This San Francisco Mansion is TheGlint, Not a Frat House.
Yesterday, a very disappointing article was written about TheGlint, entitled ‘This San Francisco Mansion Is Where Peter Thiel’s Genius Kids Party And Plot’. It’s disappointing because while much of it is accurate as the photos show, it’s inaccurate in what it describes TheGlint to be.
Yes, TheGlint is located in a mansion. Yes, TheGlint has more male members than females living in the space. Yes, it was the 21st birthday of two Thiel Fellows who were celebrating it with their friends and mentors. Yes, it turned out that a reporter from Business Insider was there due to some complicated scheduling issues and our trusting natures. Yet what she wrote about is absolutely not what TheGlint is about.
The truth is that TheGlint is a live-work community that accelerates the creation and creators of value through design, philosophy, the arts & sciences, technology and entrepreneurship. It aspires to shift the conception of heroism from historical warrior ideals to a new paradigm of creativity, collaboration and innovation. It is actually the polar opposite of a “frat house.”
It is easy for people to gloss over a beautiful idea or concept and see only what seems to be on the surface. We accept this and, truth is, the burden is upon us to prove to the world that we are much more than what the article painted TheGlint to be.
We talk about accelerating creation and creators of value through arts & sciences. Last night we were lucky to have Reichart Von Wolfsheild, host of invention USA to talk about his experiences as an entrepreneur and inventor. In it, he outlined some valuable lessons that shifted people’s thinking and perspective towards their own companies and products. Along side Reichart, David Asprey give a talk on bio-hacking, what it means to be healthier and using technology to hack the way your body works. This fascinated the entrepreneurs in the room because everyone wants to know how to feel good after only two hours of sleep.
While all these talks and events happen at TheGlint, the guests - who include designers, artists, entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists - enjoy the art we have in our space. We have an art gallery that we’re building with partners like GetArtUp and DesignersCouch. An art gallery that we want to make the home for digital art around the world because we feel it’s an art form that doesn’t have a physical place like traditional art.
The point being made here is that when someone from the press isn’t here pointing cameras and creating an out-of-context story line, great things are already happening at TheGlint, something which, by the way, just launched on December 1st. These are inspiring talks and events that aren’t one-dimensional, aren’t just about tech entrepreneurship and are curated in a creative, artistic, and positive environment.
Indeed we have Thiel Fellows at TheGlint, but while the article makes it seem like the lowest common denominator of a college experience, these young adults are brilliant and have conversations that many, including myself, can’t even believe. Whether you believe in what Peter Thiel is doing or not should not and cannot take away from the brilliance of these kids, who work hard every single day. But as we all know, people love to focus on the unguarded moments we have.
It’s well worth noting that TheGlint is not only comprised of Thiel Fellows. We have other entrepreneurs from other parts of the USA and internationally, all working on their vision, their dreams and a legacy that we hope will impact the world. This article wasn’t just a disservice to TheGlint and the global brand we’re building but, more importantly, to the entrepreneurs who are a part of it.
We understand your frustrations with and reactions to his article. We understand the comments regarding the lack of women living at TheGlint, which we’ve addressed here. But for the naysayers, for the people who love to tear others down at every chance they get, we invite you to keep doing what you’re doing. It’s exactly what we need to drive us to improve every day.
One last thing. We all have to pay the landlord. No one lives here for free, including the founders. In the upcoming weeks, TheGlint intends on releasing all of its financials to the public. We also intend on being far less naive in the future, which includes being careful about inviting over journalists who claim the best of intentions.
Thank You
TheGlint.
Yes, TheGlint is located in a mansion. Yes, TheGlint has more male members than females living in the space. Yes, it was the 21st birthday of two Thiel Fellows who were celebrating it with their friends and mentors. Yes, it turned out that a reporter from Business Insider was there due to some complicated scheduling issues and our trusting natures. Yet what she wrote about is absolutely not what TheGlint is about.
The truth is that TheGlint is a live-work community that accelerates the creation and creators of value through design, philosophy, the arts & sciences, technology and entrepreneurship. It aspires to shift the conception of heroism from historical warrior ideals to a new paradigm of creativity, collaboration and innovation. It is actually the polar opposite of a “frat house.”
It is easy for people to gloss over a beautiful idea or concept and see only what seems to be on the surface. We accept this and, truth is, the burden is upon us to prove to the world that we are much more than what the article painted TheGlint to be.
We talk about accelerating creation and creators of value through arts & sciences. Last night we were lucky to have Reichart Von Wolfsheild, host of invention USA to talk about his experiences as an entrepreneur and inventor. In it, he outlined some valuable lessons that shifted people’s thinking and perspective towards their own companies and products. Along side Reichart, David Asprey give a talk on bio-hacking, what it means to be healthier and using technology to hack the way your body works. This fascinated the entrepreneurs in the room because everyone wants to know how to feel good after only two hours of sleep.
While all these talks and events happen at TheGlint, the guests - who include designers, artists, entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists - enjoy the art we have in our space. We have an art gallery that we’re building with partners like GetArtUp and DesignersCouch. An art gallery that we want to make the home for digital art around the world because we feel it’s an art form that doesn’t have a physical place like traditional art.
The point being made here is that when someone from the press isn’t here pointing cameras and creating an out-of-context story line, great things are already happening at TheGlint, something which, by the way, just launched on December 1st. These are inspiring talks and events that aren’t one-dimensional, aren’t just about tech entrepreneurship and are curated in a creative, artistic, and positive environment.
Indeed we have Thiel Fellows at TheGlint, but while the article makes it seem like the lowest common denominator of a college experience, these young adults are brilliant and have conversations that many, including myself, can’t even believe. Whether you believe in what Peter Thiel is doing or not should not and cannot take away from the brilliance of these kids, who work hard every single day. But as we all know, people love to focus on the unguarded moments we have.
It’s well worth noting that TheGlint is not only comprised of Thiel Fellows. We have other entrepreneurs from other parts of the USA and internationally, all working on their vision, their dreams and a legacy that we hope will impact the world. This article wasn’t just a disservice to TheGlint and the global brand we’re building but, more importantly, to the entrepreneurs who are a part of it.
We understand your frustrations with and reactions to his article. We understand the comments regarding the lack of women living at TheGlint, which we’ve addressed here. But for the naysayers, for the people who love to tear others down at every chance they get, we invite you to keep doing what you’re doing. It’s exactly what we need to drive us to improve every day.
One last thing. We all have to pay the landlord. No one lives here for free, including the founders. In the upcoming weeks, TheGlint intends on releasing all of its financials to the public. We also intend on being far less naive in the future, which includes being careful about inviting over journalists who claim the best of intentions.
Thank You
TheGlint.
