LassWHO is a web platform I built that lets users book live video chats with inspirational hero speakers worldwide - featuring a smooth booking flow, user dashboard for session management, Stripe payment integration, and secure real-time video.
The best mentorship happens in conversation - not through pre-recorded content. LassWHO was built to make those conversations accessible by connecting people directly with speakers who have lived through extraordinary challenges.
The product vision
Users needed to discover speakers, book a time, pay securely, and join a video call - all without friction. Speakers needed availability management and a professional presence. The platform had to handle both sides of a two-sided marketplace.
Key features I built
Speaker profiles and discovery
Each speaker has a profile showcasing their background, expertise areas, and available time slots. Users can browse by topic - leadership, resilience, motivation - and find the right match.
Booking and payment flow
Stripe handles payment authorization at booking time. The flow is optimized for mobile: select speaker, pick a slot, pay, receive confirmation - four steps, no account friction beyond what is necessary.
Session dashboard
Users manage upcoming and past sessions from a centralized dashboard. Join links appear at session time, and history is preserved for reference.
Secure video integration
Video rooms are provisioned per session with access controls tied to booking confirmation. This prevents unauthorized access and ensures conversations remain private.
Technical architecture
Next.js provides server-rendered pages for SEO-friendly speaker profiles. Express.js handles API routes for booking logic, availability checks, and Stripe webhooks. MongoDB stores user, speaker, and session data with flexible schemas for evolving marketplace requirements.
Results and design principles
- Smooth end-to-end booking experience on desktop and mobile.
- Secure payment processing via Stripe.
- Reliable video session provisioning.
- Scalable data model for marketplace growth.
- Engaging UX designed to convert browsers into bookers.
Lessons for marketplace booking platforms
- Timezone handling is harder than it looks - invest in it early.
- Stripe webhooks are the source of truth for payment state, not the client.
- Video room provisioning should be idempotent to handle retry scenarios.
- Speaker availability models need buffer time between sessions.
- SEO-friendly speaker pages drive organic discovery for marketplaces.
Common questions
What is LassWHO?
LassWHO is an interactive platform that connects users with inspirational hero speakers for live video conversations about leadership, resilience, motivation, and overcoming adversity.
How does booking work on LassWHO?
Users browse available speakers, select a time slot, complete payment through Stripe, and join a secure live video session at the scheduled time through an integrated video provider.
What technologies power LassWHO?
LassWHO uses Next.js and React on the frontend, Express.js on the backend, MongoDB for data storage, and the Stripe API for payment processing.
Does LassWHO support session management?
Yes. Users have a dashboard to view upcoming sessions, access past session history, and manage their bookings. Speakers have tools to manage availability and session details.
What makes a video booking platform technically challenging?
Video booking platforms must handle scheduling conflicts, timezone conversion, payment authorization, video room provisioning, and session lifecycle management - all while maintaining a simple user experience.