Skip to main content

Zakk Fleischmann

Background​

  • Software engineer, founder, builder, writer, runner.
  • Currently on a professional sabbatical (as of March 2025) focused on building/prototyping ideas, writing, and having fun online.
  • Connected via mutual contacts (assumed for Alpha Hacks collaboration).

Professional Experience​

  • El Cap: Advisor/Contributor at a VC fund.
  • Gitcoin: Engineering Lead for Allo Protocol (smart contracts for capital allocation).
  • Cabin: Co-founder of a decentralized city DAO (now defunct).
  • The Solidity Guild: Founder of a smart contract engineer community.
  • Hawthorne Interactive: Founder/CEO of a full-stack product studio (Acquired).
  • General Assembly: Faculty Director for Software Engineering Immersive course.

Expertise & Interests​

  • Software Engineering (JavaScript, Python, Solidity).
  • Prototyping and Building new ideas.
  • Writing (Management, productivity, career advice for engineers, programming).
  • Smart Contracts & Web3 (demonstrated by Gitcoin, Cabin, Solidity Guild).
  • Community Building.
  • Education (General Assembly faculty role).
  • Early-stage startups (via El Cap connection).

Current Role in Alpha Ecosystem​

  • Lead Coordinator for Alpha Hacks: Taking the lead role in designing and executing the inaugural Alpha Hacks event on April 26, 2025.
  • Challenge Coordinator for Alpha Hacks: Also responsible for soliciting, defining, and managing the funded challenges/prizes for the event.

Connection Points​

  • Collaborating with Gary Sheng, Jack Oremus, Cruce Saunders on Alpha Hacks.
  • Interest in building, prototyping, and education aligns well with Alpha Hacks goals.
  • Day One Academy ethos is foundational to the event.

Interactions​

  • 2025-04-09 (Planning): Agreed to lead and coordinate the Alpha Hacks event.
  • 2025-04-11: Participated in a discussion with Gary Sheng, Cruce Saunders, Grady, and Sonia about Alpha Hacks planning, Brain Lifts, and educational philosophy.
  • 2025-04-11 (Later): Briefly interacted with Gary Sheng, Elle Liemandt, and Chloe. Discussed the AI wearable recorder and its potential applications for capturing knowledge and training AI.
  • 2025-04-12: Hosted a crawfish boil attended by Gary Sheng and friends (Cintya, James, Peter, etc.).
  • 2025-07-05: STRATEGIC TRANSITION CONVERSATION - Extended conversation with Gary Sheng at Austin tea house covering Gary's Alpha Schools critique, Lael Alexander partnership development, and personal/professional updates. Gary detailed his strategic withdrawal from Alpha Schools due to operational dysfunction and leadership issues (Jonathan Stewart event cancellation, Ron's ongoing role uncertainty). Discussed Gary's White House Trump invitation as strategic leverage and his transition to full-time work with Lael Alexander in Tulsa by end of month. Zakk shared updates on Vibe Workers project with Nate, financial planner database with Chad, and Joe Hudson executive coaching experience. Conversation included listening to Karen Hao's "Empire of AI" Downstream podcast interview analyzing Sam Altman's manipulation patterns, environmental colonialism, global labor exploitation, and AI industry imperial dynamics - providing intellectual framework for understanding tech industry power concentration that validated Gary's observations about leadership patterns. Topics included Austin community life, dating philosophy, record collecting, and personal development through running. Demonstrated strong friendship with substantive strategic and personal discussions during Gary's pivotal career transition period.
  • 2025-12-03: APPLIED AI COMMUNITY & SEARCH FUND DISCUSSION - In-depth conversation at Austin venue covering major life and career developments. Gary shared his three-month spiritual journey culminating in baptism, the Tulsa opportunity rug-pull that left him homeless in August/September, and emergence of his "Applied AI" community concept with Travis Oliphant's support. Discussed building a shelling point connecting engineers wanting to solve real business problems with businesses seeking AI integration. Zakk revealed his search fund plans to acquire Texas-based B2B businesses (targeting $1M in earnings), including a Houston co-working space and excavation utilities company. They strategized on Applied AI consulting model with Zakk suggesting office hours format: free consultations that convert to SOWs. Planned joint holiday party for December 17th focused on "Christians and builders" community. Zakk shared romantic developments with church connection at Red Rocks. Gary detailed his corporate fast food chain project through mentor connection, positioning Austin as base for Applied AI community building while pursuing Christian ministry. Both emphasized the importance of authentic relationships over transactional networking, with Gary noting: "I want to be basically an apostle... making Tech miracles happen too." Zakk offered valuable marketplace-building insights from Solidity Guild experience.

Transcripts​

transcript-iddateone-line-summary
2025-04-11-alex-mathew-updates-and-side-chats2025-04-11Side chat about AI wearable recorder functionality and structured meeting notes
2025-04-11-alpha-hacks-brain-lifts-discussion2025-04-11Planning for Alpha Hacks hackathons and discussion about Brain Lifts implementation
2025-07-05-strategic-transition-alpha-to-tulsa-conversation2025-07-05Extended 4+ hour conversation at Austin tea house covering Gary's strategic withdrawal from Alpha Schools and partnership development with Lael Alexander
2025-12-03-gary-zakk-applied-ai-search-fund2025-12-03Applied AI community building and search fund plans discussion