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    Dave Fontenot

    Started the largest hackathon in the world

    Dave Fontenot is the founder of HF0 Residency, a unique 12-week program for repeat founders and top engineer founders based in San Francisco.12 Here are some key details about Dave Fontenot:

    Professional Background

    • Founder of HF0 Residency (January 2023 - Present): HF0 is a program that provides a distraction-free environment for founders to focus solely on building their startups.2

    • General Partner at Backend Capital (2019 - 2022): During this time, he was one of the earliest investors in three unicorn companies - Ramp, Fabric, and Pave.2

    • Founder of HackMatch (2014 - 2016): Introduced early engineers to companies like Robinhood and Calm.2

    • Founder of MHacks (2013): Started the largest hackathon in the world at the University of Michigan, which has since been attended by over 10,000 hackers globally.2

    Unique Experiences

    • Mindfulness Journey (2016 - 2018): Lived in monasteries in Thailand, China, and California for two years.2 This experience heavily influenced the concept behind HF0 Residency.

    HF0 Residency

    HF0 is described as a "monastery of code" where:

    • 10 teams of engineers relocate to San Francisco for 12 weeks.1
    • All aspects of the founders' lives are taken care of, allowing them to focus entirely on building their products.2
    • The program has attracted high-profile participants, including repeat unicorn founders and CTOs of successful tech companies.3

    Philosophy and Approach

    Fontenot's approach with HF0 is based on "subtraction rather than addition." The program aims to remove all distractions and time-consuming activities that aren't directly related to building or selling products.3

    Dave Fontenot is known for his innovative approach to supporting founders and his experience in building tech communities and fostering innovation.

    Highlights

    Today · twitter

    Would’ve never guessed @lucy_guo would save Michigan football.

    Thank you, Lucy 🙏🏽 https://t.co/APFD1GNYnG

    Nov 19 · twitter

    “Is it work or fun in New York?”

    “It’s work but work is always fun in New York”

    Aug 5 · youtube.com
    HF0 CEO Dave Fontenot on a Unique Approach to VCs - YouTube
    HF0 CEO Dave Fontenot on a Unique Approach to VCs - YouTube
    Mar 19 · joincolossus.com
    The Monastery of Code - Colossus
    The Monastery of Code - Colossus
    Mar 19 · podcasts.apple.com
    Dave Fontenot - The Monastery of Code - Apple Podcasts
    Aug 8 · MTV.com
    Watch The TEDxTeen 2015 Live Stream Now - MTV.com
    Jul 20 · Miami Herald
    Miami ‘Hack Week’ hopes to lure tech programmers to Magic City - Miami Herald

    Related Questions

    How did Dave Fontenot's experiences in monasteries influence the creation of HF0?
    What makes HF0's residency program unique compared to other incubators?
    How does HF0 ensure that founders stay focused during the residency?
    What are some success stories from founders who have participated in HF0?
    How does HF0's approach to subtraction impact the success of its founders?
    Dave Fontenot
    Dave Fontenot, photo 1
    Dave Fontenot, photo 2
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    Location

    San Francisco, California, United States