Ivy League Dropout Launches VC Firm at 21 to Back Young Founders

Smaiyl Makyshov, 21, has founded a venture capital firm focused on investing in young entrepreneurs and graduates of top startup accelerators. Makyshov left Brown University after his first year to pursue the venture full-time. His firm targets founders from programs like Y Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz's Speedrun, aiming to provide early-stage capital and mentorship. The decision to leave an Ivy League education underscores a growing trend of young founders prioritizing immediate entrepreneurial action over traditional academic paths.