The Starknet ecosystem is all about empowering developers and founders in their journey to turn powerful ideas into real products. To make this happen, Starknet Foundation’s Ecosystem Team puts considerable time and resources into guiding developers from their first interactions with the ecosystem to launching fully-fledged products.

Starknet’s developer journey is designed to give you support — both structured and non-structured — at every step of the way. If you’re new to Starknet’s Cairo programming language, we’ve got you covered. If you’re an experienced developer looking for funding, we can prepare you for it. And if you’re a founder looking to scale, or at some other stage of your unique journey, we can help.

Below, we take a look at the key milestones in the Starknet’s developer journey.

And if you happen to be at ETHDenver, swing by the Starknet Foundation booth where you will meet ecosystem leaders, fellow developers, and potential collaborators!

Basecamp: Your first step into Starknet

Basecamp is your point of entry into the Starknet ecosystem. Designed to help you understand the inner workings of Starknet and what makes it unique, you’ll begin to deepen your expertise and lay the foundations that you’ll need to start building.

How to get started:

  • Attend a main Basecamp session hosted by the Starknet Foundation or participate in a regional Basecamp run by the community. You can also check out past Basecamp session recordings here.
    • Check out Starknet’s Basebamp hub.
    • The curriculum is designed for all levels — non-technical participants can gain foundational knowledge, while experienced devs can become Cairo power users.
  • Use Scaffold Stark to bootstrap any project quickly and explore available development resources.
  • Start networking by attending events or organizing a meetup in your city.
  • Contribute to cutting-edge open-source projects via Only Dust and participate in the monthly OD Boost.

Once you’ve completed Basecamp, you’ll have the basic knowledge and connections to start actively building.

Hackathons: Bringing ideas to life

Now, with a firm understanding of Starknet and awareness of the ecosystem’s key players, you can start applying your skills in Starknet hackathons. To bring your ideas to life, you will:

  • Form a team and build a proof of concept (POC).
  • Gain exposure to potential users and receive feedback.
  • Compete for prizes, grants, and recognition within the ecosystem.

Starknet hackathons aren’t just about casual coding. You’ll create real value and solve real problems using Starknet technology, as well as take the next step in your developer journey — the Starknet Hacker House.

Hacker Houses: From POC to MVP

If you shine during a hackathon, or demonstrate strong potential in the ecosystem, apply to the Starknet Hacker House and be selected to attend. Starknet’s highly-focused developer residencies are held quarterly around the world, and are designed to help teams move from POC to MVP.

  • Work alongside top builders in a high-intensity environment.
  • Accelerate your product development with mentorship and resources.
  • Get a concentrated boost equivalent to six months of independent building.

After participating in a Hacker House, you should be ready for the next stage — applying for a Starknet Seed Grant.

Seed Grants: Turning your MVP into a business

Okay, you’ve refined your idea, built a working prototype, and assembled a solid team. What’s next? Apply for a Starknet Seed Grant to receive up to $25,000 in STRK in non-dilutive funding. You will have to:

  • Ship your MVP and showcase it to the community.
  • Gain visibility through Starknet’s ecosystem support.
  • Connect with mentors, receive feedback, and get technical assistance.

With a seed grant, you’re no longer just exploring Starknet and experimenting with its tech stack — you’re building a business. You’re a founder!

Your path from Starknet newb to founder

Again, the Starknet developer journey is structured to help you progress from learning to launching a real product.

Ready to get started?

Join Basecamp today — your gateway into the Starknet ecosystem and the first step toward building something great!