Why We Built CrateOS: A Q&A with the Founder
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An interview-style conversation about how CrateOS came to life through years of observation, real-world experience, and thoughtful design.
Q: Did you always plan to build an app for car meets?
A: Not at all. It didn’t begin with a product idea. It started with years of vending at shows and noticing certain patterns—things that made some events run smoothly and others fall apart. I kept track of what worked, what didn’t, and started seeing gaps that weren’t being addressed.
Q: Can you give an example of something that stood out?
A: Definitely. One show we vended at gave vendors access to an admin portal with everything we needed—booth layout, parking details, setup instructions—all in one place. I remember thinking, “This organizer must have an IT background.” It was simple, but that level of organization made a big impression. I realized that kind of process could be supported by the right kind of tool.
Q: What were some of the common problems you noticed?
A: Vendors not knowing where to park. Organizers chasing down registration details. Drivers unsure where to line up. Attendees who had no idea what to expect. It wasn’t because people weren’t trying. It was because there weren’t dedicated tools to make those tasks easier.
Q: There are already some platforms out there. How is CrateOS different?
A: There are definitely existing platforms that focus on content—event listings, media sharing, and social engagement. And they have their place. But what I envisioned wasn’t another content platform. I wanted to build a tool. Something that worked behind the scenes to help organizers run their events, support vendors, and guide attendees and drivers through the entire process.
Q: Did your background influence how you designed it?
A: Absolutely. I worked in insurance software for 10 years. We built systems that insurance agents, MGAs, and policyholders used every day to run their business. That mindset translated directly into CrateOS. I wasn’t trying to make something flashy—I was trying to make something functional, something people could depend on.
Q: What about the Netflix UI inspiration? Where did that come from?
A: That was a random Saturday night. I was opening Netflix, and saw the way they display featured shows in a carousel. I thought, why can’t car meets feel like this? Easy to browse, visual, quick to digest. We started prototyping that concept for how events appear on CrateOS.
Q: So this wasn’t all planned from the start?
A: No—it came together piece by piece. Some features didn’t even exist when we started building. They came from feedback, from noticing how people interacted at events, from asking, “How can we make this easier?” That’s the spirit we’re keeping as we grow.
Q: What do you hope CrateOS becomes for the community?
A: A reliable tool. That’s it. Something that helps the scene operate better. If it helps organizers run smoother shows, if it saves vendors time, if it helps attendees actually show up on time—then it’s doing its job. We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re trying to be useful. That’s the goal.