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On May 10, a unique gathering of hundreds of founders is set to take place at the picturesque Marina Theatre in San Francisco. This event, which some might describe as a commencement ceremony, is unlike any traditional graduation. The participants, identified as the 'Dropout Class of 2025,' are not your usual graduates. As Ali Debow, one of the event's organizers, aptly noted, attendees might associate themselves with esteemed programs like Y Combinator or the Thiel Fellowship, but they will not be flaunting any conventional degrees from universities.

The concept of 'Dropout Graduation' mirrors the traditional graduation experience in several ways. It includes diplomas, caps and gowns, and even a ceremonial class photo taken in front of the iconic Palace of Fine Arts. However, theres one significant difference: none of the participants are actual graduates of any university.

For Debow and her co-organizer, Cory Levy, the 'Dropout Graduation' holds deep personal significance. Debow, who left New York University in 2024, made the bold decision to accept the renowned Thiel Fellowship. This prestigious program not only provides its participants with $100,000 but also famously requires them to abandon their college education to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Debow is now focused on building Swsh, a photo-sharing startup, alongside a talented cohort that includes rising entrepreneurs like those behind Mercor, an AI recruiting startup that claims to be the fastest-growing company globally.

On the other hand, Cory Levy, who gained invaluable experience interning at prominent venture capital firms such as Founders Fund, Union Square Ventures, and TechStars while still in high school, left the University of Illinois after just one year. He ventured into launching social app startups and now leads Z Fellows, an innovative one-week accelerator program that provides technical founders, including high school students, with $10,000 in funding. Notably, Debow was also a participant in the Z Fellows program.

Levy reflects on the evolution of the dropout community since he left college over a decade ago, noting, When I dropped out, the Thiel Fellowship had just begun. Fast forward to today, and the dropout community is thriving. In a gathering of 15 or 20 people, it's remarkable to realize that no one around the table holds a college degree.

The idea for the 'Dropout Graduation' was born spontaneously one weekend in late March when Debow and Levy decided to create a Google Doc, share an invite link, and post it on X. What they thought might be a humorous gesture quickly gained momentum, with hundreds of enthusiastic sign-ups pouring in.

Debow expressed the core mission behind the event, stating, We want it to be a high-quality experience for truly dedicated and outstanding founders who found that the traditional school system didnt align with their aspirations. They wanted to step into the real world to build something meaningful.

This creative initiative resonates deeply within Silicon Valley, where dropping out of college has long been celebrated as a mark of innovation and boldness, a legacy left by influential figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. Interestingly, large tech companies have begun to recognize this trend. For example, Palantir Technologies recently introduced its Meritocracy Fellowship, a program aimed at attracting recent high school graduates to pursue full-time positions in technology rather than opting for college.

In addition to the customary graduation elements, attendees of the 'Dropout Graduation' can look forward to an exciting keynote address. While Debow remained tight-lipped about the identity of the commencement speaker, she hinted that the individual also shares the common trait of never having graduated from college, ensuring that the event remains true to its roots.