Ask HN: We built a travel app – a classic tarpit idea. What now?
May 19, 2025 - news.ycombinator.com
A group of friends developed TripJam, a collaborative travel app with deep AI integration, to streamline travel planning, which they found cumbersome using group chats, Google Maps, and spreadsheets. The app includes modern group chat features and AI-driven function calls to manage trips comprehensively, and it is available on iOS. However, the creators acknowledge their inexperience in the startup space, having made the mistakes of not validating their idea with potential customers before building the app and entering an already saturated market.
They are seeking advice on potential pivots, growth strategies, and any other insights to help them succeed in the competitive travel app industry. The team is open to honest feedback as they navigate the challenges of acquiring and retaining users in a crowded market.
Key takeaways:
TripJam is a collaborative travel app with deep AI integration, designed to streamline travel planning.
The app was developed by a group of friends frustrated with traditional travel planning tools.
The team acknowledges the mistake of building the app without validating the idea with potential customers.
They are seeking advice on potential pivots and growth strategies in a saturated market.
