The Lobby

The Lobby is a self-reported driver directory and ride-hailing platform for Nagaland, India, built as a progressive web application (PWA) by a two-person team. The project was submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon and is described as an attempt to solve local transportation challenges in a region without metro services.

The description states that it allows users to digitally find drivers and book cabs, but does not provide evidence of actual deployment, usage, or monetization. It is unclear whether the platform has launched or gained traction beyond its development phase.

Key open question: Is there any evidence of real-world adoption, user engagement, or revenue generation from The Lobby?

The description states that The Lobby is a driver directory and ride-hailing platform for taxi drivers in Nagaland. It allows users to find drivers and book cabs through an app.

• The product is described as a progressive web application (PWA).
• It was initially built with ReactJS and Node, but later migrated to NextJS.
• The team reports building it using tools like Canva, Clerk, Cloudinary, Codex, CSS, Gemini, JavaScript, Supabase, Tailwind, Vercel.

Inference: Based on the self-reported description, it appears to be a basic digital directory and booking system for local taxi services. However, no evidence is provided that it has been deployed or used beyond its development stage.

The project’s tagline is: “The Lobby, Uber but Local and Tribal.”

• The description states the idea originated from a desire to help academics, which evolved into a startup plan.
• It positions itself as a local solution for transportation in Nagaland, where metro services are absent.

Inference: The positioning appears to be that of a hyper-local, community-driven ride-hailing platform, aiming to fill a gap in transportation infrastructure. However, the claim is not backed by any evidence of traction or market validation.

The description states:

• The target audience is people in Nagaland.
• It is designed for users who need to find and book taxis.
• The project was inspired by a lack of metro services in the region.

Inference: The ICP appears to be local residents or travelers in Nagaland, particularly those needing taxi services. However, no evidence is provided about actual users or customer segments.

The description does not provide any information on:

• How the platform intends to make money.
• Whether it plans to charge riders, drivers, or both.
• Any pricing model or monetization strategy.

Inference: No business model or pricing evidence is provided. The project is described as a directory and booking tool, but no commercial details are shared.

The team reports:

• Built with ReactJS, Node, NextJS.
• Deployed using Vercel.
• Uses tools like Supabase, Tailwind, Clerk, Gemini, Codex, Cloudinary.
• The platform is a progressive web application (PWA).

Inference: The technical stack suggests a modern, lightweight web-based solution. However, no evidence of live deployment or performance metrics is provided.

The description states:

• The project was completed as part of a hackathon.
• It is described as a “site”, not an app.
• The team upgraded it to a PWA for mobile access.
• The team is proud of completing the project, but no evidence of user adoption or usage is shared.

Inference: There is no evidence of traction or maturity beyond its development phase. No data on users, engagement, or operational metrics are provided.

The description does not mention any competitors or market context.

Inference: No competitive analysis or positioning relative to existing ride-hailing platforms (e.g., Uber, Ola) is evident in the self-reported description.

• No evidence of real-world usage or adoption.
• No revenue model or monetization strategy provided.
• Only one team member mentioned, with no indication of a full team or operational structure.
• The project is described as a hackathon submission, not a launched product.
• No mention of regulatory, legal, or infrastructure challenges in Nagaland.

Inference: The lack of evidence for traction, users, or monetization raises significant concerns about the viability and commercial readiness of the platform.

1. Has The Lobby been deployed and used by real users?
2. What is the business model? How will it make money?
3. Are there any partnerships or collaborations with local taxi services or government bodies?
4. What are the technical challenges in scaling this to a full product?
5. Is there any user feedback or data from early users?
6. What is the go-to-market strategy for Nagaland and beyond?