Building a Startup in 54 Hours

The CLURB - Tackling Isolation in Young Professionals

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The Clurb

Overview

Sync the City is a 54-hour startup competition based in Norwich, Norfolk where developers, designers, and business professionals collaborate to create a digital business. My friend and I pitched an idea to combat loneliness and isolation in young professionals, which was selected from 55 one-minute pitches into the top 10.

With just three days to form a team, refine the concept, and pitch it to a panel of judges, the experience taught me the value of quickly building connections, empowering and leading a team, and collaboratively shaping a viable product.

Sync the City is a 54-hour startup competition based in Norwich, Norfolk where developers, designers, and business professionals collaborate to create a digital business. My friend and I pitched an idea to combat loneliness and isolation in young professionals, which was selected from 55 one-minute pitches into the top 10.

With just three days to form a team, refine the concept, and pitch it to a panel of judges, the experience taught me the value of quickly building connections, empowering and leading a team, and collaboratively shaping a viable product.

Sync the City →

Sync the City →

My contribution

Co-Team Lead

User Research

Product Design

Pitching

Year

2024

The team

1x Software Engineer

1x Copywriter

1x Data Analyst

1x Business Operations Lead

1x Game Developer

3x UX Designers

4x Students

Year

2024

Opportunity

Opportunity

The Problem - Tackling Social Isolation

Loneliness among young professionals is a pressing issue. In the UK, there are roughly 7.5 million young adults who could face social isolation, with 75% reporting loneliness at some point. As they transition from education to the workforce, many struggle to find meaningful social connections.

The CLURB was designed to bridge this gap by:

  • Creating casual, accessible social spaces tailored for young professionals.

  • Offering a platform that fosters real human interaction, both digitally and in-person.

  • Connecting users with shared interests and local events through a personalised approach.

Loneliness among young professionals is a pressing issue. In the UK, there are roughly 7.5 million young adults who could face social isolation, with 75% reporting loneliness at some point. As they transition from education to the workforce, many struggle to find meaningful social connections.

The CLURB was designed to bridge this gap by:

  • Creating casual, accessible social spaces tailored for young professionals.

  • Offering a platform that fosters real human interaction, both digitally and in-person.

  • Connecting users with shared interests and local events through a personalised approach.

Pain Points

Through user research and surveys, we uncovered: 

  • Many young professionals feel disconnected after leaving education and entering the workforce. 

  • There is a lack of accessible, casual, and engaging social spaces designed for this age group. 

  • While people enjoy the convenience of digital tools, they crave genuine human interaction. 

Through user research and surveys, we uncovered: 

  • Many young professionals feel disconnected after leaving education and entering the workforce. 

  • There is a lack of accessible, casual, and engaging social spaces designed for this age group. 

  • While people enjoy the convenience of digital tools, they crave genuine human interaction. 

Process

Research, Prototyping & Overcoming Roadblocks

With only 54 hours to work, we focused on rapid user research, business validation, and UX design:

  • A survey was conducted with 75 respondents to confirm the demand for a solution

  • We created a business model canvas and product market fit to define our revenue streams and growth strategy. 

  • To gauge local interest and validate CLURB’s market potential, we engaged with several local Norfolk businesses. The initial response was overwhelmingly positive, with 14 business pledging interest and support.  

  • We designed a MVP prototype, including a app user flow, website landing page and software interaction example.

Key Features

Connection Algorithm

Personalised onboarding to match users with others based on interests, experiences, and location. This generates a unique user persona and through social graphs connects you with individuals and local events based on in app interactions.

Personalised onboarding to match users with others based on interests, experiences, and location. This generates a unique user persona and through social graphs connects you with individuals and local events based on in app interactions.

360 Feedback Loop

Members provide feedback directly to the events, enhancing future experiences for everyone. The more we learn, the more insights we can offer to venues, helping events enhance their offerings based on real user experiences.

Members provide feedback directly to the events, enhancing future experiences for everyone. The more we learn, the more insights we can offer to venues, helping events enhance their offerings based on real user experiences.

Clurb Member Events

Recommendations for local events directly via chat and dashboard, tailored to user preferences, fostering real-world connections. This combats isolation while supporting local businesses that are part of the verified CLURB Community.

Recommendations for local events directly via chat and dashboard, tailored to user preferences, fostering real-world connections. This combats isolation while supporting local businesses that are part of the verified CLURB Community.

Social Connection First

CLURB goes beyond typical dating-style profiles. Instead of focusing on appearances and extrinsic motivations, we focus on shared values and experiences, fostering authentic connections. 

CLURB goes beyond typical dating-style profiles. Instead of focusing on appearances and extrinsic motivations, we focus on shared values and experiences, fostering authentic connections. 

The Final Pitch

The last day was all about storytelling and presenting the product. Our final pitch highlighted:

  • Our proposed business model, competitive landscape and future roadmap plans.

  • The validated need for social connection among young professionals.

  • How CLURB’s multi-channel approach (app + social + events) sets it apart.

The last day was all about storytelling and presenting the product. Our final pitch highlighted:

  • Our proposed business model, competitive landscape and future roadmap plans.

  • The validated need for social connection among young professionals.

  • How CLURB’s multi-channel approach (app + social + events) sets it apart.

The last day was all about storytelling and presenting the product. Our final pitch highlighted:

  • Our proposed business model, competitive landscape and future roadmap plans.

  • The validated need for social connection among young professionals.

  • How CLURB’s multi-channel approach (app + social + events) sets it apart.

Impact

CLURB started as a pitch but evolved into a robust solution for tackling social isolation. Through rapid prototyping, user research, and collaboration, we transformed an idea into a tangible project and business pitch in just three days. 

This experience strengthened my skills in problem-solving, cross-functional teamwork, and user-centered design. Though CLURB didn’t continue beyond the hackathon, the lessons learned continue to shape my approach to UX design.

CLURB started as a pitch but evolved into a robust solution for tackling social isolation. Through rapid prototyping, user research, and collaboration, we transformed an idea into a tangible project and business pitch in just three days. 

This experience strengthened my skills in problem-solving, cross-functional teamwork, and user-centered design. Though CLURB didn’t continue beyond the hackathon, the lessons learned continue to shape my approach to UX design.

Personal Takeaways

Have Fun & Build Relationships

The best part was connecting with a talented team and creating something meaningful.

The best part was connecting with a talented team and creating something meaningful.

Focus on the Big Picture

As a designer, it's tempting to get stuck on UI details, but in a 5-minute pitch, clarity and impact matter most.

As a designer, it's tempting to get stuck on UI details, but in a 5-minute pitch, clarity and impact matter most.

Delegate & Trust the Team

Everyone brings unique skills; empowering each other leads to better results.

Everyone brings unique skills; empowering each other leads to better results.

Listen to Mentors

Their guidance helped us navigate challenges and refine our approach.

Their guidance helped us navigate challenges and refine our approach.

Enjoy the Process

Despite the pressure, trust that the idea will evolve into something tangible.

Despite the pressure, trust that the idea will evolve into something tangible.

I'm Amber — designing human-centered, impactful experiences that deliver value through insight-driven solutions.

Email me →

©2025 to ∞ Amber Sayers

I'm Amber — designing human-centered, impactful experiences that deliver value through insight-driven solutions.

Email me →

©2025 to ∞ Amber Sayers

I'm Amber — designing human-centered, impactful experiences that deliver value through insight-driven solutions.

Email me →

©2025 to ∞ Amber Sayers

I'm Amber — designing human-centered, impactful experiences that deliver value through insight-driven solutions.

Email me →

©2025 to ∞ Amber Sayers