🌱 The Origin — A Question That Wouldn’t Leave Me Alone
It was the end of winter 2022, and I was headed to the gym. Not for any epiphany — just to decompress from long days spent indoors. I had a remote job, but the monotony of working from home every day was wearing me down. To escape, I began walking — not just for fitness, but for mental clarity. I started working from local libraries and cafés instead of staying cooped up. Each day, I picked a different direction — Toronto has many libraries, and I wanted variety.
Those walks slowly turned into rituals. Mornings would begin with a stroll to a new spot, and evenings ended with me exploring restaurants or streets I hadn't passed before. These daily walks became moments of personal therapy, exploration, and curiosity.
But during these walks, I began noticing things — things that were happening around me that I had no idea were happening. Events, small popups, deals, even community activities that no app or platform had ever told me about. And that planted the seed.
👀 Realizations Along the Way
Here’s what I started to observe, almost serendipitously:
A massive rib fest was happening right off a street I passed — tons of food, music, and people.
Amusement rides set up for a weekend in a random lot — no idea they were coming.
A community potluck sign taped to a lawn board inviting anyone nearby to join.
A retail parking lot sale, with huge discounts — completely unadvertised online.
A truck selling clothes — jeans and tees right from a van.
A free concert at Dundas Square I just stumbled into.
A food truck gathering in a park I happened to walk by.
Flowers and plants sold directly from someone’s porch — like a casual sidewalk market.
An open house sign for a home sale, which you’d only notice if you were physically there.
Each time I ran into something unexpected like this, I was both delighted and bothered. Delighted that such spontaneous discovery was possible. Bothered that I wouldn’t have known any of this if I hadn't been walking by.
That’s when the bigger thought hit me:
“How many people are just sitting at home, completely unaware that something cool is happening nearby?”
And more importantly:
“If they had known, wouldn’t they have stepped out, joined in, explored?”
That simple thought — that discovery shouldn’t depend on coincidence — stuck with me. It didn’t feel like just a missing feature from Google Maps or Instagram. It felt like a gap in how we experience the real world.
🔍 Turning Curiosity Into Research
Once I became aware of the problem, I couldn’t unsee it. I began investigating:
Why don’t apps show these types of hyperlocal activities?
Where do mobile businesses or temporary events even advertise?
What do people miss out on simply because they didn’t know?
I dove into Reddit threads. I searched forums. I looked up event discovery apps. But most were focused on concerts, club nights, or ticketed festivals. Nothing spoke to the spontaneous stuff — the fleeting, temporary, hyperlocal moments.
So I started talking to people:
A local photographer told me she often sets up mini pop-up sessions in parks, but no one ever knows unless they follow her on Instagram.
A home-based Indian snack seller told me she’d love to attract neighbors when she has extra batches, but has no efficient way to spread the word.
A driving instructor mentioned he operates around multiple neighborhoods but struggles to advertise locally without spending on broader campaigns.
Common theme? They all had things to offer — right place, right time — but no way to let people nearby know.
And on the consumer side? Almost everyone I asked said they would’ve definitely stopped by if they’d known something interesting was just around the corner.
🧭 Defining the Problem
At this point, I had the insight and validation. But I needed to narrow down what Trace should solve.
Core Problems Identified:
Discovery is broken: People don’t know about temporary, mobile, or nearby opportunities unless they’re already following a business.
No real-time visibility: Even on social media, timing is a gamble — you might see a post two days late.
Small businesses can’t reach local, real-time audiences without big ad budgets.
What was needed was an entirely new layer over the physical world — one that worked like a map but focused on real-world happenings.
🧠 Ideating the Solution
The vision started forming. What if there was a way to open a map and see everything that’s happening nearby, right now? A sort of “pulse” of the city?
I envisioned:
A real-time map, just like Google Maps, but for local happenings.
Categories and filters so you could look for food, shopping, art, offers, etc.
An open platform where businesses and individuals can post what they’re doing — from garage sales to food truck specials to flash discounts.
This wouldn't be just another event platform. It would be a discovery layer over the physical world — always updating, always relevant, always location-aware.
I named it Trace — because that’s what I was doing: tracing the physical world with a digital lens.
🧰 Wireframes, Mockups & Design Thinking
I began sketching. I created wireframes for the map, the filters, the business profile pages, and the post creation flow.
Early decisions included:
Map-first interface — because geography and proximity were central.
A card feed view for people who prefer scrolling over maps.
Easy posting flow for mobile businesses or individuals.
I designed an MVP that could eventually work both on mobile apps and website — just like how Google Maps works cross-platform.
The design also emphasized:
Trust-building in first-use journey — since the platform relies on community content.
No forced logins upfront — users can discover without barriers.
Seamless posting for verified local accounts — including temporary vendors.
🎯 Target Audience
While everyone can benefit from Trace, my core focus began with:
Mobile businesses — food trucks, pop-up vendors, service professionals.
Local creators & gig workers — offering services or products casually.
Everyday consumers — people just looking to make the most of their neighborhood.
Much like Google Maps or Instagram, Trace isn’t niche. It’s a platform meant for everyone — but with real focus on surfacing underrepresented local activities.
🚀 Where Things Stand
No MVP has been built yet. But I’ve gone deep into research, design, user flows, and strategy. The foundation is set, the insights are sharp, and the potential is massive.
Trace is not about organizing big concerts or festivals. It’s about capturing the everyday magic happening all around us — the things you didn’t know you wanted until you stumbled upon them.
And Trace makes sure you don’t have to stumble — you can just know.
💬 Final Thoughts
This journey wasn’t sparked by a product brief. It started with walking, with noticing, with questioning.
Why didn’t I know something was happening nearby? How many people would’ve shown up if they knew?
And ultimately:
What if the real world was as easy to explore as the digital one?
That’s what I’m building with Trace.
If this resonates, let’s connect. I’m currently looking for co-founders, engineers, and believers who want to bring this map of moments to life. 🚶♂️📍✨