zanist

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  logo of the zanist

What it does

Zanist is an AI-powered STEM news platform that delivers daily, digestible summaries of cutting-edge research from top universities like MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. Our live MVP demonstrates: Clean interface with university-tagged articles
AI-summarized content from credible academic sources
Searchable categories (AI, Physics, Biology, Medicine)
"Built with Bolt.new" badge integration

Currently showcasing core functionality with example content. First verified research summaries from public repositories launch mid-August 2024.

How we built it

Zero-code innovation powered by:

1. Bolt.new for entire UI/build/deployment
   
2. AI summarization workflows for STEM content
   
3. Tavus for AI-narrated demo video creation
   
4. Strategic UX design balancing academic credibility and accessibility
   

No traditional coding used - proving Bolt.new's capacity for production-ready applications.

Challenges we ran into

Designing for academic trust
Created minimalist interface that passes "sniff tests" with STEM students
Balancing simplicity vs. depth
Developed tiered content approach (technical → student-friendly)

Challenge Compliance

Startup Ready: Scalable architecture via Supabase

AI Video: Demo powered by Tavus conversational AI

Prioritizing MVP features
Focused on core discovery experience before advanced functionality

Sourcing public research responsibly
Established pipeline for verified open-access content (launching Aug 2025)

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Launched functional platform in hackathon timeframe using no-code tools
  
• Created trustworthy STEM brand that resonates with academic audiences
  
• Proved ethical AI science communication is achievable
  
• Built scalable content pipeline for 50+ launch-ready studies
  
• 100% hackathon compliance (Bolt.new integration + video + deployment)
  
• Positive user feedback during early testing phases
  

What we learned

• No-code tools enable solo builders to out-innovate teams
  
• Source transparency > institutional endorsements for Gen Z audiences
  
• STEM accessibility requires careful simplification guardrails
  
• Public repositories contain enough quality material for initial launch
  
• Bolt.new's AI capabilities can handle complex content workflows
  

What's next for Zanist

August 2025 Launch

• Verified research feed with accuracy reporting
  
• University impact leaderboards
  
• Email digests by interest area
  

Q4 2025

• User profiles + contribution badges (rozets)
  
• Professor spotlight pages
  
• Nobel Prize tracker + institutional milestones
  

Vision: Become the "Duolingo of STEM literacy" - making frontier science accessible to 1M+ learners worldwide.

Built With

• bolt.new
• github
• supabase
• tavus
• ui-design
• vercel