Immersive Innovation at the Burning Hacker Program by Spark Lab

Another unforgettable experience was my participation in Burning Hacker — a highly selective, non-profit entrepreneurship accelerator initiated by Spark Lab. Targeted at founders under the age of 20, this program brought together 36 young creators from around the world across product, design, and development disciplines to co-live and co-build in an intense, high-energy environment.

Burning Hacker was unlike any other startup incubator I had seen. Drawing inspiration from the spirit of Burning Man and the Silicon Valley hacker house model, the program emphasized a deep sense of community, creativity, and bold experimentation. We lived and worked together in a fully immersive hacker house, pushing ourselves to launch our first AI + X startup projects within weeks.

What made this experience transformative was not just the speed of execution, but the culture of radical collaboration. Whether it was late-night brainstorms, rapid prototyping sessions, or feedback cycles with peers and mentors, the environment challenged me to think faster, fail smarter, and build with greater purpose. I gained firsthand insight into what it takes to scale an idea from zero — under pressure, with limited resources, but infinite energy and shared belief.

This program also helped me build a strong network of like-minded young entrepreneurs and creators — many of whom continue to inspire and collaborate with me today. Burning Hacker didn’t just accelerate a project — it accelerated my mindset. I left with a deeper understanding of how physical space, shared intention, and a culture of boldness can shape breakthrough innovation.