Innovating urban co-living: a strategy to address housing affordability and social isolation boommate as a customer-centric approach to bridge the gap in comprehensive, socially impactful solutions to the urban housing crisis

Duarte, Miguel MuñozJacinto, Maria JoãoHueck, Lea Sikele2026-03-242026-03-242025-01-132025-01-13http://hdl.handle.net/10362/201772This thesis explores urban isolation and rising housing costs by examining the potential of co living. "Boommate" is a digital platform designed to connect individuals and enable co-living through affordability, compatibility, and stability. Developed using Lean Startup and Design Thinking methodologies, the project emphasizes product design, verified profiles, and tools fostering trust and community. Early-stage validation demonstrated strong market interest, confirming its potential to solve real-world challenges. By combining research with entrepreneurial innovation, this thesis highlights co-living’s potential to enhance quality of life and offers scalable solutions for underserved demographics, particularly Baby Boomers.engCo-livingHousing affordabilityCommunity buildingDigital platform designShared housing dynamicsUrban housing challengesSocial isolationMental healthInnovative co-living solutionsCompatibility in shared livingDigital housing platformsCommunity-building toolsSustainable urban livingUser-centric housing models.Innovating urban co-living: a strategy to address housing affordability and social isolation boommate as a customer-centric approach to bridge the gap in comprehensive, socially impactful solutions to the urban housing crisismaster thesis204133254