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1517 Fund Medici Grants

Global

by 1517 Fund

1517 Fund backs young builders and dropouts working on hard problems. Their Medici Grants provide small, fast grants while their fund invests in the most promising projects at larger scale.

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Funding

$1K grants + $50K–$1M investments

Duration

One-time grant; investments vary

Geography

Global

Eligibility

Primarily targets young builders, typically under 23, anywhere in the world. No degree or enrollment required — in fact, the fund is known for supporting those outside traditional education.

Application

Rolling

EntrepreneurshipDeep TechAI & Machine LearningOpen SourceAny Field

About This Fellowship

1517 Fund is a venture fund founded by Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson, both former leaders of the Thiel Fellowship. Named after the year Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses — challenging the established institution of the church — 1517 challenges the established institution of higher education by betting on young people who learn by doing rather than by attending college.

The Medici Grants are 1517's mechanism for providing fast, small-scale support to young builders. Grants of around $1,000 help recipients cover immediate costs — materials, travel, server fees, prototyping — so they can keep building. For projects that demonstrate exceptional promise, 1517 Fund can follow up with venture investments ranging from $50,000 to $1 million or more.

The fund has backed hundreds of young founders, many of whom were teenagers when they received their first grant. Portfolio companies span robotics, biotech, AI, developer tools, and consumer products. 1517 is especially known for finding talent that traditional institutions overlook — homeschoolers, community college students, self-taught programmers, and teenagers building in garages.

What You Get

1517 offers a two-tier system: quick Medici Grants for early validation, and larger venture investments for projects that demonstrate product-market fit or technical breakthrough.

  • Medici Grants of approximately $1,000, disbursed quickly with minimal paperwork
  • Follow-on venture investments of $50K–$1M for the most promising projects
  • No requirement to drop out of school, though the fund is known for supporting those who do
  • Access to 1517's community of young founders and their extensive mentor network
  • Invitations to 1517 retreats and events connecting builders across the portfolio
  • Ongoing support and advice from the 1517 team as your project evolves

Selection Process

The Medici Grant process is designed to be as lightweight as possible. The team wants to remove friction so young builders can focus on building.

  • Applications are short and can be submitted at any time (rolling basis)
  • The team looks for evidence of building — shipped projects, prototypes, GitHub repos, research output
  • Age and educational status matter less than what you have already created
  • Decisions on Medici Grants are typically made within days to weeks
  • For venture investments, the process involves more due diligence and may include multiple conversations

How to Apply

Reach out through the 1517 Fund website or connect with the team through their community channels. The fund is highly accessible and encourages direct outreach.

  • Visit 1517fund.com and use the application or contact form
  • Follow 1517 on Twitter/X — the team often discovers applicants through social media
  • Attend 1517 events or community meetups if available in your area
  • Share what you are building — demos, repos, and prototypes speak louder than essays
  • Referrals from existing 1517 community members are helpful but not required

Similar Fellowships

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EF

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Stipend + up to $250,000 investment

Visit 1517 Fund Medici Grants website

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