Travel Fi is a community-driven map application designed to share critical Points of Interest (POIs) for travelers and residents of large cities. The platform targets budget backpackers, digital nomads, solo travelers from developing countries, vanlife travelers, and urban residents needing essential urban infrastructure. It addresses key needs across categories including prepaid SIM and eSIM kiosks, public toilets and showers, free water refill points, luggage storage, charging stations, low-fee ATMs, 24/7 pharmacies, and free parking spots.
The application is built on Rails 8.1 using PostgreSQL and PostGIS for spatial queries, OpenLayers 10 for interactive clustering and map overlays, StimulusReflex, ActionCable (SolidCable) for real-time WebSocket communication, and SolidQueue for background job processing. System state changes and audit logs are managed via PaperTrail as a single source of truth.
Travel Fi incorporates Web3 mechanics through an ERC-20 utility token (TFT) with a capped emission of 1,000,000,000 tokens. Users earn tokens by adding and verifying POIs, uploading photos, submitting comments, and inviting referrals. The platform features a gasless architecture utilizing EIP-2771 meta-transactions and automatic custodial wallet generation in Ruby (Crypto::Ethereum with secp256k1 and EIP-55 encryption), ensuring seamless onboarding for non-crypto users. Future strategic milestones include launching a Telegram Mini App and implementing a cross-chain bridge between the EVM ERC-20 contract and TON Jettons.
At its current stage, Travel Fi is a prototype with a deployed and verified testnet smart contract, automated background transaction relay jobs, real-time WebSocket map updates, dynamic category management, and full administrative moderation tools.
Travel Fi’s mission is to build a global, community-driven map platform for sharing critical Points of Interest (POIs) required during travel and daily urban life. By leveraging Web3 incentivization and spatial data infrastructure, Travel Fi empowers budget backpackers, digital nomads, vanlifers, solo travelers, and city residents to crowdsource, verify, and locate essential services—such as prepaid SIM kiosks, public sanitation, free drinking water, power outlets, low-fee ATMs, and emergency facilities—eliminating daily navigation friction worldwide.
There is currently no single, comprehensive global platform covering essential travel and urban Points of Interest (POIs). Existing mapping solutions are fragmented across narrow, single-purpose applications (such as Flush or SitOrSquat for restrooms) or treat vital facilities like public showers and laundries merely as secondary features (such as Park4Night or iOverlander). While specific niches like Wi-Fi locations are occupied by platforms like WiFi Map and Instabridge, the vast majority of critical urban POI categories remain blank spots.
Travelers—including budget backpackers, digital nomads, vanlifers, and solo travelers from developing countries—alongside local residents of large cities face significant daily friction locating vital infrastructure. Key unaddressed search deficits include:
Furthermore, traditional mapping systems lack sustainable mechanisms to incentivize continuous user contributions and real-time verification, resulting in outdated or inaccurate local data. Without seamless Web3 reward mechanics, platforms struggle to maintain high-quality spatial data across global transit hubs and major metropolitan areas.
Travel Fi delivers a unified, community-driven interactive map platform designed to eliminate travel and urban navigation friction by aggregating essential, high-demand Points of Interest (POIs). Rather than limiting the platform to a fixed list, Travel Fi launches with high-demand initial categories (prepaid SIM/eSIM kiosks, public toilets/showers, free water refill points, low-fee ATMs, charging outlets, 24/7 pharmacies, free luggage storage, safe parking) and continuously expands category listings based on community requests and DAO governance.
Key Technical & Product Elements of the Solution:
ST_DWithin, radius, and boundary box filters) rendered via OpenLayers 10. Utilizing a WebSocket-first architecture (ActionCable, SolidCable, CableReady), the platform delivers instant, live updates to all connected clients when POIs, comments, or categories are added or modified.Crypto::Ethereum with secp256k1 and EIP-55 encryption) upon user registration. Combined with gasless meta-transactions (EIP-2771 / Relayer architecture), users earn and use tokens without managing gas fees or complex crypto interfaces.ST_DWithin) requiring users to be physically near a POI to submit comments or verification votes, paired with administrative moderation tools and PaperTrail change auditing.Token utility economy with TFT spend for premium features, cashier transaction fees, and provider affiliate listings.
Want to grow through just grant funding
Global
$0 (Bootstrapped / Self-funded)