Draper University

We’ve just wrapped up our flagship residency program (S25). This summer, 77 founders from 22 countries stayed with us in San Mateo. Over five weeks, they lived, built, and survived together — learning from Silicon Valley legends who have shaped our current reality. To our S25 cohort—this one’s for you.  📹: @yadav_ridham

We are hiring a program manager to help us scale 👇

🔗 Learn more: linkedin.com/posts/aaliyah-…

I am hiring for the coolest, funnest job ever (speaking from experience, here). If you’re an operator and want to break into VC, reach out! Perks: free housing in Silicon Valley & traveling the world w me to meet global founders. (We support relocation ✨) (Link in replies)

And if you're a late bird 😂the good news is, you can still enjoy a 20% discount on your #consensusmiami2026 passes with code DRAPER20 [link to register: consensus.coindesk.com/register/?utm_…] We're inviting everyone in our network to the biggest industry gathering in the Americas by @CoinDesk @consensus2026

☀️We're bringing the Party to @consensus2026 🎉 As sponsors, @draper_u is inviting you to go all in with us in Miami. From the show floor to side events, join us where the industry gets deals done and lets loose after hours 💃 #meetthejudges Catch @ChrisJoannou__ at the #coindeskpitchfest Finale May 7th consensus.coindesk.com/pitchfest/

Great to have @thefriley (CFO at @OpenAI) in the house for @America250 alongside our very own @TimDraper , @Andytang , @JoeMontana , @stevewoz

250 years of American ingenuity and the future is in great hands 🇺🇸💡 We’re proud to announce the 10 winning teams of America’s Startup, part of the America Innovates initiative. These teams were selected from a highly competitive pool of student founders across the country. Thank you to our Investor Council @stevewoz, @joemontana, and @thefriley, and to @draper_u for hosting. Learn more: america250.org/news/america25…

loved doing this. such a cool group of founders from around the globe. first time i've helped guide founders from Uzbekistan, Brazil, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Egypt, and the US....all at the same time! thx for having me @draper_u @aalicbarker

What an AWESOME group. This was probably my favorite DUV dinner this year. More to come!

Our CEO @nico_laqua speaking to @draper_u founders tonight. Reminder that the startup ecosystem thrives on reciprocity. You're most qualified to help the person you used to be.

Has it been a week already?

VCs that joined pre-seed rounds this year👇 @paradigm @1752vc @dragonfly_xyz @Initialized @1kxnetwork @BanklessVC @WhiteStarCap @GSR_io @cbventures @FigmentCapital @FulgurVentures @flowdesk_co @SeliniCapital @DraperVC @mf__xyz @colosseum @socialgraphvc @frachtisvc

(PS — It was so fun, we actually forgot to do the whole song and dance of getting pics w/ good lighting. @aalicbarke's one job. Tyler Temple covered for us — classic.)

A quick word on why we partner w/ them vs others: We don't partner with just anyone. And that's on purpose. Our community is our lifeblood. We only work with companies we'd recommend to our own portfolio. Without hesitation. Fidelity Private Shares cleared that bar: → Flat rate pricing — no per-stakeholder gotchas → Onboarding that doesn't eat your COO's week → Customer service that actually responds → They don't punish you for raising (iykyk) If you're a founder evaluating cap table software, comment "intro" below, and our investment team will personally connect you with their team.

Last week, our firm had dinner with *actually cracked* founders + the team at @Fidelity Private Shares, hosted at Fogo de Chão. Huge shoutout to David Santana for being the best dinner buddy. 15 founders. 5 industries. $14M raised in total. Unlimited steak.

Jason Yeh (@jayyeh) at @draper_u today with the Hero Training Spring 2026 cohort. The frame that landed: "Investors at pre-seed aren't buying markets. They're buying you... And the 18 months you won't quit." 40 founders. A lot of decks are rewriting themselves tonight!

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@TimDraper The unfair advantage of this program isn't what gets taught in the classroom. It's the second-degree connections that open the next door, and the door after that. Week 1. Day 2. Already compounding.

Playbooks travel. You can read one on a flight. Networks don't. They're built in hallways, BBQs, and walking between offices in San Mateo. That's what today was. No slides. 74 founders meeting the ecosystem the way @TimDraper's been meeting it for 40 years.

Most accelerators teach you a playbook. Draper gives you a Rolodex. Today, the Hero Training cohort spent the afternoon with @aalicbarker mapping the actual wiring of Silicon Valley.