For Parents

“Being the parent of a Thiel Fellow is a wonderful adventure. It’s reassuring to know that Dale has an incredible community, validation for his hard work, a signal that people recognize, and financial security during these two years of pursuing his interests. I know he is learning constantly. I was impressed at the Fellows Retreat at the breadth and depth of experience and knowledge provided for these young people. As a mom, I was happy to see that workshops covered more than business development and included topics such as health, finances, stress, managing change, networking, team building, and communication. I was thrilled to meet all the fellows and to learn that they were getting information that would help them make the most of this incredible opportunity and develop important life skills for success in any endeavor.” –Lisa Nalbone

While it may not always seem like it, you know your teens better than anyone. You were there when they took their first steps, started to read, wrote their name, whizzed through algebra, coded their first website, and won the science competition. You know that they’re bright, passionate, and capable of just about anything they put their minds to.

You’ve maybe been astonished at their progress for years now. You have big dreams, and your child has even bigger dreams.

While college can be a good choice for some people, it is no guarantee of success.  The Thiel Fellowship offers something new and different — a new path that rewards the intense curiosity, passionate drive, and the vast potential for success that you know lies within. We want to reward those qualities — not by saddling them with student debt but by providing them with seed money and hands-on mentorship so they can act now to build their dreams.