Imagine a distilled crash course of Silicon Valley and entrepreneurship, taught by the greats. You walk inside to be greeted by intricate yet colorful murals and even brighter people. One minute you're talking to a man who traveled from Moscow building a startup help improve the experience immigration and the next minute you're meeting an ex-NFL player and Draper Alumni who started with 0 knowledge of code nor business to now rocking a 500 Startups-backed company. Also, the staff are some of the nicest and coolest people I've met. Min, Juan, Rob and the crew really help you feel at home while still getting you to develop the entrepreneur's grit. Oh and the best part?! It's in the center of the San Mateo! That means: - instant access to great food and drinks (Night Life's Great) - cal-train just a few blocks away - 15-25 min away from Palo Alto or SF If you're interested in the art of building a Startups and connecting to a community of extraordinary people, Draper University would definitely be a cool place to check out. read more

Draper University - Passionate Culture. Check ;) - Colleges & Universities Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place is a hub for entrepreneurs and innovation. It is really well run, and the employees are great. Formerly a hotel, Draper University (DU) is now home to a school and training ground for those who seek to take their entrepreneurial experiences to the next level. I would recommend checking out this iconic spot in San Mateo! read more

Draper University - Colleges & Universities Near Me - San Mateo, California

An amazing community that promotes creativity, innovation, and curiosity. Draper U brings in serveral big-name speakers like Michelle Phan Co-founder of ipsy, Jay Fulcher CEO of Zenefits, and Sam Zaid CEO of Getaround. Not only does this give the entrepreneurs insight into the Silicon Valley startup mindset but it allows them to network. Besides big name speakers, Draper U offers mentoring, leadership activities, retreats, field trips, and more. All of these events lead up to Pitch Day where all the students get to pitch to 80+ VC investors. Draper U in in the heart of San Mateo next to the cal train station (to SF) and plenty of restaurants, cafes, and more. read more

September 16th 2018. The day my life changed. Two months prior to this my life was comprised of caddying in the morning and afternoon and driving Door Dash until midnight. Every single day. 16-20 hour days. I threw my whole life into having the opportunity to head to Silicon Valley at 19 to explore my entrepreneurial dreams. And I never looked back. I attended Draper University's Fall 2018 Hero Training program and everything changed. I have been able to achieve, participate in, and do things out here that wouldn't be possible anywhere else in the world. It has been the most incredible experience I have ever been a part of. The relationships I've made, the things I learned, and the experiences I had are unforgettable and life changing. I took a risk and made it happen. If you are interested in hearing more about my experience, have any questions, or would like to connect feel free to reach out. Be phenomenal! read more

I graduated in DU 2016 Summer. Like others already said this program changed my life by showing us what is future technology, startup skill, exclusive training and most importantly what is your nature and Desinity. To keep review short, I will just list the pros and cons by list: Prons: About future not past. You will read sci-fi, cutting edge technology and get witness how early stage startup grow from the very beginning. Very diverse and strong network. No matter in U.S, China or even Africa. Tim, Andy and other staff or alumni always willing to help you and let you use the school's brand to boost change the world. Good insider knowledge from DFJ found or Tim himself. It's not only play some stupid game or something they experience and think it's very important. Quick improving classes by feedbacks. Always something new and it's repulation is going up. Cons: Not much. But DU is more for early stage people (especially young student) or your project is the crazy one. It's season is more personal than practical. If you are thinking get funding or looking method to growth a market fit product. You may want to try other accelerators first. It claim to replace the MBA. But it's still not so solid and it's much shorter. You may still consider to get some solid background instead just attending DU unless you are sure you want to enter startup world. (Fortunately, I heard from Alumni news they works with some University for credit.) Summer program is crowding than Spring and Fall. It decreases the chance to ask directly question to Tim but hearing some young barging their team points during the break. Genally Speaking. I will highly recommend people apply. Before I apply, I think it's more like a bootcamp. But soon I found that Tim, Andy and other staff really put a lot of effort to make the good education for startup people. You will more like accept by the bug family than just attending a class. read more

I stayed here as part of BoostVC accelerator program. I can tell you that location is GREAT! The lounge is super cool if you want to work or play a quick game of Catan with your friends. Having tons of super smart people working, developing and deploying stuff all around you will always make you push yourself harder. Plus they have a pool! More importantly three big bbq stations. In our program, it really helps when everyone gathers on a nice Sunday evening to eat, exchange ideas and give ourselves a pat on the back before going back to work. Draper U mentors are great, well connected and they know what they are talking about. read more

Draper University helped my company increase evaluation from $60k to 3M in 4 months. I met almost best lifetime friends and mentors I can get on earth from this school, and i got opportunities to work with the best VCs, attorneys and famous entrepreneurs in silicon valley and industry. I came here with no team, no product, no connections, no leadership skills, and now I am confident to build a world class empire with best people on the planet. I learnt how to build a company and I did it the way they taught me, it worked. And I got lots of respect as a founder and CEO by coming here. It is a place to make you a successful CEO if you have the desire to be. read more

DU changed my life - from aspiring, wide-eyed thinker to active, get-stuff-done entrepreneur. This school is not your normal by-the-books, study-late-for-exams institution - and rightfully so. After decades of learning to get straight A's and never make a mistake, DU helped me understand a few things about business (and life): - That it's ok to fail and try again. - Taking the unconventional route is often faster and more fun. - You'll never have all of the answers. Embrace uncertainty. I went to a 4-year college, and I loved every bit of it. I was in clubs, fraternities, bands, studied abroad, etc. So why did I need further education? Well there's one thing that I doubt any 4-year institution will teach, but DU does: to think different and to think big. I come from a sleepy neighborhood in suburbia California, and now I'm traveling the world for my business. DU might not be for everybody, but I guarantee you that it will drown you in new ways of thinking and teach you how to walk on water. read more

Cool place! Good vibes and atmosphere there! Must apply if you wanna getyour business successful!

Draper University Summer 2016 Graduate DU immerses you in the world of entrepreneurship and delves deep into every aspect of the startup game. This grows any company and entrepreneur at any stage into a better and more prepared entity unlike any other entrepreneurial program out there. The best thing about the program is that it builds and transforms the entrepreneurs themselves. The program is rigorous and challenging. You will be pushed past your limits; forced into seeing exactly who you are, what your strengths, weaknesses and needs are. Your company will be criticized and improved upon from tons of people with very diverse backgrounds. You will meet lifelong friends, superior mentors, unimaginable opportunities and a "you" that you didn't know existed. You will leave DU ready to start a business that changes the world. read more

No matter how innovative mind you have or a creative person you are or an entrepreneurial idea you get. They only look for student from age 18 to 26. If you are "slightly" out of this range, their website says "you should still apply and let them know why an exception should be made 4u"?! Well, do really wish your program is special though~ read more

Super cool space. Love the tesla converted front desk and open work space. The dorms are especially nice and clean. There's a pool, a gym, friendly and brilliant people, and I love how the walls are whiteboards. The biggest plus is probably that it's smack in the middle of downtown San Mateo!! The food is good, the night life is good, and it's all just a few steps away! read more

I graduated from Draper Universities Fall 2014 cohort. I received numerous requests from family, friends, and potential future students about my time at Draper, and I wanted to write an all-encompassing review of my Draper experience and the general thoughts of my peers. Application: The application process itself was the first hint that Draper University is a unique experience. There is really no secret here, just be yourself. They recommend being between the ages of 18-28, but my cohort included a few individuals who were slightly older. All of peers were truly passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and had a spark in their eye to do something big. The key being successful at anything is to do something you're passionate about. In my opinion, it's critically important you tell them what your passions are and why. If you don't have a business yet, or have a very rudimentary idea of what you want to do, don't worry. Almost every single person in my cohort changed his or her business idea multiple times (this is to be expected!). VC's will tell you they invest in people not ideas. Draper University is no different. Housing: Tim bought the old Benjamin Franklin Hotel, which lies in the heart of downtown San Mateo. The building itself can use some renovation, but overall it's a great place to work. All of the walls are whiteboards, which makes it incredibly easy to brainstorm and collaborate on projects. There are also a few office spaces, a lounge, and of course the bean bag room. Overall I was very pleased with the living conditions. The rooms are standard singles, and you can choose to either have your own room or share it one with a roommate (bunk beds). I chose a shared room and I was happy I did. You really don't spend much time in the room itself (they keep you very busy), and when you are in the room its with another entrepreneur with very similar interests. There were very little complaints from my cohort in regard to housing. The building is connected to the restaurant Three, which caters breakfast to all the students each morning at 9am. It's also a good place to grab lunch/dinner or drinks when you're not in session. The food is wonderful, and there were enough options that nobody had any major complaints throughout the program. One of the biggest complaints students did have was the lack of a kitchen. There is a BBQ outside near the pool, and a microwave/fridge in the lounge, but don't plan on making your own meals very often. Although there are lots of restaurants and shops near the hotel, be prepared to spend a little extra money having to eat out every day. Okay, now for the actual program itself. I can't dive into a lot of the specifics because there is a lot that should to be kept secret as to not ruin the experience for future cohorts. For students interested in attending, all I can really say is do it. I grew up in the Silicon Valley and have been studying business since I was about 10 years old. I left college because the senior business courses I was dropping in on were not challenging me enough and I felt like I would get a better education on my own running startups. Needless to say, I was skeptical of attending a school with the name "Draper University of Heroes". But something told me to just do it. I trusted my gut, went, and it's one of the best decisions I have ever made. Draper University brings in top speakers in every field imaginable, and has them speak to you for an hour and share what they have learned through their own successes and failures. You get to network and talk to the best researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs in every field, which for me alone justified the cost. With Tim investing in over 1000 businesses, he knows what makes a business successful and the whole curriculum is designed to come together in the end and give you an incredibly well rounded knowledge of entrepreneurship that you wont find in any business or MBA program. It's not accredited, and not known well enough yet to speak volume on a resume, but that shouldn't matter. You will walk away with a network and new knowledge base that is invaluable to your future success. The other huge take away is the peers in your cohort. Everyone in the program went in trying to start this huge business, get funding, and become super successful. I'm not saying that this isn't a good goal to have, but what you should really focus on is getting to know and absorbing everything you can from the people around you. After living with each other day in day out for weeks **plus survival week** I can truly say that I walked away with friends I will have for life. Not just because we spent so much time together, but also because each one of us has the same passion for entrepreneurship and making the world a better place. You put a bunch of visionaries and ENTP/ENTJ personalities in a room together great thing happen. And Draper University is the breeding ground for those great things. Message me for more! read more

A great place to find people who are changing the world for the better. Amazing place!

Great program and an awesome place to visit - highly recommend to anyone interested in exploring his / her entrepreneurial aspirations!!

Awesome place and program for entrepreneurs. DU is providing the startup ecosystem with unforgettable experience.

Great program. Its a lot like many other educational experiences, You simply get out what you put in. In order to increase your chances of getting in, Be sure to put my name down as someone that referred you. (Steven Osborn) Always happy to help. read more

You'll have a very hard time finding a place that is more plugged into Silicon Valley in a multi-faceted and exciting way. Each day at DU is packed with really great speakers and workshops that cover a wide berth of subjects from personal development, leadership, CAD, coding, sales, growth strategy, product development, customer outreach, capital raising, financial statements-all things that a modern entrepreneur should at least get exposure to. All of that comes with great networking opportunities too, of course. After my first session, the amount of great people I know in every corner of the world is unbelievable- and we all want to see each other succeed and change the world. read more

Draper is AWESOME! It's been almost a year since I graduated but I still miss that place every single day. I learned a lot I become a new person a better person. I wish everyone could spend sometime at DU and learn as much as I did read more

Draper University is quite an experience. I believe that attending this program is one of the best ways to get introduced in Silicon Valley, you will explore this part of California hand in hand with some of the most respectable names in the space and many more like-minded individuals. I can guarantee it's an unforgettable experience, but don't get too cozy! It's a lot of hard work too. I recommend the program to anyone who dreams of making it big here! You can get awesome relationships, and a very fast paced learning experience to be in tune with SV's culture and state of mind :) If you really pay attention to the courses and interact as much as you can, I'd say you can easily learn in 2 months what you would learn in 1 to 2 years. read more

Such a wonderful place with great people all around! Employees are always willing to help and the environment seems bright and lively. Seems like a great place to stimulate creativity and work! read more

Many people in the Bay Area don't know Draper U and Hero City exist, but they absolutely should. It's a phenomenal place to meet driven entrepreneurs and successful business people. It's centrally located in the peninsula and provides a cozy working space and fun environment. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Check them out! read more

Draper University is a great network of skillful and talanted entrepreneurs. Surrounding yourself with the best players in the world is a must for becoming a successful entrepreneur and Draper Univesity gives you exactly that value. read more

Top notch program and would highly recommend. Great for Blockchain related stuff. Also good for chatbots, AI, and VR/AR. Really nice working space and alot of energy. Staff are also great! read more

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER! I can't put into words the amazing transformation that happens when you go through this entrepreneurial program at Draper University ! My life will forever be changed for the BETTER because of this. Thank you Tim Draper for creating a world for the misfits, the risk takers and those who refuse to accept the societal norm. Because of DraperU I've learned that every single one of us as SO much to offer. We would never know that about ourselves if we're always limiting ourselves to the same day to day routine. Stepping outside of your comfort zone and experiencing new things ALL THE time, knowing that FAILING at things is okay, because without it...how would we learn?... This stuff is what sets us up to having a life with no regrets. This is what makes you smile every morning and throughout your day because you whole-heartedly know you're doing everything you can for what you want most out of life. Thank you, I love you Draper University. read more

Great space to expand your next big idea. The staff works hard to street you in the right direction and prep your pitch for pitch day.