The Starknet Hacker House is a great showcase for how focused mentorship can be a potent accelerant for Web3 projects.

Our mentors are an unrivaled group of ecosystem leaders — experts in multiple fields who have contributed to and shaped Starknet’s development. They include core contributors, successful founders, and active builders — each with a great deal of hands-on experience with Starknet’s tech stack, product launches, fundraising strategies, and more.

This blog highlights what you can expect from your mentor at the Starknet Hacker House.

There is still time to apply to the Starknet Hacker House at ETHDenver, February 21-25 in Denver, Colorado. You can apply here.

Meet some of Starknet’s outstanding mentors

To set each participating team up for success, we pair them with a dedicated mentor who will focus on their product success and knowledge building. Mentors actively score and monitor the progress of their assigned teams, guiding them in Cairo development, AI integration, product launches, and more.

This select group of mentors offers well-rounded support across key areas, including technical development and infrastructure, product strategy and market fit, fundraising and business development, as well as AI and blockchain integration.

Technical Powerhouses

A number of our mentors are technical whizzes, who have founded or worked on projects that are now live on Starknet mainnet. A few notable mentors include:

  • Jules Doumeche — Core maintainer of StarknetByExample and Cairo contributor, specializing in Starknet smart contract development.
  • Pierre Bertin — Lead developer of Dojo at Cartridge, bringing deep Starknet development expertise.
  • Aayush Giri — Developer Relations at Nethermind and former cryptography research engineer, focusing on blockchain infrastructure.
  • Toni Tabak — CTO of Spaceshard and key contributor to Starknet’s JavaScript ecosystem.
  • David Barreto — Lead of Starknet’s main educational program, bringing extensive experience in Starknet.

Ecosystem & Business Development

For ecosystem connections, business development opportunities, and on-chain AI guidance, look no further than:

  • Jason Rodrigues — Starknet Foundation veteran with extensive Product development and fundraising experience. Having founded a successful company, he has extensive knowledge in product building.
  • Dylan Kugler —  Starknet Foundation’s Ecosystem Lead, the main point of contact for ecosystem projects as well as the Seed Grant and Growth Grant programs, with expertise in venture capital and fundraising.
  • Jamie Newton — AI On-Chain Lead at the Starknet Foundation, specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.

While this is undoubtedly a formidable list of core mentors, it is not exhaustive. We are always adding new mentors to the Starknet Hacker House roster. In fact, we are excited to announce that additional mentors will be joining us from:

  • The Graph ecosystem
  • Starkware’s core team
  • The Starknet Foundation

Refining product and preparing for Demo Day

Beyond casual advice and encouragement, the Hacker House offers structured mentorship focused on tangible, real outcomes. To that end, each hacker house team receives:

  • Dedicated mentor check-ins to review technical architecture and product decisions.
  • Real-time feedback on implementation challenges from experts who’ve solved similar problems.
  • Strategic guidance on product positioning and market fit.
  • Hands-on support in preparing compelling demos that showcase your project’s value.
  • Access to educational resources and documentation from Starknet’s leading instructors.
  • Practice sessions and presentation coaching to ensure you shine on Demo Day.

How mentors help founders prepare for Mainnet launch

The Starknet Hacker House is designed to help projects advance regardless of their current stage. Our holistic mentorship approach supports teams in:

  • Refining their existing products with UX optimization guidance from frontend experts.
  • Scaling their protocol design with insights from experienced Cairo developers.
  • Enhancing their market strategy with advice from successful founders.
  • Building effective cross-protocol integrations with The Graph and other ecosystem partners.
  • Developing fundraising strategies with guidance from VCs and ecosystem leaders.
  • Support in applying to Starknet Foundation grants and other opportunities provided by ecosystem connections.

Apply to the Starknet Hacker House

Think of the Starknet Hacker House as your launchpad to the next phase in your product development journey. Whether you’re refining an existing mainnet product, preparing for a testnet launch, seeking to improve user experience, or looking to raise your funding round, our mentor network brings the expertise you need. Through the Hacker House’s structured mentorship program, you’ll gain strategic insights and connections that are in sync with your own specific and unique stage and set of goals.

The stage is set, the mentors are ready, and the resources are in place. Now it’s your turn to take advantage of this unique opportunity to take your Starknet project to the next level — whatever that next level might be for you.

Apply to Starknet’s ETHDenver Hacker House here.