by Thiel Foundation
The Thiel Fellowship gives $200,000 to young people under 22 who want to build new things instead of sitting in a classroom. Founded by Peter Thiel, the program encourages ambitious individuals to pursue bold ideas outside of traditional education.
Apply Now$200,000 over 2 years
2 years
Global
Must be 22 years old or younger at the time of application. Open to individuals worldwide. No citizenship or residency requirements. Applicants must be willing to pursue their project full-time.
Annual (applications open in fall)
December 31, 2025
The Thiel Fellowship is one of the most unconventional and high-profile fellowships in the world. Founded in 2011 by PayPal co-founder and venture capitalist Peter Thiel, the program offers $200,000 over two years to individuals under 22 who want to drop out of (or skip) college to pursue ambitious projects in technology, science, and social innovation.
What sets the Thiel Fellowship apart is its contrarian thesis: that for the most talented young people, the opportunity cost of attending college is too high. Fellows join a tight-knit community of builders and gain access to mentors from the Thiel network, including founders, investors, and scientists. The fellowship has no curriculum, no required milestones, and no equity stake — it is a pure bet on the individual.
Notable alumni include Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum), Austin Russell (Luminar Technologies, youngest self-made billionaire), Laura Deming (Longevity Fund), and Dylan Field (Figma). The fellowship has produced multiple unicorn founders and some of the most influential technologists of the past decade.
The fellowship provides substantial financial support along with an unparalleled network of mentors and peers.
The Thiel Fellowship is extremely competitive, typically receiving over 3,000 applications for 20-25 spots each year.
The Thiel Fellowship has an extraordinary track record of producing world-changing founders and technologists.
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