At first I was prepared to nod my head re: terms feeling a little exploitative. Then I traced my own path, and I think doing so publicly might help some people

At first I was prepared to nod my head re: terms feeling a little exploitative. Then I traced my own path, and I think doing so publicly might help some people understand what you're trying to do. I started graduate school in 2010 with the promise of "being educated for free" and was massively disappointed when I realized a good chunk of STEM graduate programs exploit well-intentioned lower to middle class students without safety nets for labor with the dangling promise of higher employability down the line. I quickly dropped out to try my hand at my first company. This is where I started imagining Pioneer could seem exploitative. Reflecting, if Pioneer had existed I would have been very likely to apply -- potentially giving up some percentage of my future potential that I couldn't quite understand -- for a few thousand dollars in the process. I was desperately broke at that point in my life, though I had been coding since I was eight (was 22 in 2010). I had many ideas and projects I was working on. I had zero "signals" for future success -- no awards, a degree from a Canadian school unknown for software, nothing -- just a desire to learn and build. It's 2018. That's eight years -- the time frame we're all talking about here re: Pioneer equity. Through a tremendous amount of luck, happenstance and many highs and lows, I'm now happily the founder of an early stage startup in San Francisco. There's still a lot of work ahead of us, but I wake up every morning thrilled and thankful to have the opportunities I have. If Pioneer had existed in 2010 and I had found the good fortune to be accepted, they'd own part of my company. I recently spent some time helping two young (around my age in 2010) entrepreneurs with their business. They're looking at opportunities now I could only have dreamed of (and, well, was dreaming of) when I was broke and 22. I look at these talented founders and wish I had known somebody, anybody that could have helped me out eight years ago. I'm not sure how different my outcome would have been or where I would be, but I can only imagine even a few hours of advice and care from somebody who knew what they were doing could have accelerated my trajectory completely at that age. To be honest, the $5,000 grant would probably have ended up paying to fix scratches on a BMW I gently hit on the DVP in 2011 with my busted old Saturn (D:), but the connections... and really, just knowing somebody out there has your back... well, that would have been life-changing. The money is the least material aspect. I don't know Daniel directly, but I anticipate he has heard these sorts of stories over and over again, and has found himself wishing to be able to give others more access and opportunity at an early and formative stage in their life. So -- Daniel, I wish you the best of luck. And it's my hope you can do some good things for people who wish for the opportunities some of us have been very lucky to have. :)