Silicon Valley’s College Dropouts Celebrate Their Own Graduation Ceremony

On May 10, hundreds of founders will converge at San Francisco’s Marina Theatre for an unconventional graduation ceremony dubbed "Dropout Graduation." This event, organized by Ali Debow and Cory Levy, celebrates those who chose to leave formal education in favor of pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. While the ceremony will include many traditional elements like diplomas, caps and gowns, photographs, and keynote speeches, it notably lacks graduates from any accredited university. Instead, attendees are part of the "Dropout Class of 2025." For Debow and Levy, this event is more than just a gimmick; it's deeply personal. Debow, a former NYU student, dropped out in 2024 after being selected for the Thiel Fellowship, a program that awards $100,000 to promising young entrepreneurs and requires them to leave college. She used the fellowship to develop Swsh, a photo-sharing startup. Levy, on the other hand, interned at several prominent tech firms during high school and decided to drop out of the University of Illinois after just one year to focus on building social app startups. He now heads Z Fellows, a one-week accelerator providing $10,000 to technical founders of all ages, including high school students. Levy noted that the community of dropouts has grown significantly since the Thiel Fellowship's inception over a decade ago. He observed, “At a big group dinner of 15 or 20 people, we'll look around the table, and no one has a college degree.” This trend reflects a broader shift in how Silicon Valley values practical experience and innovation over traditional academic credentials. The genesis of "Dropout Graduation" was rather spontaneous. Debow and Levy created a Google Doc, sent out an invite, and posted it on X (formerly known as Twitter). Within days, hundreds of eager entrepreneurs signed up, transforming what began as a light-hearted idea into a significant event. Debow emphasized the goal of the ceremony: “We just want it to be super high quality, really determined, awesome founders who didn’t find the highest value of their time in school for what they wanted to build. And so they wanted to go into the real world and build something.” This event resonates with a well-established tradition in Silicon Valley. Legends like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates are often celebrated for their entrepreneurial achievements despite dropping out of college. Now, larger tech companies are starting to recognize this trend. For example, Palantir, a tech giant specializing in data analysis, recently launched the Meritocracy Fellowship, an internship designed to attract recent high school graduates directly into tech roles, bypassing college altogether. This shift underscores the growing belief that practical experience and hands-on learning can often be more valuable than a conventional degree, especially for those with a strong drive to innovate and create. The "Dropout Graduation" ceremony will feature a range of activities typically associated with traditional graduations, including a highly anticipated keynote speech by someone who, like the attendees, never completed college. The identity of this speaker remains a closely guarded secret, adding an element of intrigue to the event. The event's organizers and participants are part of a growing movement that challenges the traditional notion of higher education's necessity for success in the tech industry. By celebrating and empowering entrepreneurs who eschew college, Debow and Levy hope to foster a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem. They believe that the drive, determination, and real-world experience of these individuals can often lead to greater innovations and more impactful businesses than a traditional academic path. Industry insiders have praised the initiative, noting its potential to highlight alternative pathways to tech success. The rise of programs like the Thiel Fellowship and Palantir’s Meritocracy Fellowship demonstrates that there is a demand for these unconventional approaches. Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of hiring based on skills and potential rather than degrees alone, which could lead to a more merit-based and dynamic job market in the tech sector. Z Fellows, run by Levy, is a prime example of this new approach. The accelerator provides young founders with the resources and support they need to turn their ideas into viable businesses, regardless of their educational background. Similarly, Debow's journey with the Thiel Fellowship and Swsh showcases how early-stage funding and mentorship can propel budding entrepreneurs to achieve significant milestones without the need for a college education. In summary, "Dropout Graduation" is not just a ceremonial event; it is a symbol of the evolving landscape in the tech industry, where practical experience and innovative spirit are increasingly valued over formal degrees. The success of this event and similar initiatives could herald a new era of diversity and inclusivity in tech, opening doors for a broader range of talented individuals to contribute to and shape the future of technology.