2E started as an experiment in 2023. The world was socially coming out of covid times and young people were hungry for meaningful experiences with their peers. So we asked, what if? What if we brought irrationally passionate teens together for a weekend of fun and geekery? What if we toured them around sci fi tech companies? What might happen later with their vision and future aspirations?
This experiment has blossomed into the team’s favorite program that we run. This isn’t to say that we don’t love our other programs, but 2E is unique, with the potential to be another genesis of creative clusters, like the early Thiel Fellowship days.
2Eers come in bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and come out even more so after befriending like minded peers. Our dance nerd getting everyone moving, our geek in medieval weaponry and armor teaching fencing, and we’ve noticed after camp, that energy doesn’t die, the embers smoke and flicker under each other’s oxygen. Campers have kept in touch across time zones and geographic boundaries, interned with our founders, and become grantees and founders with 1517.
One of our first campers moved to San Francisco after high school and has started working with startups. Another 2Eer joined one of our teams that got acquired by OpenAI. Before the age of 20 she has gone through a company acquisition and now works at the cutting edge of what tomorrow will bring.
Watching all of this unfold has been one of the most rewarding parts of running the camp each year — and we can’t wait to see what this year’s camp brings.
We’re hosting 2E again at Hidden Villa in the Bay Area, from the evening of Thursday, October 8th through the afternoon of Sunday, October 11th. As in years past, the camp is free to attend but we can’t cover transportation so you’ll need to arrange your own way to Los Altos Hills (about 30 minutes from SFO). We’re keeping the age range to teens who are 14 to 18 as of the first day of camp. Parents of minors will need to sign a notarized waiver. Any parents traveling are welcome to stay at hotels nearby.
So what actually happens at 2E? Visits to early-stage sci fi companies (some founded by near age peers!), surprise geeky workshops run by the teens, night hikes, stargazing, archery, games, s’mores…and plenty of time for building friendships.
Who makes a great camper? Teens who are irrationally passionate & eager to share their geekery, explorers at heart, endlessly curious, and who have a spirit of social spontaneity are encouraged to apply.
If you want a better sense of what 2E is actually like, read our post about the first one. If it makes you feel something, we’d love for you to apply by August 2nd. Campers will be selected by the end of August.
We’ll allow a few rolling applications after August 2nd, but spots fill up fast — so don’t wait!
Apply here! Questions? Email us at 2E@1517fund.com.
See you in October!