School of Hard Knocks Podcast Thomas Healy | World’s Youngest Billionaire on Dropping Out, Raising $700M, and Building an Empire Before 30
Oct 2, 2025
Thomas Healy, the youngest self-made billionaire and Carnegie Mellon dropout, shares his extraordinary journey from dorm-room startup to public company founder. He discusses raising $700M during the pandemic and the challenges of navigating market shifts. The bold pivot from EV trucks to distributed power generation showcases his adaptability. He offers insights on startup struggles, the power of mentorship, and the importance of bold decisions. Additionally, Healy emphasizes the need for founders to fully commit, aiming to change the future of electricity for decades.
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Treat Big Raises Like Full-Time Responsibility
- When raising large capital, prepare to be fully committed to making the company succeed.
- Treat fundraising as a responsibility: choose investors and terms that align with your long-term plan.
Startup Began As A Class Project
- He started Hylion as a class project about electrifying semi-trucks and used business plan competitions to fund it.
- Those non-dilutive wins got them to a seed round without heavy early equity loss.
Use Non-Dilutive Wins First
- Use business plan competitions and grants to raise non-dilutive capital before taking equity.
- That approach preserves founder ownership and extends runway for validation.