Was this perhaps LA Hacks [0] in 2014, or Hacktech [1]? Evan Spiegel attended LA Hacks, but I had someone who was attending Hacktech email me for help with the Snapchat API for their project. (I was part of Gibson Security, and published some early Snapchat API research [2] online in 2013)
Almost certainly HackTECH; it was held in a mall in Santa Monica right by the beach. I’m almost sure Evan came but it wasn’t to give a formal talk, but rather take a pretty low-key stroll-through. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. I did attend LA Hacks as well but I think it was in 2015, it was in Pauley Pavilion for the first time.
Your research looks fascinating and sounds similar to what I remember of the hack. Might be the same person we’re talking about. Small world!
I did some more searching, and I think it was Hacktech then. According to [0], Evan dropped by because of the project by Ash Bhat and Ankit Ranjan, apparently some of the organisers called him since he lived nearby. Seems you were right.
Your research looks fascinating and sounds similar to what I remember of the hack. Might be the same person we’re talking about. Small world!