# Joe Lonsdale Timeline Biographical chronology of [[Joe Lonsdale]] — the look-back spine. Distinct from [[Joe Lonsdale Calendar]] (look-ahead) and [[Joe Lonsdale Events]] (discrete-page index). > Dates as established in the vault and the widely-reported public record. ## Palantir & the first companies (2003–2012) | Year | Event | |---|---| | 2003 | Co-founds [[Palantir]] with [[Peter Thiel]], [[Alex Karp]], [[Stephen Cohen]], [[Nathan Gettings]] | | 2009 | Leaves Palantir (retains equity/advisory); co-founds [[Addepar]] | | 2012 | Co-founds [[OpenGov]] | ## 8VC & the Build model (2015–2019) | Year | Event | |---|---| | ~2015 | Founds [[8VC]] (now $6B+ AUM) | | 2018 | Launches the [[Cicero Institute]] (VC-method policy reform); co-founds [[Epirus]] via the 8VC Build program | ## Exit & institution-building (2020–2026) | Date | Event | |---|---| | 2020 | Relocates 8VC HQ + family to **Austin**, citing California's 13.3% top tax | | 2021 | Co-founds [[University of Austin]] (UATX) with Pano Kanelos, [[Bari Weiss]], Niall Ferguson | | 2024 | Co-donor to [[America PAC]] for Trump 2024 | | 2025 | Co-founds [[Erebor]] with [[Palmer Luckey]]; [[8VC]] the largest backer | | Dec 2025 | "Loser generation" remark — see [[Joe Lonsdale - loser generation]] | | 2026 | Surfaces in the [[Dialog Society]] membership leak | ## See Also - [[Joe Lonsdale]] — canonical biography - [[Joe Lonsdale Calendar]] · [[Joe Lonsdale Events]] - [[8VC]] · [[University of Austin]] - [[Joe Lonsdale Dossier]]