Unlocker
A subscription-based SaaS marketplace connecting 100+ verified sports betting experts with subscribers through transparent performance tracking and flexible monetization.
Role
Product design and engineering
Tech Stack
NextJS
TypeScript
NodeJS
PostgreSQL
TailwindCSS
DockerThe Problem
The sports betting advisory industry runs on fake claims, cherry-picked results, and zero accountability. Bettors have no way to verify an expert's track record, and the legitimate experts have no real platform to build a business on.
The Solution
A marketplace where every pick, result, and performance metric is public and verified. Experts build a track record they can actually point to, which is what gets someone to subscribe and keep subscribing.
Key Challenges & Solutions
Stripe Connect Integration
Implemented Stripe Connect with Express accounts for experts, enabling direct payouts while the platform takes a commission
Subscription Access Control
Built database-backed access control with middleware verifying active subscriptions, handling expiration gracefully with upgrade prompts
Content Protection
Multi-layer access control with API verification and strategic data masking showing pick metadata publicly but protecting predictions behind paywall
Performance & SEO
Leveraged server-side rendering for SEO-critical pages, pagination, lazy loading, optimized queries, and CDN asset delivery
Key Features
- Expert Profiles with Linktree-style bios, win/loss percentages, ROI tracking, and sport specialization badges
- Subscription Access Control with paywall system protecting predictions behind subscription tiers
- Daily Picks Publishing supporting 30+ sports with scheduling, rich text analysis, and draft modes
- Real-Time Result Tracking with automated result updates calculating Win/Loss/Push and live performance metrics
- Leaderboard System with public rankings by win rate, ROI, sport-specific categories, and time periods
- Notification System with multi-channel alerts via Discord, Telegram, Email, and SMS
- Stripe Connect integration for marketplace payments with direct payouts to experts
- JWT authentication with role-based access control for users, experts, and admins
Results & Impact
5 weeks from MVP to production
100+ verified sports experts onboarded
Recurring revenue model with predictable MRR for platform and experts
Trust-driven conversions through transparent performance tracking
Scalable architecture designed to handle thousands of experts and millions of picks
Contact
Interested in working together?
I take on selected consulting and freelance work: full-stack builds, ERP and SaaS implementation, technical SEO, and operations-heavy products. I’m also open to conversations about FactoStack or forward-deployed engineering work.