Zelow
Food waste reduction platform connecting UMKM with consumers
Overview
ZELOW (Zero Leftovers Waste App) is a mobile application that helps reduce food waste by connecting UMKM culinary businesses with consumers through discounted surplus food, flash sales, and surprise boxes. The app tackles the critical issue where food waste contributes more than 50% of total waste in Malang, while many UMKM suffer losses from unsold surplus food. Zelow enables UMKM to sell surplus food at discounted prices before it becomes waste, offers mystery surprise boxes at lower prices to reduce food stigma, features location-based nearby UMKM discovery, and includes a rating and review system for transparency.
Problems
Food waste exceeds 50% of total waste in Malang
Food waste is the largest component of Malang's waste stream, yet most surplus food from UMKM culinary businesses goes unsold and becomes waste due to lack of efficient digital distribution channels.
UMKM suffer losses from unsold surplus food
Small culinary businesses lack the tools and reach to sell surplus food before it spoils. Without a digital platform, discounted surplus food cannot find consumers in time, leading to financial losses and food waste.
Continuing an unfinished project from a previous team
The project was inherited with no documentation, an unfamiliar codebase (Flutter), and incomplete features. Understanding the existing architecture, reverse-engineering the application flow, and making independent architectural decisions was a significant challenge.
Leading a programmer-only team without a product role
The team consisted entirely of programmers without a dedicated product manager. Balancing technical execution with product-level decision making, prioritization, and team coordination required wearing multiple hats.
Solutions
Flash sale and surprise box model for surplus food
Designed a dual sales model: Flash Sales allow UMKM to list surplus food at discounted prices with time-limited availability, while Surprise Boxes offer mystery food packages at lower prices to reduce food stigma and move inventory efficiently.
Location-based UMKM discovery with reviews
Implemented nearby UMKM discovery using location services, enabling users to find discounted surplus food in their vicinity. Rating and review system builds trust and transparency between consumers and UMKM.
Codebase restructuring and architectural recovery
Reverse-engineered the existing application flow, documented the architecture, and restructured the codebase for maintainability. Refactored core features while preserving existing functionality, then iteratively added new capabilities.
Technical leadership in a flat team structure
Established technical direction, coding standards, and task prioritization. Bridged the gap between product goals and technical implementation, making architectural decisions while actively contributing code alongside the team.
Contributions
Led the continuation of an unfinished mobile application project from a previous team, taking full ownership of technical direction
Acted as technical leader in a programmer-only team while maintaining active coding responsibilities — balancing leadership with hands-on development
Understood and restructured existing application flow, architecture, and codebase with no prior documentation from the previous team
Implemented and refined core mobile features using Flutter and Dart, including the flash sale system, product listing, and cart management
Integrated Firebase Cloud Functions for backend services — authentication, data storage, and real-time updates
Collaborated with team members to align technical execution with product goals, translating business requirements into implementable features
Bridged product-level decision making and technical implementation in the absence of a dedicated product manager role
Implemented chat with seller feature for direct communication between consumers and UMKM for pickup coordination
Features
Flash Sale Surplus Food
Allows UMKM to sell surplus food at discounted prices with time-limited flash sales before it becomes waste
Surprise Box
Mystery food packages offered at lower prices to reduce food stigma and increase sales efficiency for UMKM
Nearby UMKM Discovery
Location-based feature to help users find nearby UMKM offering discounted surplus food and surprise boxes
Rating & Review System
Builds trust and transparency by allowing users to rate and review UMKM, food quality, and pickup experience
Chat with Seller
Direct communication between consumers and UMKM for pickup coordination, special requests, and inquiries
Tech Stack
- Flutter
- Dart
- Firebase
Gallery
1 / 5
Results
Food Waste Reduction Platform
Contributed to reducing food waste in Malang through digital surplus food distribution, connecting UMKM with price-conscious consumers
UMKM Economic Empowerment
Empowered local culinary businesses to minimize financial losses from unsold food inventory through digital distribution channels
Functional Flutter Application
Successfully rescued and completed an unfinished Flutter project, delivering a functional mobile app concept ready for further development
Technical Leadership
Demonstrated leadership, codebase recovery, and team coordination skills in a challenging project continuation scenario