Hacker House

This is the official Zo House playbook for hosting a Hacker House. Whether it’s a 3-day builder sprint or a week-long residency, this guide will walk you through every step — from proposal to booking to post-event wrap-up.

Note: In Zo House SF, there are no stay facilities. Accommodations must be arranged separately, but the event flow remains the same.

Who is this for?

This template is for founders, devrel leads, product folks, and community managers looking to host an immersive building experience at Zo House, with both work and stay under one roof (except in SF).

1. Start Here: Get Approval

Fill out the Zo Event Proposal Form
In the form or follow-up, submit a detailed requirements doc covering:
- No. of days for the Hacker House
- Accommodation needs (beds, max residents)
- Food & beverages requirements (meals per day, dietary notes)
- Agenda breakdown for each day (sessions, mentors, workshops)
- Special arrangements needed (AV setup, internet boost, signage)
- Outside vendor support (swag, sponsor booths, logistics)
Wait for approval from Zo HQ and the ground team (BLRxZo/SFO/etc.)

2. Booking & Logistics

If Zo House has rooms (most locations):

Book the entire property early — event space + all rooms
Confirm number of beds and allocate rooms in advance
Ensure cleaning and room prep before check-in

If SF Zo House (no rooms):

Arrange off-site accommodation (hostel, Airbnb, hotel)
Provide participants with location details, transport options, and check-in instructions

3. Set Up Registrations

Hackers / Participants:

Create a Luma event with:
- Clear theme/title
- Date, venue, and daily schedule
- Details about accommodation (if applicable)
Add products@zo.xyz as a co-host
Refer to Zo’s Luma How-To Guide for setup

Demo Day or Open House Guests:

Optional: Create a separate Luma RSVP for guests attending the final day
Clarify if access is public, limited, or invite-only

4. Promote the Event

Use Zo House design templates or request creative help
Include Zo branding and logo in all visuals
Share Luma link across:
- Twitter/X, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp groups
- Dev circles, ecosystem pages, local college clubs
Tag Zo accounts and any sponsor/partner handles
Promote:
- Hack themes
- Mentors/speakers
- Bounties, free housing, meals, merch

5. Event Day Flow

Day

Time

Activity

Day 1

Morning

Arrival, check-in, orientation

Afternoon

Kickoff session, welcome talks, house tour

Day 2–4

Full day

Hacking, mentoring, side sessions

Final Day

Afternoon

Demo Day (project pitches, judging)

Evening

Awards, photos, party/networking

Throughout:

Chill zones, snacks, content creation
Optional night jams or AM wellness sessions

Event Flow changes according to the no: of days and as per the teams (hosts) requirements.

6. Execution & Setup Guide

Zo’s House ops team will be on-ground to support.

Any AV or extra setup must be shared in advance for smooth operations.

What to Keep Ready:

Full event flow
Final participant & room allocation list
Mentor/speaker schedule
Event signage & branding assets
Luma check-in QR code printed/displayed

Standard Setup Includes:

Co-working space ready with tables, chairs, extension cords
High-speed internet
Projector or screen (if needed)
Basic sound system & mic
Portals activation (Digital screens at Zo used for displaying branded assets)

Extra Setup Options (request in advance):

Stage lighting
Extra monitors/screens
Whiteboards/flip charts
Swag tables

Food & Beverage:

Stocked snacks & beverages
Coffee/tea station
Catered meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) — coordinate with ops
Dietary preferences handled in advance

Vendor Coordination:

If you need something Zo House doesn’t have:
- Ops team will connect you to vendors for AV, catering, extra furniture, etc.

7. Rules & Revenue

Only approved hackers may stay/work—must be on Luma list
Zo Founder Members: First-priority access
No walk-ins without prior approval
Respect house rules: noise, shared spaces, cleanliness
If ticketed:
- 21% of revenue goes to Zo House treasury
- 79% goes to host (via Luma or other payment links)