Summer Internship 2026 — From the Challenge to the Klatchpoint Marketplace
Discover our team’s journey during the Summer Internship 2026, from the Discovery phase to the development of a Rewards Marketplace integrated with Klatchpoint.
Hello! We are Dinis, Mafalda, Inês, Matteo and Rodrigo, and we are part of the Codepoint Summer Internship 2026 team.
We are a multidisciplinary team, with different educational backgrounds and responsibilities across development, project management and marketing. This diversity allowed us to work together throughout the entire process and learn not only within our own areas, but also from each other’s knowledge and experience.
Over several weeks, we had the opportunity to work on a real-world challenge involving a real application, with the goal of creating a solution that could add value to the existing product.
The challenge we were given was related to Klatchpoint, a Codepoint platform dedicated to managing and enhancing events.
Klatchpoint already has a gamification system that allows participants to earn points through their participation in events. The challenge was to explore how we could increase the value of these points while simultaneously encouraging more meaningful user engagement.
It was in this context that the idea of developing a Rewards Marketplace, integrated with Klatchpoint, emerged.
But before we started developing, there was one essential question:
How can we turn virtual points into something that provides real value to participants?
The first phase focused on Discovery and validating the idea. We explored different possibilities through brainstorming, benchmarking and market research, complemented by questionnaires and interviews.
In total, we collected 38 responses from participants, conducted 2 interviews with companies and 4 with event organizers. The research showed that participants value professional benefits, useful rewards and a more personalized experience, while companies and organizers are looking for greater control and monitoring.
One of the main conclusions was that the success of the Marketplace would depend not only on the rewards themselves, but also on a fair and transparent points allocation system.
Based on the Discovery findings, we defined the scope of the MVP using the MoSCoW method, allowing us to prioritize the essential functionalities.
The MVP focused on the Rewards Marketplace, points balance, reward search and details, redemption, requirements validation, QR Code, reward and request management, and dashboards for the different user profiles.
The solution was designed for participants, companies and event organizers, with functionalities and permissions adapted to the needs of each profile.
Once the solution was defined, we moved on to the Design phase.
One of our main goals was to ensure that the Marketplace did not feel like a separate product from Klatchpoint. To achieve this, we used the platform’s existing visual identity as a reference, maintaining its visual language, typography, colours and navigation principles.
We used Figma to create the wireframes and designs for the different interfaces, exploring the experiences of participants, companies and event organizers.
This phase allowed us to turn the previously defined requirements into concrete interfaces and prepare the team for implementation.
With the design defined, we moved on to the implementation of the product.
To organize the development process, we used GitLab, separating the project into two main repositories: Marketplace API, responsible for the backend, and Marketplace WebApp, responsible for the frontend.
The frontend focused on building the application’s interfaces, pages and components, while the backend was responsible for the business logic, APIs, authentication, database and integration with Klatchpoint services.
One of the most important aspects of the development was the integration with the Klatchpoint API. This integration allows us to reuse information already available on the platform, avoiding data duplication and keeping both systems synchronized.
The result is a solution that allows participants to browse different rewards, search and filter prizes, view their details and use their accumulated points to submit redemption requests.
For companies, the solution provides reward management features, including stock control, requirements and redemption requests.
Organizers have access to monitoring and management tools, allowing them to oversee different aspects of the Marketplace and access information about user activity.
The Marketplace was therefore not designed simply as a reward store, but as a feature integrated into the Klatchpoint ecosystem, aiming to create value for all event stakeholders.
I applied to the Summer Internship because the opportunity to create something from scratch, try new things and challenge myself immediately caught my attention. Coming from a Management background, I wanted to understand what it would be like to work on a tech project while also discovering how I could bring my own perspective into a completely different field.
Throughout these six weeks, I had the opportunity to follow the project from the first ideas all the way to building the solution, work on its marketing and communication and, above all, learn a lot from people with very different backgrounds from my own. There were challenges, plenty of ideas along the way and several moments when we had to rethink what we were doing, but that was exactly what made the experience so interesting.
I leave Codepoint really happy that I took the chance on something different, with new skills, a much clearer understanding of how a digital product is developed and, of course, great memories of the team and the environment we shared.
The experience during the Summer Internship 2026 was very positive and gave me the opportunity to gain a closer insight into what working in a technology company is like. From the beginning, I felt very welcomed by the whole team, who were always friendly, supportive and available, helping us whenever questions or difficulties arose.
I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work on a real project and be involved in its different stages, from Discovery to the implementation of the solution. It was an experience that allowed me not only to gain new knowledge, but also to better understand how a team works on a daily basis, how different areas collaborate and what challenges can arise throughout a project.
At the end of the internship, I feel that I am taking away new knowledge, greater confidence and, above all, a much clearer idea of what my future professional life could look like. I am very grateful for this opportunity and for all the support and guidance we received throughout this experience.
When I applied for this summer internship, I was looking to expand my technical knowledge and gain my first professional experience. My expectations were already high, but they were far exceeded by the opportunity to work on a real project from scratch, the amount of knowledge I gained and the great sense of teamwork throughout the experience.
The internship allowed me to develop both soft and hard skills, taking on unexpected roles, from designer in Figma to interviewer. Nevertheless, working as a Developer was the most impactful part of the experience, strengthening my backend and frontend knowledge while giving me new perspectives on problem-solving, perfectly aligning with my career goals.
This growth was only possible thanks to my colleagues and the Codepoint team, who were always available to support us while also creating a relaxed and enjoyable environment. It was an incredibly complete experience, culminating in the creation of a functional MVP and lessons that I will carry with me throughout my career.
This internship came at exactly the right time! Having completed the first year of my Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and with a background in Computer Engineering, this experience allowed me to further strengthen my technical foundation and gain real-world experience in web engineering. Focusing mainly on the backend of the Klatchpoint Marketplace was an exciting challenge, with several obstacles along the way that I was able to successfully overcome.
My biggest takeaway was undoubtedly consolidating and expanding my knowledge of new technologies, understanding how a professional work environment operates and, above all, improving my teamwork skills. The Codepoint team was extremely welcoming and always available to help, which truly reflects the company’s culture. Although the internship lasted only a little over a month, it was an incredible opportunity for my development, both technically and personally!
I applied for this internship at Codepoint because I was looking for my first real experience working in a team and wanted to step outside my technological comfort zone by diving into a stack I was not familiar with.
Coming from a Computer Science background, I do not always have the opportunity to apply my knowledge or gain a complete view of a real project, from identifying the problem to its implementation and testing. As a Developer, I was therefore responsible for entire modules, designing a database from scratch and implementing part of the Backend, while also understanding how everything connects with the Frontend. I found this particularly interesting, as it gave me autonomy while still having the constant support of more experienced colleagues whenever I needed help.
What I will take away most from this experience is the human side: a team that collaborates, discusses ideas and grows together. It is this spirit that makes me want to apply again, knowing that there is always someone willing to teach and help.
