One of the first all-female Hacker Houses in San Francisco

For Molly Cantillon, living at Hacker House was not just a dream, but a necessity.

“I had been in a few hacker houses before and wanted to replicate that energy,” says Cantillon, 20, co-founder of Hacker House and founder of startup NOX. “A place where really energetic, hardcore people came together to solve problems. But the house I lived in was mostly men. It was clear to me that I wanted to do the opposite and create an all-female Hacker House that created the same dynamic. But with women. .”

Cantillon, who has lived in several Hacker Houses over the years, saw the need for a space dedicated to women only. That's why she co-founded Hacker House, the San Francisco Bay Area's first all-female Hacker House.

“A Hacker House is a shared living space where makers and innovators come together to work on their own projects while collaborating with others,” said Jennifer Lee, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and sponsor of the Hacker House. “It's a community that shares creativity and resources, making it a cost-effective solution for those in high-rent areas like Silicon Valley, where talented founders and engineers can easily connect and support each other.”

Founded by Cantillon, Zoya Garg, Anna Monaco and Anne Brandes, the house was designed to empower women in the traditionally male-dominated tech world.

“We're trying to break stereotypes here,” said Garg, 21, a rising senior at Stanford University. “This house isn't just about staying together; it's about creating a community where women can thrive in technology.”

Located in North Beach, Hacker House was home to seven women this summer, all of whom share the goal of launching successful ventures in technology.

Venture capital has played a key role in making Hacker House possible. Along with financial support, the home offers subsidized rent, allowing the women to focus on their projects instead of struggling with the Bay Area's notoriously high cost of living.

“New grad students face daunting costs of living, with campus costs reaching upwards of hundreds to thousands of dollars a month,” Lee said. “In the Bay Area, finding a comfortable room typically starts at $2,000, and while prices can be a bit lower, they're significantly higher than in the rest of the U.S. This fact forces many, including founders, to share rooms or crash on friends' couches just to make ends meet. for.”

Hacker houses aren't new to the Bay Area or cities like New York and London. These live-in incubators serve as home and workspace, offering a collaborative environment where tech founders and innovators can share ideas and resources. In a city renowned for its technological advancements, Hacker Houses are seen as vital to driving the next wave of innovation. By providing affordable housing and a vibrant community, these spaces enable entrepreneurs to thrive in otherwise cutthroat and expensive markets.

Watch this video to see how Hacker House is shaping the future of women in tech.