| Type | Fellowships |
|---|---|
| Organisation | The Thiel Foundation |
| Field | Founders and entrepreneurs, Software engineers and Technology builders |
| Open to | Global |
| Career stage | Early and Founder |
| Cost | Free to apply. No fee appears on the programme's own pages; this is an absence of a fee rather than a quoted statement. |
| Cycle | Rolling |
| Deadline | No - we accept applications year round. If you're working on something cool, apply now. |
| Selection | Open application |
| Evidence | Verified 17 September 2026. 8 verbatim quotes from the programme's own pages are held on file. |
What this is
Thiel Fellowship is a fellowships run by The Thiel Foundation. It is aimed at founders and entrepreneurs, software engineers and technology builders. Open to global. Career stage: early and founder. Free to apply. No fee appears on the programme's own pages; this is an absence of a fee rather than a quoted statement.
Eligibility
The official FAQ states 'Anyone aged 22 or younger (and without a university degree) is eligible to apply.' Applicants may be in school when they apply but must drop out to accept; anyone who has already received an undergraduate or graduate university degree is ineligible. No team is needed - 'we review and accept applicants as individuals' - although applicants may indicate eligible cofounders. There is no geography requirement and Fellows are based all over the world. An incorporated company is not required, but at a minimum applicants must 'demonstrate meaningful progress toward a concrete vision'. The Fellowship is not restricted to software - programmers, nonprofit founders, consumer-product, media and hardware builders have all been funded.
How you apply
Applications are made through the Thiel Fellowship online application form at thielfellowship.my.site.com, which asks for personal details, date of birth, country of residence, educational status, what the applicant is working on now, industry, a project/company link, an optional deck or supporting materials, and a set of open-ended questions (including 'What is the most important problem facing your field?' and 'How do you feel about money?'). There is no stated deadline: the FAQ answers 'Is there an application deadline?' with 'No - we accept applications year round.' Award decisions are made by the Thiel Foundation rather than in a fixed annual cycle.
When it closes
Rolling: applications are accepted continuously, or per event, rather than in one window.
What you receive
Fellows receive a USD 250,000 grant paid out over a two-year programme, and the Thiel Foundation explicitly takes no equity: 'Fellows receive $250,000, spread out over two years. We do not take equity in your company.' Fellows also get access to the Thiel Foundation's network of founders, investors and scientists, introductions to investors, partners and prospective customers in Silicon Valley and beyond, and an alumni network. Fellows are not required to relocate to San Francisco. No cohort size is published.
How competitive it is
Selection type: open application.