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I'd rather see a new university which figures out a way to support founders starting startups AND grant them some kind of credential (in case it fails). Unfortunately much of the world is credential-based (especially Asian parents...), so being able to award a degree would make a difference in who could participate. Plus, if someone's startup fails, or he just realizes he'd rather do something other than startups, the credential makes getting a regular job much easier, preserving options. And of course immigration often depends on a degree, and using educational visas to get people into the USA in the first place would be a great hack.

I think a 5-6 year program to get a SB in tech entrepreneurship, where 1-2 years are spent doing smaller projects and some regular classes (as applied to those projects), and then 4 years in a co-op program with your startup and students from the first 1-2 years, would be ideal. Maybe even grant a SB/SM in 6-8 years.



Olin College is one pioneering example. However, the main problem with the startup education + credential approach is that the barriers to such a school offering an accredited credential are overwhelming.

However, imo traditional universities also support founders and grant them a credential. Students typically have a lot more free time than if they were employed (depending on their major). It's just that the student would also have to be incredibly resistant to peer pressure.


Olin College was amazing; I wish I'd been a year or two younger so I could have been part of the founding class.

They did backpedal a bit on the "free for everyone", unfortunately.




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