Solana's Events Sensei Ellie: 24 Hacker Houses, a Bomb Threat, and Breakpoint London
Ellie spent 20 years producing events at weddings, Electronic Arts and Netflix before joining Solana in January 2022 with no roadmap and a mandate to build hacker houses. Her first year: 24 hacker houses in 18 countries in 10 months, plus a bomb threat in Miami.
We get into how Breakpoint went from four venues scattered across Lisbon to one roof in London. Why there’s deodorant in the bathrooms and no pay-to-speak slots. What she’s building at Olympia: one main stage, a proper pub, and a Solana Borough Market. Plus the full side-event calendar, how not to waste your Breakpoint, and the first public word on where Breakpoint goes next: early September 2027. Also: Steve’s own origin story (it started with calling out scammers in the Breakpoint channel), a Porsche that should’ve been an Aston Martin, and nobody knowing what a Fuggler is. Breakpoint London: Nov 16–17 at Olympia (Day Zero Nov 15). Hacker House runs Nov 1–12. Ticket prices go up Nov 1.
0:00 Welcome — a Friday special with Solana's events sensei1:15 Steve's origin story: scam-busting the Breakpoint channel, quitting after Berlin3:10 20 years in events: weddings, EA, Simlish, and Netflix8:00 From COVID to crypto: the cold intro that landed her at Solana12:10 24 hacker houses, 18 countries, 10 months, planning from a closet14:39 The F1-style world tour: a bomb threat at 7,000-person Solana Miami16:45 Lisbon → Amsterdam → Singapore → Abu Dhabi: why Breakpoint went under one roof24:11 Breakpoint London: one stage, a proper pub, and Solana Borough Market29:09 What gives Breakpoint a soul: deodorant, water, and no pay-to-speak33:42 Business in the front, party in the back: designing for every persona38:40 No hierarchy: walking up to Solflare's CEO, and first-timer advice42:17 The side-event calendar: Hacker House, Demo Day, AI Day and more45:31 Too many side events, liver credit, a Porsche, merch and tickets51:02 Can you 10x every year? Diamond horses and Breakpoint 2027 in September54:58 Audience Qs: artists, Fugglers, the generator story, and goodbye
Solana's Events Sensei Ellie: 24 Hacker Houses, a Bomb Threat, and Breakpoint London
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