Unlocker
Sports Experts Marketplace Platform
Subscription-based SaaS Marketplace
Key Outcome: Fully functional subscription-based marketplace connecting 100+ verified sports experts with subscribers through transparent performance tracking and flexible monetization
Project Overview
Unlocker is a two-sided marketplace that connects verified sports betting experts (cappers) with subscribers seeking data-backed predictions. The platform solves the trust problem in sports betting by providing transparent, verifiable performance tracking and creating a sustainable revenue model for proven experts.
Business Model
Experts set their own subscription prices (weekly, monthly, quarterly) and publish daily picks across 30+ sports. Subscribers gain access to expert picks with full historical transparency. The platform facilitates payments via Stripe Connect, enabling direct payouts to experts while taking a platform fee structure that incentivizes quality over quantity.
- Experts monetize their sports knowledge and analysis
- Subscribers access verified, data-backed picks
- Platform ensures trust through performance tracking
The Problem
Trust Crisis in Sports Betting
The sports betting advisory industry is plagued by fake claims, cherry-picked results, and zero accountability. Bettors had no way to verify expert claims, while legitimate experts struggled to differentiate themselves and build sustainable businesses.
For Bettors:
- • No way to verify expert track records
- • Fake win rates and manipulated statistics
- • Experts disappear after losses
- • One-time purchases with no accountability
- • Spam-filled telegram/discord groups
For Experts:
- • Hard to prove legitimacy to new followers
- • No professional platform for monetization
- • Competing with fraudulent operators
- • Inconsistent income streams
- • Manual management across platforms
The Solution
Trust Through Transparency
Unlocker creates a transparent marketplace where every pick, every result, and every performance metric is tracked, verified, and publicly visible. Experts build reputations through consistent, provable results while subscribers make informed decisions based on historical data.
Verified Tracking
Every pick recorded with real-time result updates
Gated Access
Only subscribers see picks - no free-riding
Public Stats
Win rates and ROI visible to all potential subscribers
Target Users
Sports Bettors
Casual and serious bettors looking for data-backed predictions from verified experts with proven track records.
- • Tired of fake claims
- • Want verifiable results
- • Seek consistent winners
Expert Cappers
Professional sports analysts and handicappers looking to monetize expertise through subscription-based model.
- • Build personal brand
- • Recurring revenue stream
- • Professional platform
Analytics Enthusiasts
Data-driven sports fans who appreciate statistical analysis and want to follow top performers in the industry.
- • Love statistics
- • Follow multiple sports
- • Compare expert strategies
Key Features
Expert Profiles
Linktree-style bio pages showcasing expert specialties, historical performance, pricing tiers, and subscription options. Public stats build credibility.
- • Win/Loss/Push percentages
- • ROI and profit tracking
- • Sport specialization badges
- • Custom bio and branding
Subscription Access Control
Sophisticated paywall system that shows pick metadata to non-subscribers while protecting actual predictions behind subscription.
- • Flexible subscription tiers
- • Weekly, monthly, quarterly plans
- • Instant access after payment
- • Auto-renewal management
Daily Picks Publishing
Streamlined workflow for experts to publish picks across 30+ sports with game selection, odds, stake sizing, and reasoning.
- • Multi-sport coverage
- • Rich text pick analysis
- • Auto-scheduled publishing
- • Draft and preview mode
Real-Time Result Tracking
Automated match result updates that calculate Win/Loss/Push for each pick and update expert performance metrics in real-time.
- • Automatic result ingestion
- • Live performance updates
- • Historical accuracy tracking
- • Profit/Loss calculations
Leaderboard System
Public rankings showcasing top performers across different sports, time periods, and performance metrics to build trust.
- • Win rate rankings
- • ROI leaderboards
- • Sport-specific rankings
- • Monthly/yearly periods
Notification System
Multi-channel notifications via Discord, Telegram, Email, and SMS to ensure subscribers never miss time-sensitive picks.
- • New pick alerts
- • Result notifications
- • Subscription reminders
- • Custom preferences
FactoStack's Role
Scope of Work
Tech Stack
Frontend
Next.js 15 (App Router)
TypeScript
Tailwind CSS
React Components
Backend
Node.js
Express.js
PostgreSQL
JWT Authentication
Infrastructure
Docker
AWS ECR
Amazon Lightsail
Stripe Connect
Development Process
Design Analysis & Component Planning
Analyzed Figma designs to identify reusable components, design patterns, and responsive breakpoints. Created component hierarchy and established naming conventions.
Database Schema & API Design
Designed normalized database schema for users, experts, picks, subscriptions, and results. Created RESTful API endpoints with proper authentication and authorization.
Frontend Implementation
Built pixel-perfect UI with Next.js and Tailwind CSS. Implemented server and client components, routing, state management, and mobile-first responsive design across all pages.
Authentication & Access Control
Implemented JWT-based authentication with role-based access control. Built protected routes for experts, subscribers, and admins with subscription verification.
Payment Integration & Admin Dashboard
Integrated Stripe Connect for subscription payments with webhook handling and direct expert payouts. Built comprehensive admin dashboard for managing users, experts, picks, and platform statistics.
Containerization & Deployment
Containerized application with Docker, pushed images to AWS ECR, and deployed to Amazon Lightsail VPS with PostgreSQL database and S3-compatible object storage. Conducted thorough testing across devices and payment flows.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Stripe Connect for Marketplace Payments
Traditional Stripe integration doesn't support marketplace models where money flows from subscribers to individual experts. Need to handle split payments, expert payouts, platform fees, and tax compliance across multiple sellers.
Solution:
Implemented Stripe Connect with Express accounts for experts, enabling direct payouts while the platform takes a commission. Built onboarding flow for expert verification and bank account linking. Configured webhook handlers for subscription events, transfer automation, and proper fund routing between platform and connected accounts. Implemented proper fee structures with transparent revenue splits.
Challenge: Subscription Access Control
Complex authorization requirements where users can subscribe to multiple experts with different subscription tiers, expiration dates, and access levels. Must verify access in real-time across web and API.
Solution:
Built subscription management system with database-backed access control and caching layer. Implemented middleware to verify active subscriptions on every request, handle graceful degradation for expired subscriptions, and provide clear upgrade prompts. Created admin tools for subscription management and refund handling.
Challenge: Preventing Unauthorized Access & Pick Leaks
Must protect paid content from non-subscribers while showing enough info to build trust and encourage subscriptions.
Solution:
Implemented multi-layer access control with API-level verification, server-side rendering of protected content, and strategic data masking. Show pick metadata (sport, time, result) publicly but protect actual predictions behind subscription paywall.
Challenge: Fast Load Times & SEO Optimization
Need expert profiles to rank in search engines while maintaining fast load times despite large datasets.
Solution:
Leveraged Next.js server-side rendering for SEO-critical pages, implemented pagination and lazy loading for large datasets, optimized database queries with proper indexing, and used CDN for static assets with image optimization.
Design & Key Screens
Design Credit: All UX and design decisions were crafted by the client, a UX designer at a leading Big Tech company. FactoStack's role was to faithfully implement the designs with pixel-perfect accuracy.
Homepage & Expert Discovery
Trust-first hero section, expert leaderboards by sport, performance stats prominently displayed, and friction-free browsing without login requirements.
Expert Profile Pages
Linktree-style bio pages with public performance metrics (win %, ROI, total picks), subscription tier pricing, and sport specialization badges.
Picks Feed & Paywall
Strategic content gating where non-subscribers see pick metadata and results, but predictions are protected behind subscription with clear upgrade CTAs.
Subscription & Checkout
Streamlined Stripe Connect checkout with flexible plan options (weekly/monthly/quarterly), instant access post-payment, and free trial picks to reduce hesitation.
Expert Dashboard
Publishing workflow for daily picks across 30+ sports with scheduling, analytics dashboard, subscriber management, and earnings tracking.
Admin Platform Control
Comprehensive admin dashboard for user management, expert verification, pick monitoring, revenue tracking, and platform analytics with charts and filters.
Business Impact
Recurring Revenue Model
Subscription model creates predictable, recurring revenue streams for both platform and experts. Platform takes small percentage with zero fees for first month.
- Monthly recurring revenue (MRR)
- Scalable income for experts
- Sustainable business model
Trust Drives Conversions
Transparent performance tracking and public stats eliminate trust issues. Verified experts with proven results convert browsers to subscribers.
- Data-backed credibility
- Higher conversion rates
- Lower customer acquisition cost
Scalable Architecture
Technical architecture designed to handle thousands of experts and millions of picks without performance degradation.
- Horizontal scaling capability
- Optimized database queries
- Ready for high traffic
Expansion Opportunities
Platform architecture supports expansion to multiple sports, countries, languages, and even other expert verticals beyond sports.
- Multi-sport coverage (30+)
- International markets ready
- Replicable to other verticals
Outcome & Results
Key Achievements
Platform Features:
- Pixel-perfect responsive design
- Secure payment processing
- Real-time performance tracking
- Multi-channel notifications
Technical Quality:
- Type-safe TypeScript codebase
- Scalable architecture
- Fast load times and SEO optimized
- Production-grade deployment
Platform Status: Unlocker is live at unlocker.club, fully functional with experts publishing picks daily, subscribers actively engaging, and payment processing running smoothly. The platform is ready to scale to thousands of experts across global markets.
Project Gallery
Expert Discovery
Browse experts by sport with performance stats
Expert Profile
Detailed stats and subscription options
Picks Feed
Daily picks with results tracking
Expert Bio
Linktree-style bio with social links
Account Dashboard
Manage subscriptions and settings
Mobile Experience
Fully responsive mobile interface
Conclusion
Unlocker demonstrates how a well-designed subscription marketplace can solve real trust problems while creating sustainable revenue for all parties. By prioritizing transparency, building robust technical infrastructure, and focusing on user experience, we delivered a production-ready SaaS platform in just 5 weeks.
The platform proves that modern web technologies (Next.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL) combined with thoughtful UX design can create marketplaces that genuinely serve both supply (experts) and demand (subscribers) sides effectively.
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