The Starknet Hacker House, a product development hub, is a unique opportunity for teams and developers with promising projects to take their product development to the next level on Starknet. It’s designed for those ready to refine their MVPs, prepare for Mainnet, or turn early-stage projects into successful startups. The Hacker House will take place in Denver from February 21–25. You can apply here.
Whether you’re preparing to launch an MVP, refining your product for real users, or taking the final steps toward Mainnet, this Starknet Hacker House application guide is here to help. It’s tailored to support product-focused builders, ensuring you navigate the application process effectively and maximize your chances of being selected.
Showcase your skills
Past web3 and/or Starknet contributions and projects will be key in making your application stand out. A compelling Hacker House application portfolio will include:
- Proof of Work — Showcase your completed projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight any involvement with blockchain, zero-knowledge proofs, or Starknet-specific technologies.
- Project Progress — Share details of your current project, emphasizing its development stage. Include information about your MVP, key milestones achieved, and how your work is progressing toward Mainnet or product launch.
Prove your Cairo experience
Starknet’s native programming language, Cairo, is central to the Starknet ecosystem. Your application should highlight your team’s familiarity with it.
If you’ve engaged with resources like Only Dust or Starklings, list the completed quests or walkthroughs. These demonstrate your commitment to learning and your ability to navigate the nuances of Cairo. If you’ve developed small-scale projects or experiments in Cairo, share your repositories and briefly describe what you built and any challenges you overcame.
Pitch strong, promising ideas
A solid pitch is a major component of your application. Here’s how to strengthen it:
- Think about how your project leverages the power of Starknet.
- Consider how your idea can utilize Starknet’s low fees, high speed, account abstraction (for improved user experience), and other unique features.
- Outline the problem you’re solving and its potential impact, using simple, direct language to communicate your vision.
- Highlight what sets your project apart from others in the space, and how your solution fills a gap or creates new possibilities.
Build your hacker team
While the Starknet Hacker House is community-focused, hacker team dynamics should also be a consideration in your application. Consider emphasizing the following:
- Complementary Skills — Highlight your team’s combination of technical, design, and strategic expertise. For example, blending a Cairo developer, a front-end engineer, and a product manager could form a well-balanced and ultimately successful team.
- Collaborative Experience — If your team has worked together before, mention past projects or achievements. If this is your first time as a hacker team, explain how your team will be positioned for success at the Hacker House.
What to expect after submitting your application
Here’s an overview of the typical application journey, with important dates and information:
- Apply – Submit your application at starknethackerhouse.io.
- Application Submission Deadline — Submit your project idea, team details, and proof of work.
- Selection Criteria — We’ll select teams and builders based on their technical skills and their ability to continue developing their projects after the event. We’re also looking for projects with strong potential to reach mainnet and grow into successful startups.
- Applicant Acceptance Email — Applicants will be notified of their acceptance via email on a rolling basis.
- Lodging & Food – Teams will stay free of charge in Denver, be given food throughout the week, and receive the support they need to focus on building their startups.
- Travel – Builders can apply for travel grants of up to $500.
Other tips for success
Before submitting, ask peers or mentors to review your application. Constructive feedback can significantly improve your pitch. Reach out to the Starknet Foundation for feedback! You can contact @espejelomar on Telegram—just be sure to allow a couple of days for a response.
Who should apply?
Starknet is targeting early-stage projects, MVPs, and other promising teams who are ready to level up their projects on Starknet. Teams must include at least one Cairo developer (backend/frontend) to ensure they can successfully develop their project, and a non-technical hacker.
Ideal candidates include:
- Teams preparing to launch their MVP or nearing Mainnet deployment.
- Teams with a product in development and eager to refine it for real users.
- Teams with a strong, promising idea.
- Seed Grantees — Teams that have already received initial funding and are working toward mainnet.
- Near-Seed Candidates — Teams on the verge of receiving grants and needing mentorship to finalize their MVPs.
- Alumni of Starknet Programs — Graduates of Basecamp, Buildcamp, or previous Hacker Houses (Bangalore, Devcon/Bangkok) who are working to develop their products.
- Hackathon Participants — Builders who excelled in recent events like the Winter Hackathon, 42 School Hackathon, or ETH India and are looking to further develop their projects into an MVP or bring them to Mainnet.
In short, we are looking for serious, capable builders who are prepared to move from proof-of-concept to a fully functional product.
How to apply
Applications are now open.
Apply now to the Starknet Hacker House at ETHDenver.
