Student Unveils Website that Uses AI to Pair Compatible Roommates.

After facing difficulties in securing suitable housing, a university student has developed a website that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match flatmates.

Daniel Virin, 22, came up with the concept for Cribster in 2022 after dealing with the intense and stressful student housing market in Bristol.

As a student at the University of Bristol, he built an algorithm that pairs users with similar interests based on factors like budget, preferred locations, personal values, hobbies, and daily routines.

The platform aims to optimize existing housing by forming compatible groups, filling vacant rooms, and easing the burden on student accommodation services.

Fellow Bristol student Shriya Pillay noted that the city’s housing shortage pushes students to find accommodation very early in the academic year.

“I had to start looking for housing and roommates just a few months into my first year,” she recalled.

Ms. Pillay states that “finding flatmates can be just as challenging as the house-hunting process itself.”

Ms. Pillay explained, “Many people tend to stick with their first-year flatmates, but I realized early on that we’d all be going in different directions, so I had to figure out who I would live with.”

She turned to social media to connect with others in the same situation, but expressed concern about encountering the “housing horror stories” she had heard about.

“I’ve had friends who were so uncomfortable around their flatmates that they’d feel stressed just making food in the kitchen,” she shared.

“Such situations can impact other aspects of your life, since they’re the people you see every day.”

Mr. Virin is developing a Cribster app with assistance from his twin brother, Asher, who is an engineer.

Mr. Virin acknowledged that a student’s living situation can significantly impact their university experience.

“Your home should be a safe space where you can relax and escape the stress and anxiety of university,” he explained.

“However, the rush to secure housing often leads to students signing up for low-quality properties or settling for incompatible flatmates, which can result in tension and conflict.”

He pointed out that freshers, who are still adjusting to university life, are thrust into this stressful process before they’ve even had the chance to form friendships.

Mr. Virin also noted that the sense of urgency makes many students “vulnerable to scams and harassment on platforms that aren’t designed for them.”

Jovan Navjee (middle right) connected with three of his current best friends (pictured) through the website.

Jovan Navjee found success on the site after forming “genuine and lasting friendships” with the three individuals suggested by the AI algorithm.

“Since moving in, we’ve really clicked, and having the right flatmates has made a huge difference in my overall university experience,” he shared.

Mr. Virin’s project recently received a £4,500 grant from the University of Bristol as part of the Jim and Peggy Wilkinson Awards and the Development Stage competition.

He is now working on developing a Cribster app with the assistance of his twin brother, Asher Virin, an engineer.

Mr. Virin was awarded an Outstanding Plus Award for “demonstrating innovative and solution-focused entrepreneurship.”

Mark Neild, associate professor in innovation and entrepreneurship, stated that Mr. Virin “made a compelling case” for the value and necessity of a product like Cribster.

In 2024, Mr. Virin also received an Outstanding Plus Award in the Innovation category for addressing a “critical element of student wellbeing.”