Empowering candidates through accessible, reflective, and intelligent interview practice.
Interviews are universal, yet meaningful practice is often a luxury. Our team realized that while many people practice alone, they lack a way to understand how they come across. We wanted to build a tool centered on accessibility and confidence, turning a high-stress experience into an empowering one by making feedback clear and visual.
Just Talk is a structured reflective platform for interview prep:
- Teleprompter Interface: Read your prepared responses while maintaining "eye contact" with the camera.
- Simultaneous Recording: Captures video and audio in real-time.
- Smart Transcription: Our backend identifies filler words, pauses, and hesitations.
- Interactive Review: A side-by-side view where clicking a transcript segment jumps the video player directly to that moment.
We chose a "Challenge Stack"—tools we were curious about but hadn't mastered:
- Frontend: Next.js with TypeScript
- Backend: Spring Boot (Java)
- AI/Processing: Gemini API (Speech-to-Text & Analysis)
- Database: PostgreSQL (JPA/Hibernate)
- Infrastructure: DigitalOcean Spaces & Docker
Hackathons are about iteration. We faced a steep learning curve:
- Scrapped Prototypes: We experimented with (and eventually removed) Auth0 and various transcription pipelines to prioritize a working MVP.
- Deployment Hurdles: Debugging backend integrations and DigitalOcean configurations under tight time constraints required constant communication.
- Adaptability: We learned to simplify features without losing the core value of the product when we hit technical roadblocks.
- MVP Success: Delivered a functional video-to-transcript pipeline in 36 hours.
- Intentional Learning: We didn't take shortcuts. We stayed committed to learning our new tech stack even when it was difficult.
- Team Growth: We learned how to communicate clearly when stuck and how to support one another through debugging and research.
- Tone & Pacing Analysis: Real-time feedback on "Words Per Minute" and vocal pitch.
- Personalized Coaching: Integrating RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) for expert-level interview recommendations.
- Longitudinal Tracking: Progress dashboards to visualize confidence growth over time.
- Inclusive Design: Enhanced accessibility including high-contrast modes and adjustable text sizing.
ElleHacks 2026 - Turning personal pain points into meaningful products.