[{"id":"b417f441-3e50-46bf-b0d9-d5c3b8a91542","slug":"ama-with-dhanika-perera","title":"AMA with Dhanika Perera","desc":"**Dhanika Perera** is a Sri Lankan, award-winning **serial entrepreneur, technology innovator, and digital ecosystem builder**, known for creating the country’s most widely used tech products and services. He is the **Founder & CEO of Bhasha Lanka (Pvt) Ltd**, the company behind the hugely influential app **Helakuru** and several other major digital platforms used by **over 10 million users** across the country.\nHe didn’t start with Silicon Valley backing or global privilege. He started by solving **real problems**, in his **own country**, with pure persistence and vision while he was still a student.\nBeyond Helakuru, he founded **PayHere**, the country’s leading online payment gateway, and built platforms like **eSana**, the nation’s #1 news breaker. He is now disrupting the transport space with **Helago**, challenging the existing ride-hailing ecosystem in Sri Lanka.\nJoin this AMA to learn how to build a **digital empire from where you are, **especially if you’ve ever wondered and how to identify a market and **build a successful startup!**\n","leader":"Vinudhii","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=AMA%20with%20Dhanika%20Perera&details=%2A%2ADhanika%20Perera%2A%2A%20is%20a%20Sri%20Lankan%2C%20award-winning%20%2A%2Aserial%20entrepreneur%2C%20technology%20innovator%2C%20and%20digital%20ecosystem%20builder%2A%2A%2C%20known%20for%20creating%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20most%20widely%20used%20tech%20products%20and%20services.%20He%20is%20the%20%2A%2AFounder%20%26%20CEO%20of%20Bhasha%20Lanka%20%28Pvt%29%20Ltd%2A%2A%2C%20the%20company%20behind%20the%20hugely%20influential%20app%20%2A%2AHelakuru%2A%2A%20and%20several%20other%20major%20digital%20platforms%20used%20by%20%2A%2Aover%2010%20million%20users%2A%2A%20across%20the%20country.%0AHe%20didn%E2%80%99t%20start%20with%20Silicon%20Valley%20backing%20or%20global%20privilege.%20He%20started%20by%20solving%20%2A%2Areal%20problems%2A%2A%2C%20in%20his%20%2A%2Aown%20country%2A%2A%2C%20with%20pure%20persistence%20and%20vision%20while%20he%20was%20still%20a%20student.%0ABeyond%20Helakuru%2C%20he%20founded%20%2A%2APayHere%2A%2A%2C%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20leading%20online%20payment%20gateway%2C%20and%20built%20platforms%20like%20%2A%2AeSana%2A%2A%2C%20the%20nation%E2%80%99s%20%231%20news%20breaker.%20He%20is%20now%20disrupting%20the%20transport%20space%20with%20%2A%2AHelago%2A%2A%2C%20challenging%20the%20existing%20ride-hailing%20ecosystem%20in%20Sri%20Lanka.%0AJoin%20this%20AMA%20to%20learn%20how%20to%20build%20a%20%2A%2Adigital%20empire%20from%20where%20you%20are%2C%20%2A%2Aespecially%20if%20you%E2%80%99ve%20ever%20wondered%20and%20how%20to%20identify%20a%20market%20and%20%2A%2Abuild%20a%20successful%20startup%21%2A%2A%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20Vinudhii&location=https%3A//luma.com/fzrm6882&dates=20260304T133000Z%2F20260304T143000Z","start":"2026-03-04T13:30:00Z","end":"2026-03-04T14:30:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U08R6ME1880/r","approved":true},{"id":"fccea9ed-ae4e-4bb5-a8f9-85ec9555cab7","slug":"flavortown-show-and-tell-13","title":"Flavortown Show and Tell 13","desc":"Show off a project you’ve been working on so far, and see what everyone else has been making too! Your project does not have to be shipped, but it should be complete or almost complete. You may not show the same project for multiple show and tells unless you have made **_significant_** changes to the project. You will receive 25 cookies :cookie: for showcasing a project for up to two show and tells per month! Not ready to show off a project yet? That’s okay too! Come to see what your fellow Hack Clubbers have been working on recently! Anyone who attends will get a chance to vote for their favorite project that was presented, and the projects with the most votes will get an additional 25 cookies! RSVP by reacting to the announcement message in #flavortown-bulletin with to get reminders, and join the event in the #flavortown huddle!\n","leader":"darlene wu","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=Show%20and%20Tell%2013&details=Show%20off%20a%20project%20you%E2%80%99ve%20been%20working%20on%20so%20far%2C%20and%20see%20what%20everyone%20else%20has%20been%20making%20too%21%20Your%20project%20does%20not%20have%20to%20be%20shipped%2C%20but%20it%20should%20be%20complete%20or%20almost%20complete.%20You%20may%20not%20show%20the%20same%20project%20for%20multiple%20show%20and%20tells%20unless%20you%20have%20made%20%2A%2A_significant_%2A%2A%20changes%20to%20the%20project.%20You%20will%20receive%2025%20cookies%20%3Acookie%3A%20for%20showcasing%20a%20project%20for%20up%20to%20two%20show%20and%20tells%20per%20month%21%20Not%20ready%20to%20show%20off%20a%20project%20yet%3F%20That%E2%80%99s%20okay%20too%21%20Come%20to%20see%20what%20your%20fellow%20Hack%20Clubbers%20have%20been%20working%20on%20recently%21%20Anyone%20who%20attends%20will%20get%20a%20chance%20to%20vote%20for%20their%20favorite%20project%20that%20was%20presented%2C%20and%20the%20projects%20with%20the%20most%20votes%20will%20get%20an%20additional%2025%20cookies%21%20RSVP%20by%20reacting%20to%20the%20announcement%20message%20in%20%3C%23C09MATJJZ5J%3E%20with%20to%20get%20reminders%2C%20and%20join%20the%20event%20in%20the%20%3C%23C09MPB8NE8H%3E%20huddle%21%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20darlene%20wu&location=https%3A//app.slack.com/huddle/T0266FRGM/C09MPB8NE8H&dates=20260307T150000Z%2F20260307T160000Z","start":"2026-03-07T15:00:00Z","end":"2026-03-07T16:00:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U07SX29CECA/r","approved":true},{"id":"06871371-7331-4968-bc96-7d01242e0e85","slug":"flavortown-show-and-tell-14","title":"Flavortown Show and Tell 14","desc":"Show off a project you’ve been working on so far, and see what everyone else has been making too! Your project does not have to be shipped, but it should be complete or almost complete. You may not show the same project for multiple show and tells unless you have made **_significant_** changes to the project. You will receive 25 cookies :cookie: for showcasing a project for up to two show and tells per month! Not ready to show off a project yet? That’s okay too! Come to see what your fellow Hack Clubbers have been working on recently! Anyone who attends will get a chance to vote for their favorite project that was presented, and the projects with the most votes will get an additional 25 cookies! RSVP by reacting to the announcement message in #flavortown-bulletin with to get reminders, and join the event in the #flavortown huddle!\n","leader":"Tanishq Goyal","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=Flavortown%20Show%20and%20Tell%2014&details=Show%20off%20a%20project%20you%E2%80%99ve%20been%20working%20on%20so%20far%2C%20and%20see%20what%20everyone%20else%20has%20been%20making%20too%21%20Your%20project%20does%20not%20have%20to%20be%20shipped%2C%20but%20it%20should%20be%20complete%20or%20almost%20complete.%20You%20may%20not%20show%20the%20same%20project%20for%20multiple%20show%20and%20tells%20unless%20you%20have%20made%20%2A%2A_significant_%2A%2A%20changes%20to%20the%20project.%20You%20will%20receive%2025%20cookies%20%3Acookie%3A%20for%20showcasing%20a%20project%20for%20up%20to%20two%20show%20and%20tells%20per%20month%21%20Not%20ready%20to%20show%20off%20a%20project%20yet%3F%20That%E2%80%99s%20okay%20too%21%20Come%20to%20see%20what%20your%20fellow%20Hack%20Clubbers%20have%20been%20working%20on%20recently%21%20Anyone%20who%20attends%20will%20get%20a%20chance%20to%20vote%20for%20their%20favorite%20project%20that%20was%20presented%2C%20and%20the%20projects%20with%20the%20most%20votes%20will%20get%20an%20additional%2025%20cookies%21%20RSVP%20by%20reacting%20to%20the%20announcement%20message%20in%20%3C%23C09MATJJZ5J%3E%20with%20to%20get%20reminders%2C%20and%20join%20the%20event%20in%20the%20%3C%23C09MPB8NE8H%3E%20huddle%21%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20Tanishq%20Goyal&location=https%3A//app.slack.com/huddle/T0266FRGM/C09MPB8NE8H&dates=20260307T200000Z%2F20260307T210000Z","start":"2026-03-07T20:00:00Z","end":"2026-03-07T21:00:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U08R4Q9H8EB/r","approved":true},{"id":"150d0aed-9acb-4514-a912-be233f2fed0c","slug":"algorithmic-music-workshop","title":"Algorithmic Music Workshop!","desc":"A workshop on how to make music using Sonic Pi, using code to make music!\n","leader":"Niko","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=Algorithmic%20Music%20Workshop%21&details=A%20workshop%20on%20how%20to%20make%20music%20using%20Sonic%20Pi%2C%20using%20code%20to%20make%20music%21%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20Niko&location=https%3A//app.slack.com/huddle/T0266FRGM/C01D7AHKMPF&dates=20260118T191500Z%2F20251231T201500Z","start":"2026-03-08T04:15:00Z","end":"2026-03-08T05:15:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U07960MD940/r","approved":true},{"id":"42e4c230-bf7a-46ee-afaa-87c388f71327","slug":"ama-with-y-combinator-partner-jared-friedman","title":"AMA with Y Combinator partner Jared Friedman","desc":"Jared Friedman is a startup founder, investor, and partner at Y Combinator, where he works with some of the world’s most ambitious early-stage founders. Before joining YC, he co-founded Scribd, one of the internet’s largest digital reading platforms, helping grow it into a global service used by millions of readers (including a lot of Hack Clubbers!). After becoming a partner in 2015, he has worked with hundreds of startups across AI, developer tools, fintech, and healthcare, helping founders go from rough ideas to companies used by millions. Join this AMA to learn what YC looks for in founders, how to turn projects into startups, and what opportunities exist for young builders who want to start companies today!\n","leader":"Evan Streams","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=AMA%20with%20Y%20Combinator%20partner%20Jared%20Friedman&details=Jared%20Friedman%20is%20a%20partner%20at%20Y%20Combinator.%20He%20loves%20giving%20young%20entrepreneurs%20advice%20on%20how%20to%20succeed%2C%20and%20even%20on%20how%20to%20get%20funded%20by%20Y%20Combinator%20specifically.%20Come%20check%20it%20out%21%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20Evan%20Streams&location=https%3A//hackclub.zoom.us/j/89946106104%3Fpwd%3DSgUnNHAEzaqWdPSNnbSSMzCqZYOn1Q.1&dates=20260308T200000Z%2F20260308T210000Z","start":"2026-03-08T20:00:00Z","end":"2026-03-08T21:00:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U09Q8MLTE58/r","approved":true},{"id":"9bbcb9aa-cfe8-49db-8b74-8bbf285b7ee8","slug":"gartic-night","title":"Gartic Night","desc":"Let's play Gartic phone tonight. Winner gets bragging rights (decided based off of the votes/laughter).\n","leader":"BennyBoy635 Entity","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=Gartic%20Night&details=Let%27s%20play%20Gartic%20phone%20tonight.%20Winner%20gets%20bragging%20rights%20%28decided%20based%20off%20of%20the%20votes/laughter%29.%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20BennyBoy635%20Entity&location=https%3A//app.slack.com/huddle/T0266FRGM/C01D7AHKMPF&dates=20260307T083000Z%2F20260307T093000Z","start":"2026-03-14T08:30:00Z","end":"2026-03-14T09:30:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U0828CN2BL4/r","approved":true},{"id":"cb9a87fe-0668-49ac-93d6-360de49828e3","slug":"play-tetrio","title":"Play Tetr.io","desc":"Tetrio with other hack clubbers!\n","leader":"Vatsa","cal":"https://www.google.com/calendar/render?action=TEMPLATE&text=Play%20Tetr.io&details=Tetrio%20with%20other%20hack%20clubbers%21%0A%5CnHack%20Club%20Event%20by%20Vatsa&location=https%3A//app.slack.com/huddle/T0266FRGM/C01D7AHKMPF&dates=20260315T110000Z%2F20260315T130000Z","start":"2026-03-15T11:00:00Z","end":"2026-03-15T13:00:00Z","youtube":null,"ama":false,"amaForm":false,"amaId":"","amaAvatar":"","avatar":"https://cachet.dunkirk.sh/users/U0A0MLXQW7N/r","approved":true}]