20 young bright minds forego academic study to participate in a two-year program.
The Thiel Foundation continues its commitment to innovation and disruption achieved by bright young minds, outside of academic studies, by announcing its 2024 class of Thiel Fellows. The latest cohort joins 270 alumni of the program that began in 2011.
The Fellowship gives each participant $100,000 and access to a valuable support network of tech founders, investors, scientists, and former fellows. The goal is for the 20 cohort members to go on to be successful like alumni who launched successful ventures that include Figma, Loom, Luminar, and others. When aggregated, startups graduating from the program are now worth billions of dollars.
To be eligible for the Thiel Fellowship the young innovative entrepreneurs agree to make their endeavor a full-time commitment whether it is a project, company, or idea. With the funds and support network, they can work “unencumbered by traditional academic constraints”.
“This year’s class understands the importance of the present moment. They reject the well-worn paths of red tape, digital distractions, and self-censorship,” said Alex Handy, director of the Thiel Fellowship. “By refusing to sit idle while others succumb to conformity’s paralysis, they’re positioned to finally deliver on the future.”
Those accepted into the 2024 Fellowship program represent a range of innovations such as Orchard Robotics which helps farmers improve crop production, Stream seeking to change crypto trading, and Rainmaker pioneering advanced cloud-seeding technology to combat drought.
The cohort members are drawn from across the United States, except three from Hong Kong, England, and Brazil.
Applications for the Thiel Foundation Fellowship program are open.
