The Spark: Problem & Inspiration
Frustrated by the endless new rugs appearing on Solana, I decided to launch a project where I could use my skills and passion towards a greater vision: creating a safe haven for new and experienced meme coin enthusiasts. I wanted to create a space for like-minded individuals to collaborate, laugh with, and for others to feel as though they are part of something much bigger than themselves — a real community.
The concept for Hege was born when my girlfriend and I were talking about the state of the economy, market manipulation, and hedge funds. The discussion around "hedge funds" caught my attention — this is where the idea for a hedgehog-themed memecoin was sparked. It aligned with the animal meta and had tons of pun potential, puns that people could get behind to start a movement. Everything about the concept just made sense! As a graphic designer, I started by creating a brand, followed by a website and social channels for $HEGE.
The story features four characters, all representing modern stereotypes. Hege is like most of us: hard-earned, struggling to make it, and fighting against the odds. Hegena is popular, hard to get, and entitled. Hendrix is your typical "Chad" character: relatively successful, rich, and has things easy. Finally, Helena is just a "Karen". The Hege story line represents his journey from being constantly looked down upon to rising to the top.