Brand–Influencer Connection Platform

I’m building “Creator Bridge,” a web-based space that brings brands and Instagram influencers together. The core objective is simple: give marketers a direct line to the right creators and let those creators secure collaborations without the endless back-and-forth currently clogging DMs and email chains.

For this first phase, I need a clean, modern MVP that focuses on a robust real-time messaging system. Brands should be able to open a chat with an influencer profile, exchange files or briefs, and keep the full conversation in one searchable thread. User authentication, profile setup, and basic search/filter tools are also required so both sides can discover one another quickly.

Key expectations
• Responsive web app (desktop & mobile-friendly)
• Secure login with social option (Instagram OAuth preferred if viable)
• Creator and brand dashboards with editable profiles
• Scalable, real-time messaging (WebSockets or Firebase-style solution)
• Admin panel to monitor conversations and flag misuse
• Clear hand-over with documented code and deployment notes

I’m open to the stack you’re most comfortable with—React, Vue, or Next.js on the front end, Node, Django, or Laravel on the back—so long as it’s well-structured and easy to maintain. Show me examples of previous marketplace or chat-heavy builds if you have them, outline your proposed architecture, and let’s discuss timelines.