In January 2023, the LensTags team traveled 9,593 km to live an experience that turned out to be extremely positive for the development of that idea, which has since taken form and substance.

By the end of 2022 we established the core team and shortly afterwards with the support of the Kleros Incubator Program, we were able to devote ourselves to this project on a full-time basis.

The enthusiasm was unanimous. The team members packed our bags, boarded the plane and immersed ourselves in an incredible journey.

From then on, the LensTags house or also called “Cryptohouse" located in Lisbon became a new home for the team where the platform took its first big steps.

After 3 months of work, copious amounts of coffee, brainstorming nights, calls with experts and extensive research, the development challenges had been overcome and the first version of LensTags is just around the corner.

Today we have a supportive community and an alpha that has generated interest among users.

We are happy for the feedback received. The Alpha showcase is a milestone in the project that marked the end of a phase and the beginning of a new one.

Building in public

Our team believes that developing a product is not just about making the code public. It's about building together with the communities we serve. That's why we place great importance on ensuring that our users are informed of the project's progress, have a say in its direction through voting, and are considered in the decision-making process.

As we work towards these goals, we've seen our Lenstags community grow significantly. We've set up a Discord server and conducted initial usability tests, interviews, and UX research. We'll continue to listen to our users and gather feedback to ensure that we provide them with the best possible experience.

Our team is closely connected to the people and understands their needs. We recognize that the community lies at the heart of our work, which is why we are striving to make them an integral part of the Lenstags team. After all, they are the owners of the product and its content.

To achieve our goals, we're putting significant effort into development, UX/UI, and communication. By doing so, we're confident that we'll build a tool that not only meets but exceeds the needs of our users.

Here is the progress made in the last few weeks. 👇

• We were selected for a Boost program organized by Kalei Ventures

• Flor, UX/UI designer joined the team to work on the product design.

• AI integration for images creation and TLDRs

• UX interviews with 15 alpha testers

• Discord channel (+500 members in less than 2 weeks)

We know that you are curious about what's in the Alpha version 👀.

Here is a brief product demo for you to check out.

As you will see in the video, when browsing LensTags, you can currently find the following screens:

• Explore Feed: Filter by tags and discover content

• User Profile

• Posts: creation form and reading view

• Lists: add post to list and expanded view

• More to come in the next releases

You can learn more about each one in our Docs.

What's next?

• Fundraising efforts (if you want to chat, send me a dm)

• Alpha v2

• Working on a new UI that will blow your mind

• Community expansion

• Partnerships

• and more

Add value, make it simple, build in public

Today, we have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of our users by working towards the vision of LensTags and making it a reality.

We strongly believe in the added value that LensTags brings as a solution. It's not just another social network; rather, it's a community-driven tool.

Do you want to be a part of it? Join us!