Michael Gibson

Michael Gibson is the Founder and General Partner at 1517 Fund, an early-stage venture capital firm based in the Silicon Valley area of the United States. Prior to establishing his current investment vehicle, he worked closely with the Thiel Fellowship, where he helped identify and financially support young entrepreneurs who were bypassing traditional higher education. At 1517 Fund, Gibson directs capital allocations across the technology, computer science, physics, and biotechnology sectors, specifically targeting startups that challenge established institutional norms. He is also the author of the book Paper Belt on Fire, a published critique of conventional credentialing systems, and has engaged with international academic institutions like Politecnico di Milano and the mentorship network Lead The Future. Gibson currently focuses on backing unconventional founders operating outside traditional academic pathways to drive applied scientific and macroeconomic innovation forward.