: Flutter (Android, iOS, macOS, Linux)
• AI Backend: Python-based matching engine
• Messaging: End-to-end encrypted real-time chat
• Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
• Infrastructure: Google Maps API, multi-step registration with EULA/ToS compliance

Team Leadership

Leading a team of 10 junior developers taught me the intricacies of:

• Goal Setting & Task Delegation: Breaking down complex features into manageable tickets.
• Code Quality: Reviewing PRs and debugging together at midnight.
• Problem Solving: Navigating cryptic error messages and App Store rejection cycles.

Results

We successfully shipped to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. During the conference, the app saw significant user engagement, proving that a group of passionate developers can build real products that impact lives.

"What we shipped together: Encrypted messaging, AI matching, real-time notifications, and full production deployment."