# Jose Casanova > Founder, growth engineer, and angel investor based in the US. Co-founded icy.tools (blockchain analytics, acquired by QuickNode). Writes about growth hacking, startups, tech, and AI. Maintains a curated prompt library for AI agents. Angel invests in early-stage startups across blockchain, AI, health, and finance. Featured in Time Magazine, Gizmodo, Fast Company, Business Insider, and CoinDesk. Jose Casanova is a founder and growth engineer who builds and scales impactful products. He co-founded icy.tools, a blockchain tracking and analytics platform that was acquired by QuickNode. At QuickNode, he integrated icy.tools and launched faucet.quicknode.com, explorer.lens.xyz, and jupiterapi.com. Prior experience includes improving health outcomes at Cityblock Health, modernizing property management at Caretaker, improving government efficiency at SeamlessDocs, helping students succeed at Clutch Prep, authoring a book on Growth Hacking, and helping Loop launch on Kickstarter. ## Pages - [Home](https://www.josecasanova.com/): Jose Casanova's personal site — founder, growth engineer, and angel investor - [Blog](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog): All blog posts on tech, startups, growth hacking, and personal insights - [Prompts](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts): AI prompt library with 25 templates for coding, analysis, strategy, and personal development - [Investing](https://www.josecasanova.com/investing): Angel investment portfolio of 20 early-stage startups across blockchain, AI, health, and finance - [Contact](https://www.josecasanova.com/contact): Contact information and social media links (LinkedIn, GitHub, X/Twitter) - [RSS Feed](https://www.josecasanova.com/rss.xml): RSS feed with all blog posts and prompts ## Blog Posts - [How I Growth Hacked My Growth Hacking Book](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/how-i-growth-hacked-my-growth-hacking-book): Achieved #21 on Kindle top 100 marketing books using data-driven tactics with minimal marketing budget. Covers piggybacking strategies, leveraging existing platforms, and creative distribution channels for book launches. - [How I "Hacked" Kayak and Booked a Cheaper Flight](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/how-i-hacked-kayak-and-booked-a-cheaper-flight): Saved $100 on flights by using a VPN to access cheaper pricing from different geographic regions. Demonstrates how airlines use dynamic pricing based on user location and how to work around it. - [Lessons Learned Working at a Startup Accelerator](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/startup-accelerator-lessons): 10 key lessons from 3 months as Developer in Residence at Coolhouse Labs accelerator. Insights on startup culture, mentorship, rapid iteration, and what separates successful startups from the rest. - [Lessons Learned at My First Hackathon](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/first-hackathon-lessons): 11 practical tips for succeeding at hackathons including team formation, idea selection, time management, and delivering compelling presentations under pressure. - [How I Hacked My Apartment Building](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/how-i-hacked-my-apartment-building): Built a Twilio-based Sinatra app to automate an apartment building intercom system. Technical walkthrough of using Twilio's API to forward calls and manage building access remotely. - [Lessons on Launching a Udemy Course](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/lessons-launching-udemy-course): Earned $942.59 in 24 hours using multi-channel distribution and coupon strategy. Covers course creation, pricing strategy, promotional tactics, and leveraging social proof for online course launches. - [How to Build a tvOS App for Apple TV](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/how-to-build-tvos-app): Step-by-step tutorial on building tvOS apps using JavaScript and TVML without requiring Swift knowledge. Covers the TVML framework, TVMLKit JS, and deploying to Apple TV. - [Making It vs Not Making It (Yet)](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/making-it-vs-not-making-it-yet): Psychological analysis of how risk appetite changes before and after financial success. Explores the mindset differences between striving and having achieved, and how success paradoxically can reduce willingness to take risks. - [Everything is Sales](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/everything-is-sales): Short essay on how every human interaction is fundamentally a sales pitch, from job interviews to first dates. Argues for embracing persuasion as a core life skill rather than viewing it negatively. - [Energy Management](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/energy-management): Productivity framework focused on managing personal energy rather than time. Covers identifying peak energy periods, eliminating energy drains, and structuring work around natural energy cycles. - [How to Get 600 EUR Flight Cancel Compensation](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/flight-cancel-compensation): Practical guide to claiming compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 for flight cancellations and delays. Covers eligibility criteria, the claims process, and dealing with airlines. - [Simple Claude Code Review Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/claude-code-review-prompt): Updated prompt for running Claude Code as a code reviewer in GitHub Actions. Includes the full GitHub workflow configuration and prompt template for automated PR reviews. - [AI Prompts for Self-Reflection](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/ai-prompts-for-self-reflection): Collection of AI prompts designed for deep personal insights, including generating a CIA-style dossier about yourself, 50-year life predictions, and other introspective exercises using large language models. - [How I Automated a Daily Intelligence Briefing with OpenClaw](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/openclaw-daily-intel-report): Set up a personalized daily intelligence report delivered to Telegram every morning using the OpenClaw AI agent and a custom prompt. Covers installation, Telegram integration, cron job scheduling, security considerations, and Cloudflare's MoltWorker alternative. - [How to Fix OpenClaw's Memory Search with QMD](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/openclaw-qmd-memory): Upgrade OpenClaw's memory search from default SQLite to QMD — a local hybrid search engine combining BM25, vector search, and LLM re-ranking. Covers installation, configuration, search modes, indexing external Markdown directories, and performance tips. - [AI Code Review for OpenCode with K-LLM Orchestration](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/ai-code-review-opencode): k-review dispatches six AI models (Claude, GPT, Gemini) in parallel to review code diffs with shuffled orderings, synthesizes findings through majority voting, and validates results to eliminate false positives. Covers the K-LLM ensemble pattern, four-stage pipeline, model configuration, and installation for OpenCode. - [How I Use AI Coding Agents in My Daily Workflow](https://www.josecasanova.com/blog/how-i-use-ai-coding-agents-daily-workflow): Walkthrough of a daily AI-assisted development workflow using Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, superpowers skills, and MCP servers. Covers the four-phase loop (plan, execute, QA, commit/PR) with details on Context7 and Figma MCP servers, AI slop detection, dead code audits, git commit and PR prompts, and frontend design skills that prevent generic AI-generated UI. ## Prompts - [Go Static Check and Fix Errors Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/go-static-check-fix-errors-prompt): AI prompt to run staticcheck on Go projects, automatically detecting and fixing code quality issues and common bugs. Tags: golang, programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Comprehensive GitHub PR Review Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/git-pr-code-review-prompt): AI code review prompt for thorough GitHub pull request analysis covering code quality, security vulnerabilities, and engineering best practices. Tags: programming, git, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex, code review. - [Go Code Performance Optimization Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/go-code-performance-optimization-prompt): AI prompt to analyze Go codebase performance and generate three targeted optimizations with implementation examples and benchmarks. Tags: golang, programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Go Vet Analysis and Fix Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/go-vet-fix-issues-prompt): AI prompt to run go vet analysis on your codebase, identify all issues, and automatically apply fixes. Tags: golang, programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Concise GitHub PR Review Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/git-concise-pr-review-prompt): Fast AI code review prompt for GitHub PRs focused on performance bottlenecks, security flaws, and correctness issues. Tags: programming, git, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex, code review. - [Git Commit with Analysis Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/git-commit-conventional-prompt): AI prompt to generate meaningful git commits using Conventional Commits format with thorough change analysis. Tags: git, programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Create GitHub Pull Request Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/git-create-pull-request-prompt): AI prompt to generate comprehensive GitHub pull requests with summaries, test plans, and Conventional Commits format. Tags: programming, git, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Implementation Plan Executor Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/implementation-plan-executor-prompt): AI prompt to review and execute implementation plans step-by-step with changelog and README updates. Tags: programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Elite Brand Strategy Architect Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/brand-strategy-architect-prompt): AI strategy prompt for comprehensive ecommerce brand guidelines including positioning, voice, visual identity, and implementation roadmap. Tags: branding, marketing, strategy. - [Chrome Extension Market Research Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/chrome-extension-research-prompt): AI research prompt to find underperforming Chrome extensions with large user bases and analyze market opportunities. Tags: research, chrome extensions, strategy. - [Elite Growth Consultant Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/growth-consultant-strategy-prompt): AI strategy prompt for deep competitive analysis with growth loops, unit economics, and actionable growth recommendations. Tags: marketing, strategy, research. - [Resource Monetization Consultant Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/resource-monetization-consultant-prompt): AI consulting prompt to identify underutilized assets and create actionable monetization strategies with implementation plans. Tags: research, business, consulting. - [Mental Model Analysis Framework Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/mental-model-analysis-prompt): AI thinking prompt to analyze any problem through 5 mental models — first principles, inversion, second-order effects, opportunity cost, and leverage. Tags: mental models, decision making, critical thinking, self improvement. - [Clean Code Principles Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/clean-code-principles-prompt): AI coding prompt with clean code principles covering naming conventions, code structure, DRY patterns, and engineering best practices. Tags: cursor rules, programming. - [Personal Intelligence Briefing Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/personal-intel-report-prompt): AI prompt to generate a daily personalized intelligence briefing covering tech, business, finance, and your specific interests. Tags: research. - [Personal Insights Collection Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/personal-insights-prompts): Collection of AI prompts for deep personal analysis, life predictions, blind spot identification, and self-discovery exercises. Tags: personal insights, self improvement. - [Frontend Aesthetics Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/frontend-aesthetics): AI design prompt to build distinctive, high-quality frontend interfaces that avoid generic AI-generated aesthetics. Tags: programming, design, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex, branding, marketing. - [Verification Suite Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/verification-suite-prompt): AI prompt to run all code verification checks — linting, typechecking, formatting, and tests — and report results concisely. Tags: programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Branch Catchup Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/branch-catchup-prompt): AI prompt to read all modified files in the current git branch and summarize completed vs in-progress changes. Tags: git, programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Socratic Prompt Converter](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/socratic-prompt-converter): AI prompt to transform any prompt into a Socratic version that uncovers assumptions, clarifies intent, and produces better results. Tags: prompt engineering, critical thinking, self improvement. - [AI Code Slop Reviewer Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/ai-code-slop-reviewer): AI code review prompt to identify and remove AI-generated slop — excessive comments, unnecessary defensive code, type workarounds, and over-engineering. Tags: programming, code review, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Dead Code Audit Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/dead-code-audit): AI prompt for comprehensive codebase audits to find all unused files, functions, classes, and variables that can be safely deleted. Tags: programming, code review, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Relentless Plan Interview Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/relentless-plan-interview): AI prompt to get grilled on every design decision in your plan until nothing is left vague. Tags: critical thinking, strategy, decision making. - [GitHub Release Draft Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/github-release-draft-prompt): AI prompt to create versioned GitHub release drafts with commit analysis, highlights, and auto-generated changelogs. Tags: git, programming, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. - [Cross-Agent Review Skill Prompt](https://www.josecasanova.com/prompts/cross-agent-review-skill-prompt): AI skill prompt to consult a peer agent (Codex or Claude) for a second opinion on design decisions or a diff review before declaring work complete. Tags: programming, code review, claude code, cursor, opencode, codex. ## Optional - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-c-36729ba/) - [GitHub](https://github.com/josescasanova) - [X / Twitter](https://x.com/jcsnv) - [Sitemap](https://www.josecasanova.com/sitemap-index.xml)