When Peter Thiel identified the next bubble as one in higher education, it ignited a bit of controversy here on TechCrunch.
He told TechCrunch last year, “A true bubble is when something is overvalued and intensely believed. Education may be the only thing people still believe in in the United States. To question education is really dangerous. It is the absolute taboo. It’s like telling the world there’s no Santa Claus.”
He backed up his beliefs with a provocative fellowship program meant to lure teenagers to drop out of college. Called 20 Under 20, a select handful of brilliant, ambitious young people get $100,000 to ideally move to the San Francisco Bay Area to work on whatever they want for two years. They are including the youngest person to have ever created nuclear fusion, teens that are working on medical imaging, mobile apps and solutions to alleviate global poverty and inequality.
Now CNBC is taking a look at the program with a new documentary that examines who applies for these fellowships, why they consider them and how they make it from applicant to fellow. Called “20 Under 20: Transforming Tomorrow,” the documentary looks inside The Thiel Foundation and follows the journey of the 2012 application process and the personal stories of many of the teens who apply. The trailer is here.
They’re holding an exclusive preview of the documentary at the Metreon next Wednesday and TechCrunch has tickets for loyal San Francisco Bay Area readers! A private reception will follow the screening.
Tickets are first come, first serve, so get clicking! The show ultimately airs on Aug. 13 and 14 at 10pm ET/PT.