BeLong

Overview

BeLong helps people choose businesses based on how welcoming and inclusive they are. Users can search for places, explore a map and read community feedback across categories including disabled accessibility, family friendliness and language friendliness. Dedicated business profiles bring together business information, Google ratings and BeLong's own inclusion scores.

The problem

A high star rating doesn't always tell someone whether a business will meet their needs or make them feel comfortable. For families, disabled visitors, people of colour and people facing language barriers, traditional reviews can leave important questions unanswered. BeLong needed a simple way to capture these experiences and make them useful to others, with a focused first version suitable for a local launch.

Our solution

We designed and built a mobile-friendly web platform with Google Maps integration, user accounts and an inclusion-based review system. Users can discover businesses, submit ratings with optional written feedback, and filter places by inclusion categories and community scores. Business profiles display Google ratings and BeLong inclusion ratings separately, giving users a clear view of both general reviews and community experiences. Stripe integration supports paid business access.

The results

The Phase 1 platform gives BeLong a focused foundation for an initial hyper-local launch and validation of its core concept. It brings business discovery and inclusion feedback into one experience, helping users make more informed choices about where they spend their time and money. The streamlined MVP also provides a starting point for expanding the platform as the community grows.