Fundraising Fox

Michael Gibson

Investor

Founder and General Partner at 1517

Colorado

Writes $50K – $400K checks · typically $250K

About

Michael Gibson, a former philosophy professor and long-time Thiel Fellowship operator, applies a humanities lens—prioritizing reasoning and character over credentials—to spot unconventional young technical talent before teams coalesce.

LinkedIn ↗X / Twitter ↗

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningClimate TechDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareHardwareSaaS

Experience

  1. 1517 FundFounder and General Partnercurrent2015 — presentSan Francisco
  2. The Thiel FoundationVice President for Grants2011 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
  3. Thiel Capital LLCPrincipal2010 — 2015San Francisco
  4. MIT Technology ReviewEditorial Assistant2006 — 2007

Education

  1. University of OxfordPhilosophy2005 — 2006
  2. University of ChicagoMaster's degree, Classics and Classical Languages2002 — 2003
  3. New York UniversityBachelor of Arts (BA)

Skills & more

Strategy3Public Speaking1Non-profits10Research7Social Media12Entrepreneurship33Data Analysis3Copywriting3Fundraising7Marketing Communications2Social Media Marketing5Blogging7
+5 moreSocial NetworkingProduct ManagementPublic RelationsVenture CapitalStart-ups

Languages Greek, Ancient (to 1453) · Latin

From Michael's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended University of Oxford745

Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockMichael MoritzFormer Partner at Sequoia Capital; Senior Adviser at Sequoia HeritageBrad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index VenturesJan HammerInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 739 more

Also attended University of Chicago273

Mark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesShardul ShahInvestor at Index VenturesSam BlackmanEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Clay FisherInvestor at Spark CapitalJonas CiplickasPrincipal at Scale Venture PartnersJulia Gonzalez SandersPartner and General Counsel at Crosslink Capital

+ 267 more

Also attended New York University298

Gabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystAndrea EchstenkamperVP of Marketing at HeavybitRami BranitzkyPartner at Sapphire VenturesZach WhiteInvestment Team at 8VCAnkita TiwariPrograms Manager at StartXUri LopatinInvestor at Khosla Ventures

+ 292 more

Shared employers

Also worked at The Thiel Foundation21

Sebastian CaliriInvestment Team at 8VCKevin WangCEO, FOSSA Inc. at OSS CapitalAndrew BrackinPartner at Gradient VenturesIan LeePrincipal at Signum CapitalDanielle StrachmanInvestor at NZVCJohn LuttigPartner at Founders Fund

+ 15 more

Also worked at Thiel Capital LLC13

James FitzgeraldManaging Partner at Valar Ventures LlcErin Ashley PorterfieldEmployee at Valar Ventures LlcMax SamuelPartner at SNÖ VenturesPhin UphamManaging Partner at Haymaker VenturesJack SelbyManaging Partner at AZ-VCBrian RowenPresident and Managing Partner at Fifth Down Capital

+ 7 more

Colleagues at 1517

Danielle
Cofounder and General Partner at 1517
Danielle Strachman
Investor at NZVC
Haylee
Operations Partner at 1517
Michael
Co-founder and General Partner at 1517
Nick
Partner at 1517
Nick Arnett
Partner at 1517
Zak
Partner at 1517
Zak Slayback
Partner at 1517

Network1

Danielle Strachman
Investor at NZVC

Investors connected to Michael in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.