Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
Many of tech's power-players are alumni of Peter Thiel's controversial fellowship, which pays entrepreneurs to drop out of college. See how they made their millions.
Many of tech's power-players are alumni of Peter Thiel's controversial fellowship, which pays entrepreneurs to drop out of college. See how they made their millions.
Samantha DelouyaJan 28, 2023, 20:04 IST
Peter ThielNeilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times
In 2011, Silicon Valley giant Peter Thiel created a fellowship that pays young entrepreneurs to drop out of college.
The program initially faced backlash, but the fellowship now counts many powerful young figures as alumni.
Advertisement
What is the Thiel Fellowship?
PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel speaks during a discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, in 2011.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The controversy
Getty / Chip Somodevilla
Advertisement
Vitalik Buterin
Vitalik Buterin founded Ethereum in 2013.John Phillips/ Getty images
Dylan Field
Courtesy of Dylan Field
Advertisement
Laura Deming
YouTube/Hello Tomorrow
Lucy Guo
Lucy Guo is the founder and CEO of Moment.Lucy Guo
Advertisement
Austin Russell
Luminar founder and CEO Austin RussellKimberly White / Stringer
Joshua Browder
Joshua Browder, founder, and CEO of DoNotPayDoNotPay
Advertisement
Ritesh Agarwal
Oyo CEO Ritesh AgarwalOyo
Robert Habermeier
Habermier had already cofounded Polkadot alongside another Ethereum cofounder, Gavin Wood, when he was accepted as a Thiel Fellow in 2018.
Polkadot is a web3 company, blockchain platform, and cryptocurrency. It is sometimes referred to as the "Ethereum killer," according to a recent report.
Polkadot's price has fallen significantly, but the cryptocurrency's market cap still hovers near $8 billion.