A University of Bristol student has developed an AI-powered website to help students find compatible flatmates amid growing pressure in the student housing market.
Daniel Virin, 22, created Cribster in 2022 after facing the stress of finding housing in Bristol. His platform uses AI to match students based on shared budgets, values, habits, hobbies, and location preferences—aiming to create harmonious living groups and reduce empty room rates.
Cribster responds to the fast-paced housing rush many students face early in the academic year. Fellow student Shriya Pillay recalled the challenge of finding trustworthy housemates, resorting to social media but fearing bad experiences.
“I’ve had friends who dreaded going into their kitchen because they felt so uncomfortable,” she said. “It can really affect your mental wellbeing.”
Virin believes living arrangements can significantly impact student life. “Rushing into housing often leads to poor-quality rentals or mismatched flatmates,” he said. “Students deserve a safe, comfortable home environment.”
He also noted many students fall prey to scams on general housing platforms, which lack student-focused safety measures—something Cribster aims to fix.
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