[5] In 2011, venture capitalist Tim Draper purchased the Hotel Benjamin Franklin building in San Mateo, California.

Since then the school has grown to offer Fall, Spring and Summer programs for both students as well as executive education for CEO's and governmental officials.

[10][11] The show included Miss USA 2013, Erin Brady, who joined the series to help develop and find investors for her company, Romeo in a Box.

[12][13] Draper University formed a partnership with Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley in May 2016 to launch an entrepreneurial program combining Draper's innovations in education with ASU's curriculum and large student body.

[16] Since then, Draper University has launched a new partnership, teaming up with ASU to offer 15 college credits and a certificate of entrepreneurship for the Fall 2017 program.

[19] In 2011, Tim Draper purchased the Hotel Benjamin Franklin building, which had first opened in San Mateo on June 28, 1927.

[6] Notable guests at the Benjamin Franklin have included Ginger Rogers, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Friend Richardson,[6] and Masanori Murakami.