Creating Lifelong Friendships Through Safe, Effortless Outdoor Play
Weekly active users in beta
Families interviewed during discovery
Early families onboarded in pilot neighborhoods
GoPlayNow is a mobile-first platform designed to help families rediscover the joy of real-world play by making it easy to connect with nearby families and schedule safe, enriching playdates. Developed in response to rising screen time and social isolation among children, GoPlayNow empowers both kids and parents to build lasting connections through outdoor adventures.
As the Product Manager and UX Strategist, I led the end-to-end process from research and ideation to prototyping and early validation. I collaborated with designers, developers, and parent communities to build a solution rooted in empathy, simplicity, and trust.
Client
Self-initiated product (FamilyTech venture)
Timeline
January 2025 - Present
My Role
Product Manager, UX Strategist, Research Lead
Team
4 members (Design, Engineering, Research, Marketing)
Technologies
"GoPlayNow isn't just about playdates—it's about rebuilding the village, one connection at a time."
— Alaeddine Azaiz, Product Manager
Modern family life has become increasingly fragmented. While parents want their kids to socialize and explore, digital convenience and safety concerns often limit real-world play.
The modern parenting experience presents several challenges when it comes to facilitating real-world play for children:
Our mission was to create a platform that makes outdoor playdates as easy as sending a message, while building trust and community among families.
Build a prototype that makes outdoor playdates effortless
Validate demand with 100 early families across Calgary
Achieve 60%+ weekly active usage in beta
Foster a sense of community through parent-led engagement
A human-centered approach to rebuilding community through play
Conducted interviews with parents and kids, scraped insights from parenting communities, and identified unmet needs around convenience, trust, and connection.
Built empathy maps and journey flows for typical users, defined MVP scope, and tested low-fidelity wireframes in focus groups.
Designed high-fidelity clickable prototype in Figma, developed MVP using React + Supabase, and began onboarding early families in Calgary communities.
Defined Q3 OKRs focused on adoption and engagement, began traction testing in parenting groups, and hosted first community-led playdate.
Parents want nearby playmates to avoid long commutes to playdates
Especially stay-at-home parents and new residents want adult interaction too
Invite-only and visible verification builds trust among parents
GoPlayNow creates an ecosystem where kids and parents can thrive through real-world interaction
With a balance of digital convenience and emotional connection, GoPlayNow makes outdoor play both exciting and easy for modern families.
Families join through an invite-only, verified network ensuring safety and trust
Discover or host playdates in local parks, backyards, or libraries based on ZIP code
Participate in weekly challenges and earn playful badges to motivate kids
Find nearby families based on location while maintaining privacy through ZIP code-level matching.
Parent-verified family profiles with optional background checks for added peace of mind.
Connect based on shared interests like age, hobbies, and preferred play activities.
Weekly play challenges with badges to motivate kids and celebrate outdoor activities.
Simple event creation with RSVP management and automated reminders.
Neighborhood-specific discussion boards for parents to connect beyond playdates.
The platform's UX was designed with busy parents in mind, prioritizing simplicity and trust while making the experience playful for kids.
Mobile-first layout for quick access on the go
Rounded UI elements and soft colors for family-friendly appeal
Location obfuscation for privacy (ZIP code → city level)
Delightful micro-interactions to engage both kids and adults
Even in early beta, GoPlayNow is demonstrating strong traction and positive impact
Early adoption exceeded expectations across pilot neighborhoods in Calgary.
Strong engagement metrics indicating product-market fit.
Valuable qualitative feedback gathered from engaged users.
Successful local playdates organized through the platform.
Stay-at-home Mom
"I moved here 6 months ago and knew no one. After joining GoPlayNow, my toddler made his first real friend—and so did I. We've gone from feeling isolated to having a full social calendar!"
Freelancer Dad
"As a work-from-home dad, I struggled to find other dads to connect with. GoPlayNow made it easy to set up weekend park meetups. My daughter loves the badge challenges too!"
The platform continues to evolve with new features and expanded communities
Expanding across Calgary in Q4 2025
2 more Canadian cities in Q1 2026
Secure communication features
iOS & Android launch in 2026
If you're a parent, educator, community leader, or investor passionate about childhood development, I'd love to collaborate. Let's help kids build lifelong memories—together.
Get in Touch