Topics:

(00:00:00 ) - Intro

(00:03:46 ) - Deep dive into the Thiel Fellowship

(00:07:04 ) - Success stories and impact of Thiel Fellows

(00:11:04 ) - Challenges and controversies

(00:16:01 ) - Evolution and future of fellowship programs

(00:18:39 ) - Early days of building the Thiel Fellowship

(00:23:36 ) - Traits of a Thiel Fellow

(00:33:24 ) - Nurturing genius

(00:39:57 ) - Screen time & children

(00:40:30 ) - Big screens vs. small screens

(00:43:12 ) - Quality time and engaging activities

(00:45:42 ) - Emotional depth and resilience in young founders

(00:54:02 ) - The traits of innovators

(01:04:08 ) - The journey of 1517 Fund

(01:10:05 ) - Join the 1517 community

Links:

Rolling Fun — https://www.rolling.fun

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We discuss:

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  The founding story and long-term vision behind the Thiel Fellowship

  
  


• 
  

  Common traits among exceptional young founders, including curiosity, hyper fluency, and “dog on a leash” energy

  
  


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  Lessons from supporting early pioneers like Vitalik Buterin, Dylan Field, and Laura Deming.

  
  


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  How 1517 Fund backs young builders and “Wily weirdos” working on sci-fi-level ideas

  
  


• 
  

  Danielle’s philosophy on education, parenting, and fostering genius in children

  
  

Quotes from Danielle:

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  “We weren’t looking for startup founders—we were looking for people on a mission.”

  
  


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  “Dog-on-a-leash energy—that’s what we look for. We’re here to cut the leash.”

  
  


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  “Hyperfluency is the ability to geek out with geeks, and still explain your work to your grandma at Thanksgiving.”

  
  


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  “These people are kind of mutants—they don’t fit in typical systems.”

  
  


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  “All kids under five are geniuses. The system just squashes it out of them.”

  
  


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  “The most shocking thing? People publicly attacked the Fellows. Not just the program—the people. Teenagers.”

  
  


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  “Crazy, crazy awesome—we can’t tell if they’re insane or brilliant, and it’ll take years to find out.”

  
  


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  “Big screens good, small screens bad.”

  
  


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  “In the future, I want to be funding 11-year-olds. The world won’t be ready, but I will be.”

  
  


• 
  

  “We just want to talk to wily weirdos who want to be around other wily weirdos.”