Shutting down HopeHack
My fellowship for young hackers didn't have the tailwinds I expected
I am shutting down HopeHack. It allowed me to connect with incredible teenage hackers, and I remain infinitely bullish about the potential of young, creative minds all around the world.
But I learned that the times have changed. When I applied (and won) HackNow — a similar program awarding 5k EUR to Europe's best underage hacker — the tailwinds were there. There were some similar programs in the US, but not nearly as enough as today. And Europe was a much more vibrant place. I thought that multiplying the prize by 10x would for sure get me a lot of talented applicants. I was wrong. I learned a few things:
Teenage hackers dream of the US
The overwhelming majority of young hackers that I connected with are already in the US (thus have easier access to capital), or are soon thinking of relocating to the US.
The US has many programs like this, so HopeHack wasn't mission critical for them.
I was surprised to see that the US still wins on both narrative — the land of the free and the brave — and capital — with dozens of programs to attract young founders.
Europe is not what it used to be
I thought that HopeHack could be a lifesaver for those talented young hackers in the sinking ship that Europe is now, but it seems like it's too late already.
I feel that the education system has dulled kids too much. Ten years ago, when I was a teenager, I started a group of teenage hackers in Madrid. Most of us met on Twitter. That would be way more difficult today, even though there are probably 10x more teenagers on social media than a decade ago.
But dumber social media (Instagram, TikTok) has drastically changed the internet that I grew up with.
Even in Spain, where I have a big following, I didn't get a single application.
The few founders that I know in Spain tell me how incredibly hard it is to find talent, let alone young talent.
On the other hand I was very positively surprised about Asia, in particular India.
US and Asia seem to have a bright future, while Europe seems to live off its past.
HopeHack didn’t have tailwinds
My fight against industrial schooling and (as I call them) Prison Schools will continue, and it's a hill I am willing to die on.
But the particular iteration that HopeHack represented didn't receive the tailwinds I expected, which means that the market doesn't need it that bad.
I believe there are better approaches that leverage tailwinds, for example Nautilus in SF, taking advantage of the fact that most teenage hackers still dream of living in SF.
I donated $30k to Nautilus and I'll keep donating to similar causes that propel teenage geniuses.
To all the applicants, thank you! I will be reaching out to you personally, direct you towards other programs, and hep you in your journey in whichever way I can.
