2026

Web app for planning trips

How I researched the market, designed the app, and got it live — all by myself

2026

Web app for planning trips

How I researched the market, designed the app, and got it live — all by myself

2026

Web app for planning trips

How I researched the market, designed the app, and got it live — all by myself

Planner opens in a new tab.
No account needed

Opens in a new tab. No account needed

Idea of the app

It's a trip planner made specifically for those who travel to Sweden: based on travel dates and transport you use, it guides you through the journey — arriving, getting around, eating, walking, and leaving the city.

Jobs-to-be-done research

Here are two main jobs people hiring Underhype for.

JOB 1 — SAVE TIME

When I'm already on my way,

I want to see the whole shape of day one — what's happening, when, in what order,

so that I land already knowing the day.

JOB 2 — SAVE MONEY

When I'm in expensive country,


I want to know upfront what stuff actually costs,


so that I'm not worrying about overspending.

DETAILS

Why there are actually no competitors

YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM

It’s hard to find someone you can actually trust. Channels that really explain something usually sell PDF guides for 20–30 €.

TRAVEL APPS

Most travel apps are way too generic and shallow, which usually just leaves you feeling more frustrated.

CHATGPT, GEMINI, AND OTHER AI ASSISTANTS

Game changers, but only if you know exactly what to ask (people don't) — otherwise, they just give you the most generic tips.

GOOGLE MAPS

There are way too many options, even with a high rating filter — still hundreds of places.

Idea of the app

It's a trip planner made specifically for those who travel to Sweden: based on travel dates and transport you use, it guides you through the journey — arriving, getting around, eating, walking, and leaving the city.

Jobs-to-be-done research

Here are two main jobs people hiring Underhype for.

JOB 1 — SAVE TIME

When I'm already on my way,

I want to see the whole shape of day one — what's happening, when, in what order,

so that I land already knowing the day.

JOB 2 — SAVE MONEY

When I'm in expensive country,


I want to know upfront what stuff actually costs,


so that I'm not worrying about overspending.

DETAILS

Why there are actually no competitors

YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM

It’s hard to find someone you can actually trust. Channels that really explain something usually sell PDF guides for 20–30 €.

TRAVEL APPS

Most travel apps are way too generic and shallow, which usually just leaves you feeling more frustrated.

CHATGPT, GEMINI, AND OTHER AI ASSISTANTS

Game changers, but only if you know exactly what to ask (people don't) — otherwise, they just give you the most generic tips.

GOOGLE MAPS

There are way too many options, even with a high rating filter — still hundreds of places.

Idea of the app

It's a trip planner made specifically for those who travel to Sweden: based on travel dates and transport you use, it guides you through the journey — arriving, getting around, eating, walking, and leaving the city.

Jobs-to-be-done research

Here are two main jobs people hiring Underhype for.

JOB 1 — SAVE TIME

When I'm already on my way,

I want to see the whole shape of day one — what's happening, when, in what order,

so that I land already knowing the day.

JOB 2 — SAVE MONEY

When I'm in expensive country,


I want to know upfront what stuff actually costs,


so that I'm not worrying about overspending.

DETAILS

Why there are actually no competitors

YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM

It’s hard to find someone you can actually trust. Channels that really explain something usually sell PDF guides for 20–30 €.

TRAVEL APPS

Most travel apps are way too generic and shallow, which usually just leaves you feeling more frustrated.

CHATGPT, GEMINI, AND OTHER AI ASSISTANTS

Game changers, but only if you know exactly what to ask (people don't) — otherwise, they just give you the most generic tips.

GOOGLE MAPS

There are way too many options, even with a high rating filter — still hundreds of places.

Idea of the app

It's a trip planner made specifically for those who travel to Sweden: based on travel dates and transport you use, it guides you through the journey — arriving, getting around, eating, walking, and leaving the city.

Jobs-to-be-done research

Here are two main jobs people hiring Underhype for.

JOB 1 — SAVE TIME

When I'm already on my way,

I want to see the whole shape of day one — what's happening, when, in what order,

so that I land already knowing the day.

JOB 2 — SAVE MONEY

When I'm in expensive country,


I want to know upfront what stuff actually costs,


so that I'm not worrying about overspending.

DETAILS

Why there are actually no competitors

YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM

It’s hard to find someone you can actually trust. Channels that really explain something usually sell PDF guides for 20–30 €.

TRAVEL APPS

Most travel apps are way too generic and shallow, which usually just leaves you feeling more frustrated.

CHATGPT, GEMINI, AND OTHER AI ASSISTANTS

Game changers, but only if you know exactly what to ask (people don't) — otherwise, they just give you the most generic tips.

GOOGLE MAPS

There are way too many options, even with a high rating filter — still hundreds of places.

Story in the center of the design

CONTEXT

Story in the center of the design

Story in the center of the design

The idea of Underhype — cut the noise and avoid mainstream. This idea rules everything in the product.

Expertise in Swedish market
instead of being universal app
Hand-picked places and editorial tips.
AI is involved only as a proof-reader
True 19th-century paintings
instead of generic visuals
One-time payment, no subscription.
Users get lifetime access
Independence. No café or restaurant
can pay for being mentioned
Expertise in Swedish market
instead of being universal app
Hand-picked places and editorial tips.
AI is involved only as a proof-reader
True 19th-century paintings
instead of generic visuals
One-time payment, no subscription.
Users get lifetime access
Independence. No café or restaurant
can pay for being mentioned
Expertise in Swedish market
instead of being universal app
Hand-picked places and editorial tips.
AI is involved only as a proof-reader
True 19th-century paintings
instead of generic visuals
One-time payment, no subscription.
Users get lifetime access
Independence. No café or restaurant
can pay for being mentioned

Dynamic content

CONTEXT

Dynamic content

Dynamic content

Dynamic sidebar. On search results, it shrinks and gives more control options

Adaptation to mobile browser

CONTEXT

Adaptation to mobile browser

Adaptation to mobile browser

While laptops are great for planning, the phone is still the obvious king once you're on the trip.

Homepage for unlogged users

Airport transfer options

Places to visit

Homepage for unlogged users

Airport transfer options

Places to visit

Homepage for unlogged users

Airport transfer options

Places to visit

Production cycle

with AI

01

CLAUDE DESIGN

03

CLAUDE CODE

04

LOCALHOST

05

PRE-PRODUCTION

06

PRODUCTION

02

FIGMA

Since I was the only human on the project, it was all about art-direction, handovers, and documentation for agents.

CLAUDE DESIGN

Generated ideas and kept everything on a design system level, using only color tokens, components, etc.

FIGMA + CLAUDE CODE

I refined things in Figma, handed them back to Claude Design, then to Claude Code to build on localhost.

PRE-PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT

Features behind paywall got tested on pre-production. I also used it for usability tests, since it could be a shareable link.

Production cycle

with AI

01

CLAUDE DESIGN

03

CLAUDE CODE

04

LOCALHOST

05

PRE-PRODUCTION

06

PRODUCTION

02

FIGMA

Since I was the only human on the project, it was all about art-direction, handovers, and documentation for agents.

CLAUDE DESIGN

Generated ideas and kept everything on a design system level, using only color tokens, components, etc.

FIGMA + CLAUDE CODE

I refined things in Figma, handed them back to Claude Design, then to Claude Code to build on localhost.

PRE-PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT

Features behind paywall got tested on pre-production. I also used it for usability tests, since it could be a shareable link.

01 CLAUDE DESIGN

02 FIGMA

03 CLAUDE CODE

04 LOCALHOST

05 PRE-PRODUCTION

06 PRODUCTION

Since I was the only human on the project, it was all about art-direction, handovers, and documentation for agents.

CLAUDE DESIGN

Generated ideas and kept everything on a design system level, using only color tokens, components, etc.

FIGMA + CLAUDE CODE

I refined things in Figma, handed them back to Claude Design, then to Claude Code to build on localhost.

PRE-PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT

Features behind paywall got tested on pre-production. I also used it for usability tests, since it could be a shareable link.

Production cycle with AI

Production cycle

with AI

01

CLAUDE DESIGN

03

CLAUDE CODE

04

LOCALHOST

05

PRE-PRODUCTION

06

PRODUCTION

02

FIGMA

Since I was the only human on the project, it was all about art-direction, handovers, and documentation for agents.

CLAUDE DESIGN

Generated ideas and kept everything on a design system level, using only color tokens, components, etc.

FIGMA + CLAUDE CODE

I refined things in Figma, handed them back to Claude Design, then to Claude Code to build on localhost.

PRE-PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT

Features behind paywall got tested on pre-production. I also used it for usability tests, since it could be a shareable link.

Documenting the logic of the app

CONTEXT

Documenting the logic of the app

Documenting the logic of the app

To "vibe-code" something that actually works, you have to give the AI clear instructions. I used what I learned back at Yandex — an enterprise-level tech company — and documented every step from both the user and system perspective. At the end of the day, it was a lot like a PM job: sending detailed specs to an engineering team.

Shipping on time

CONTEXT

Shipping on time

Shipping on time

I follow the Basecamp principle: Fix Time and Budget, Flex Scope — instead of launching everything at once, I release features one by one to hit deadlines.

In pre-MVP version of the app I did not have final visuals. So the app works without it — but with Danish paintings.

Made to pay for itself

Made to pay for itself

Underhype is not a pet project. It's designed to be profitable. The app can generate around 612 € profit per month. Here is a simplified financial plan for pessimistic scenario.

MONTHLY COSTS

Claude

22 €

Vercel

20 €

Domain

1 €

Supabase

25 €

Marketing

100 €

Total

168 €

MARKET EXPECTATIONS — PER MONTH

Swedes and Danes are excluded:
paid features aren't relevant for locals

International visitors in all cities

215,000

Who find the app, 0.5%

1,077

Become free users, 60%

646

Pay for the app, 10%

65

Revenue

780 €

Profit

612 €

TO BE PROFITABLE

Full access price

12 €

Paying users

min. 14

Free users

~ 140

MONTHLY COSTS

Claude

22 €

Vercel

20 €

Domain

1 €

Supabase

25 €

Marketing

100 €

Total

168 €

MARKET EXPECTATIONS — PER MONTH

Swedes and Danes are excluded:
paid features aren't relevant for locals

International visitors in all cities

215,000

Who find the app, 0.5%

1,077

Become free users, 60%

646

Pay for the app, 10%

65

Revenue

780 €

Profit

612 €

TO BE PROFITABLE

Full access price

12 €

Paying users

min. 14

Free users

~ 140

MONTHLY COSTS

Claude

22 €

Vercel

20 €

Domain

1 €

Supabase

25 €

Marketing

100 €

Total

168 €

MARKET EXPECTATIONS — PER MONTH

Swedes and Danes are excluded:
paid features aren't relevant for locals

International visitors in all cities

215,000

Who find the app, 0.5%

1,077

Become free users, 60%

646

Pay for the app, 10%

65

Revenue

780 €

Profit

612 €

TO BE PROFITABLE

Full access price

12 €

Paying users

min. 14

Free users

~ 140

What's next

What's next

Since I’m solo, I have a plan for a year to make sure I stay on track and keep shipping.

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Research & validation

Q1

Building: Claude Design + Claude Code

Q1 – Q2

Release MVP on June 1

Q2

Testing paid features

Q3

Run paywall — taking 12 € one-time payment

Q4

Today

Hugo Löfquist

2022 — 2026

Legal name

Evgenii Lefkvist

Hugo Löfquist

2022 — 2026

Legal name

Evgenii Lefkvist

Hugo Löfquist

2022 — 2026

Legal name

Evgenii Lefkvist