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EcoScore Calculator

AI-powered carbon footprint tracker that gamifies sustainability

Overview​

An AI app that analyzes purchases, travel, and lifestyle choices to calculate a personal EcoScore, turning sustainability into a competitive social game.

Target Market​

  • Primary: Climate-conscious millennials/Gen Z
  • Secondary: Corporations with ESG goals
  • Market Size: 73% of global consumers willing to change habits

Problem Statement​

  • People want to be sustainable but don't know their impact
  • Carbon calculators are boring and complex
  • No social motivation for green choices
  • Greenwashing makes it hard to trust claims

Solution​

Core Features​

  1. Receipt Scanner: AI analyzes purchase carbon impact
  2. EcoScore: Gamified score like credit score
  3. Social Leaderboard: Compete with friends
  4. Green Rewards: Discounts from eco-brands
  5. Carbon Offset: One-click offsetting

Technical Implementation​

// Tech Stack
- Frontend: React Native (mobile-first)
- Backend: Node.js + Express
- AI: GPT-4 Vision for receipt scanning
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Payment: Stripe
- APIs: Carbon intensity APIs

Revenue Model​

Pricing Tiers​

  • Free: Basic tracking, ads
  • Premium: $9.99/month - Advanced insights
  • Business: $49.99/month - Team tracking

Additional Revenue​

  • Affiliate commissions from eco-brands
  • Carbon offset commissions
  • Sponsored green challenges

Revenue Projections​

  • 50 customers Day 1: $500
  • 200 customers Week 1: $2,000
  • 1000 customers Month 1: $10,000

Go-To-Market Strategy​

Immediate Actions (During Hackathon)​

  1. Hour 1-6: Build receipt scanning MVP
  2. Hour 7-12: Create viral TikTok content
  3. Hour 13-18: Partner with eco-influencers
  4. Hour 19-24: Launch challenge campaign

Viral Mechanics​

  1. "Share Your EcoScore" social cards
  2. "7-Day Green Challenge" with prizes
  3. Corporate team competitions
  4. Dating app bio integration

Target Communities​

  • r/ZeroWaste (500K members)
  • r/sustainability (400K members)
  • Eco-warrior Instagram (10M+ hashtag)
  • Climate TikTok creators

Competition Analysis​

Competitors​

  • Capture (carbon tracking)
  • Klima (offsetting focus)
  • Joro (credit card tracking)

Our Advantages​

  • Gamification makes it addictive
  • Social features drive retention
  • AI makes tracking effortless
  • Instant gratification via score

Prize Targeting​

Primary Prizes​

  • Best AI for Environmental Impact: Perfect fit
  • Most People on Waitlist: Viral potential
  • Hype Machine: Social sharing built-in

Secondary Prizes​

  • Best UI: Beautiful, engaging interface
  • Most Unique GTM: Influencer partnerships

Success Metrics​

Day 1 Goals​

  • Working receipt scanner
  • 50 paying users
  • 1 influencer partnership
  • 500 on waitlist

Week 1 Goals​

  • 200 paying users
  • 5,000 app downloads
  • Viral TikTok (100K+ views)
  • Corporate pilot signed

Risk Mitigation​

Technical Risks​

  • Receipt OCR accuracy → Manual entry backup
  • Carbon data availability → Use estimates
  • Server costs → Optimize image processing

Business Risks​

  • Accuracy questions → Transparent methodology
  • Motivation drop-off → Daily challenges
  • Monetization → Freemium model tested

Implementation Timeline​

Hours 1-6: Core App​

  • Receipt scanning with AI
  • EcoScore calculation
  • Basic user profiles

Hours 7-12: Social Features​

  • Leaderboards
  • Sharing mechanics
  • Challenge system

Hours 13-18: Monetization​

  • Payment integration
  • Premium features
  • Partner integrations

Hours 19-24: Launch Campaign​

  • Influencer outreach
  • Social media blast
  • Press release

Marketing Content​

TikTok Video Script​

"I tracked my carbon footprint for a week and I'm SHOOK 😱

Day 1: That coffee = 2.3kg CO2
Day 2: Uber ride = 8.7kg CO2
Day 3: Amazon order = 15.2kg CO2

My EcoScore? 420/1000 😭

Download EcoScore to see yours!"

Instagram Post​

My EcoScore Journey 🌱
Week 1: 420 🔴
Week 2: 510 🟡
Week 3: 680 🟢

Small changes = big impact!
What's your score?

#EcoScore #Sustainability #ClimateAction

Key Differentiators​

  1. Addictive Gamification: Daily streaks, achievements
  2. Social Pressure: Public scores drive action
  3. Instant Feedback: See impact immediately
  4. AI-Powered: No manual entry needed

Corporate Package​

B2B Offering​

  • Team dashboards
  • Company-wide challenges
  • ESG reporting integration
  • Custom green goals

Pricing​

  • $49.99/month per team
  • $499/month enterprise

Founder Notes​

This idea wins the environmental prize while also having:

  • Massive viral potential (everyone wants to share their score)
  • Clear monetization path
  • Emotional connection with users
  • Perfect for Gen Z market

"Make saving the planet as addictive as social media"