# Thiel Fellowship Under 20

$100,000 grant over 2 years to skip college and build a startup. Past fellows have founded companies worth billions. Extremely prestigious for entrepreneurial students.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Thiel Foundation |
| Category | business |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grade 12 |
| Format | Hybrid (in person + online) |
| Location | San Francisco |
| Apply | https://thielfellowship.org/ |

## About this program

The **Thiel Fellowship Under 20** by the **Thiel Foundation** is an elite **business program** for exceptionally driven young entrepreneurs. Instead of following the traditional college path, fellows receive a $100,000 grant over two years to build a startup in fields like **entrepreneurship**, **finance**, technology, **marketing**, and more. Known worldwide for its rigor and selectivity, this fellowship has supported founders whose companies have gone on to reach multi-billion-dollar valuations. High school students and recent graduates who are serious about building something real can use this as a launchpad into the startup world.

Through the fellowship, students gain hands-on experience far beyond a typical high school or college business class. Fellows work full-time on their ideas while accessing world-class mentorship from experienced founders, investors, and industry leaders. You’ll sharpen critical **leadership** skills, learn how to pitch investors, manage a team, handle early **finance** decisions, and test real products and **marketing** strategies. The program also offers access to a powerful alumni network, events, and introductions that can help accelerate your startup’s growth and expose you to cutting-edge ideas.

For ambitious 17–20-year-olds (including advanced **high school** seniors and recent graduates), the Thiel Fellowship can transform your resume and future opportunities. Even if you never attend college, the experience demonstrates initiative, problem-solving, and real-world impact—qualities that stand out to future collaborators, employers, and potential investors. You’ll build a portfolio of tangible work: a launched product, a growing user base, or a validated business model, all of which show far more than test scores or grades.

Students who should consider applying are those already working on a serious project or startup and who are willing to commit fully to building it. If you’re the kind of **high school** student who prefers building, experimenting, and leading over sitting in lectures, the **Thiel Fellowship Under 20** stands out as a rare opportunity to skip the traditional path and directly pursue bold **entrepreneurship** with meaningful financial and mentorship support.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Thiel Fellowship Under 20 cost?

Thiel Fellowship Under 20 is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for Thiel Fellowship Under 20?

Thiel Fellowship Under 20 is open to high school seniors. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Thiel Fellowship Under 20 online or in person?

Thiel Fellowship Under 20 is a hybrid program with both online and in-person components (in-person portions in San Francisco).

### How do I apply to Thiel Fellowship Under 20?

Apply directly through Thiel Foundation's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-04.
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