Danielle Strachman of 1517 Fund on going from Educating to Investing in Dropouts and working with Peter Thiel

In this episode of Money Moves, Neil interviews Danielle Strachman, co-founder of 1517 Fund and a trailblazer in venture capital, to explore her journey from founding a charter school to launching a venture firm rooted in supporting nontraditional entrepreneurs. 

Danielle shares the story and excitement behind her successful investments, including Luminar Technologies and Loom, as well as her experience with Peter Thiel’s fellowship program, which inspired 1517’s focus on dropout founders and frontier tech. 

Danielle discusses the challenges and rewards of raising venture capital funds, adapting to market shifts such as the downturn in 2008, and fostering innovation outside traditional academic and corporate systems. Danielle’s candid insights on team dynamics, founder resilience, and the importance of personal motivation make this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating the startup ecosystem.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• The origins of 1517 Fund and its mission to support dropout founders and frontier tech

• Key lessons learned from early investments in companies like Luminar Technologies and Loom

• The journey from starting a charter school, to supporting the Thiel Fellowship and then on to starting 1517

• Challenges in raising venture capital for young, unproven founders

• The importance of founder motivation, wonder, and team dynamics in building scalable businesses

Connect with Danielle Strachman:

Danielle Strachman - San Francisco Bay Area | Professional Profile | LinkedIn