Thiel Fellowship
Scholarship Amount
About This Scholarship
The Thiel Fellowship, offered by the Thiel Foundation, is a prestigious award designed to support young visionaries. It encourages individuals to build innovative companies and pursue entrepreneurial ventures instead of following a traditional college path. This fellowship is ideal for those committed to creating impactful projects outside conventional academic routes.
Selected fellows will receive a substantial financial award of USD 200,000 over two years, along with other benefits designed to foster their projects and provide mentorship.
Key aspects considered for selection include:
• Innovation and originality of the project, demonstrating a fresh approach or groundbreaking idea.
• Entrepreneurial potential and leadership skills, indicating the ability to drive a venture forward.
• Commitment to building outside of traditional academic paths, showcasing a dedication to real-world development.
• Potential for real-world impact, highlighting how the project can bring significant positive change.
The application process for the Thiel Fellowship is open throughout the year, allowing aspiring entrepreneurs to apply at any time their project is ready.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Thiel Fellowship, an applicant must fulfill the following criteria:
• Be 22 years of age or younger at the time of application. This age limit ensures the fellowship targets young innovators at a pivotal stage of their development.
• Have a strong entrepreneurial idea or a startup already in progress. The fellowship seeks individuals with tangible projects they are passionate about developing and have already put effort into.
• Be ready to pursue an innovative project full-time rather than enrolling in college or university. This commitment to their venture and deviation from traditional academic paths is central to the fellowship's philosophy.
• Show passion, creativity, and leadership potential. These qualities are crucial for driving successful and impactful projects, as fellows are expected to be pioneers in their fields.
Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit the following documents as part of their application process:
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): A comprehensive resume detailing academic achievements, any relevant work experience, and any entrepreneurial endeavors or projects you have undertaken. This helps in understanding your background and capabilities.
• Project/Startup Proposal: A detailed outline of your entrepreneurial idea or existing startup. This should include its vision, specific goals, the problem it aims to solve, its potential impact, and the progress made so far.
• Personal Statement (Motivation and Vision): An essay explaining your motivations for pursuing the fellowship, your long-term vision for your project, and how the Thiel Fellowship would specifically help you achieve your goals and accelerate your venture.
• Recommendation Letters (optional but encouraged): Letters from mentors, advisors, professors, or other relevant individuals who can attest to your potential, creativity, leadership abilities, and commitment. While not mandatory, strong recommendations can significantly strengthen an application by providing external validation of your capabilities.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants can apply for the Thiel Fellowship by following these steps:
1. Access the Application: Begin by visiting the official website of the Thiel Fellowship and locating the application portal or apply link.
2. Register or Log In:
• If you are a new applicant, click on the 'Register' button and proceed to fill in all the required registration details to create your account.
• If you have previously registered, simply log in using your existing credentials, which may include your Gmail, mobile number, or email ID.
3. Initiate Application: Once you are successfully logged into the platform, navigate to and click on the ‘Apply’ button to commence filling out your fellowship application.
4. Complete and Submit: Carefully fill in all the necessary details requested in the application form. Ensure that you upload any required documents as specified in the application guidelines. After reviewing all information for accuracy and completeness, click the ‘Submit’ button to finalize and send in your application.