This is a subscriber-only article. Join Entrepreneur+ today for access

Learn More

Already have an account?

Sign in
Entrepreneur Plus - Short White
For Subscribers

Peter Thiel on What You Can't Learn in College The venture capitalist and co-founder of PayPal answers questions about his initiative to back the business dreams of select teen entrepreneurs willing to put their educations on hold.

By Jennifer Wang

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In the startup universe, college can be a distraction. Just ask Peter Thiel, co-founder and former CEO of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook.

At the end of May, Thiel announced the first "20 Under 20" Thiel Fellows: Out of more than 400 applicants, he picked two dozen of the best (accepting four more than originally planned) to receive a $100,000 grant, access to a network of about a hundred high-profile mentors and two full years to begin turning their business hopes into reality.

There's just one condition: You can't be enrolled in college at the same time.