Overview

Lite It Up is a live-event fan engagement platform built for a private client and published on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Designed for stadiums, concerts, and nightclubs, the app lets event organizers broadcast synchronized light colors and flash messages to every fan's phone screen simultaneously — transforming an entire crowd into a unified, real-time light show. The platform has two distinct user roles: Fans, who join events and participate in the live Swarm experience, and Owners, who manage events, control broadcasts, and administer their Command Center from an in-app portal. View Full App Showcase ↗

Key Features

GPS Venue Verification Fans can only join an event if they're physically present at the venue. The app detects the device's location and checks it against the event's registered location. Anyone outside the allowed range sees a friendly message instead of accessing the show — keeping the experience exclusive to real attendees. Real-Time Light Sync Across the Crowd Once a fan is verified at the venue, their screen automatically follows the organizer's broadcast. When the owner changes the color, every fan's screen updates instantly — no refresh needed, no delay. Phones also stay awake automatically so screens don't dim during the show. Live Flash Messaging Owners can send a text message that instantly appears on every fan's screen with a smooth animation, then disappears on its own after a few seconds. Perfect for hype moments, chants, or quick crowd directions. In-App Payments The Swarm feature requires a one-time purchase to unlock. Fans complete a secure in-app checkout and gain permanent access. Event owners can also subscribe to a yearly plan to manage their own events and Command Center. 30-Day Free Trial Owners can share promo codes that activate a free trial for new users. The app automatically tracks when the trial expires and prompts users to subscribe — no manual management needed. Owner Command Center A dedicated portal for event organizers built right into the app. Owners can create and manage multiple events, set geofence zones, choose colors from a palette or mix their own custom shade, and broadcast to the entire crowd — all from their phone. Emergency Alert Mode A one-tap emergency screen triggers a full-screen flashing alert on every fan's device — useful for venue safety announcements or urgent crowd communications. Team Colors & Personal Messages Fans can pick their team's color and write a personal message that displays on their own screen during the event, making the experience feel personal alongside the shared crowd moment.

Technical Challenges

Location-Based Access Without Third-Party Services Building the venue check without any external geofencing service was the main challenge. The app calculates the exact distance between the fan's device and the event location using device GPS only, then applies a configurable zone per event — supporting multiple venues with a single flexible system. Secure In-App Payments Handling payments in a mobile app required keeping sensitive payment credentials on the server side. The checkout process is split between the app and a secure cloud function that generates the payment session — ensuring no sensitive data is exposed on the user's device. Real-Time Sync at Scale Keeping thousands of fan screens in sync with zero delay required careful management of live data connections — making sure they open at the right moment and close cleanly when a user leaves, preventing memory issues or stale data. Publishing to Both App Stores Shipping the same app to both Google Play and the Apple App Store required separate signing, certificates, and build configurations for each platform, along with making sure payment redirects and authentication worked correctly on both.

Tech Stack

• Mobile Framework: React Native (Expo) — live on Google Play & App Store
• Realtime Sync: Firebase Realtime Database
• Authentication & Storage: Firebase Auth + Firestore
• Payments: Stripe (in-app purchases via secure cloud functions)
• Location: Device GPS with custom distance calculation
• Navigation: React Navigation
• Build & Distribution: Expo EAS, Google Play Store, Apple App Store