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Visit Our Northwestern today!Zell Fellows
Our Zell Fellows Venture Further
Introduced during the 2013-14 academic year and funded by Sam Zell, the Zell Fellows Program at the Kellogg School of Management is designed to be a unique, applied entrepreneurial experience for a select number of MBA candidates interested in starting a new venture or acquiring an existing one.
Zell Fellows are known not only for their intellect, drive and entrepreneurial passion, but also for their humility, collegiality and desire to support other aspiring entrepreneurs. The program provides mentorship, leadership coaching, resources, and guidance that will help each Fellow attain personal as well as professional goals. Whether you’re looking to launch a startup or acquire an existing venture, the Zell Fellows Program offers the tools, resources and community you need to chart your entrepreneurial career. Kellogg Zell Fellows are a part of the larger Zell Global Entrepreneur Network, a network of entrepreneurs throughout the world who were also selected to be part of the program.
Zell Fellows are known not only for their intellect, drive and entrepreneurial passion, but also for their humility, collegiality and desire to support other aspiring entrepreneurs. The program provides mentorship, leadership coaching, resources, and guidance that will help each Fellow attain personal as well as professional goals. Whether you’re looking to launch a startup or acquire an existing venture, the Zell Fellows Program offers the tools, resources and community you need to chart your entrepreneurial career. Kellogg Zell Fellows are a part of the larger Zell Global Entrepreneur Network, a network of entrepreneurs throughout the world who were also selected to be part of the program.
Program Highlights
All Fellows participating in the program, both the New Venture track as well as the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition track, will benefit from the following:- Mentorship from track faculty, outside advisors and practitioners, sharing their experience as well as providing guidance on the practical aspects of launching or acquiring a business
- Experiences, including visits with Chicago-area entrepreneurs; leadership and executive presence workshops and private coaching; and both domestic and international treks to visit successful entrepreneurs, Zell Fellows alumni, and the other schools that are part of the Zell Global Entrepreneur Network
- Resources, both financial and from vetted service providers, to put towards their businesses and entrepreneurial journey
- Community, within their own Kellogg cohort, with other Kellogg Zell alumni, and with participants and alumni of the programs at other schools that are part of the Zell Global Entrepreneur Network
Applications will only be accepted electronically. Late applications will not be considered.
See below for more information on the application process.
See below for more information on the application process.
Read about the program as well as several recent Zell Fellow startups in this Poets & Quants article: Off the Launchpad: Kellogg’s Hottest MBA Startups.
New Venture Track
Students in the new venture track of the program will start their entrepreneurial journey as the founder of a new venture. The program provides resources specific to each founder’s industry and needs, whether that is a student aspiring to launch a business in the B2B or B2C space, a student needing help navigating the unique regulatory, research and development, intellectual property, and other challenges that healthcare startups face, a student needing support with starting a venture located in a developing economy or one with social impact, or a student needing any other type of specialized help.
Businesses that students are working on will be as market-ready and as fundable as possible by graduation, but ultimately, the program aims to provide entrepreneurs with the experiences, tools and frameworks that they can use to continue to grow as entrepreneurs throughout their careers.
2020-21 Cohort
Anastasia Evanich ’21 / The Adrenal Drink
Kinsey Hart ’21 / Alva
Sam Jactel ’21 / Agora Health
Sara Jandeska ’22 / Blue Comet Medical Solutions
Alyssa Marazzo ’21 / Ciclo
Emily Mohr ’21 / Nine Times Bakery
Sarita Patankar ’21 / HuddleMD
Ben Preston ’21 / Gearflow
Adam Turville ’21 / FinLit
Oliver Yiu ’21 / mySkin
96 Zell Fellows venture track alumni since 2014
Zell Fellows Alumni - New Venture Track
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2019-20 Cohort Jennifer Daily ’20 / Lana Kila Phil O’Brien ’20 / Limelight Chris Rochester ’20 / Primary Colors Marcus Schneider ’20 / again&again Will Zheng ’20 / Serionix, Inc. Michelle Zighelboim ’20 / Zéta |
Adam Cohen ’20 / Stemloop Hanna Colin ’20 / B-Vitals Amit Gupta ’20 / Cardiosense Ana Kakkar ’20 / Every Clinic Kartik Kesavabhotla ’21 / airmid Health Xiao Zhang ’20 / Amasu |
Rafael Leite ’20 / Beniccio Sinthuja Nagalingam ’20 / Tilt Brunna Seabra ’20 / Dindin |
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2018-19 Cohort Kimmie Carey '19 / The Dose Co. David Costello '19 / Kengos Alex Eng '19 / SLATE Daniel Kolb '19 / Commit Cara Morphew '19 / BeenThere Adam Motley '19 / Movo Chair |
Kyle Metz '19 / Jabiru Medical LLC Tim Taxter '19 |
Enrique Evoli '19 / KIN Industries Sahar Jamal '19 / Maziwa Stephane Manuel '19 / TrueFiktion Don Meier '19 / LineShift Sam Schiller '19 / Carbon Yield Julian Sheinbaum '19 / Teachability |
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2017-18 Cohort Jennifer Barron ’18 / Outfox Kathryn Bernell ’18 / reBLEND Allison Brown ’18 / Cariset Rei Kawano ’18 / Heed Foods Chase Michalek ’18 / Hilltop Health Brittany Phillips ’18 / Carewaye Milan Raj ’18 / Shaadi Destinations Adam Swick ’18 / Swick Capital |
Andrew Cabodi ’18 / BackWave Technologies Dianna He ’18 / Sit the Moon Health David Nguyen ’18 / okam health Kyle Wildnauer Haigney ’18 /ScriptPass |
Nakul Khanna ’18 / Instago Alejandro Orvananos Obregon ’18 /Qualtrium Zain Shahzad ’18 / Allif Patrick Tagny Diesse ’18 / Afiri |
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2016-17 Cohort Nathan Cooper ’17 / Wise Apple Rachael Feuerborn ’17 / Finch Roshni Khurana ’17 / The Right Hook Jared Scharen ’17 / eRetirements Tiffany Smith ’17 / Tiltas Carolyn Snider ’17 / Welltended Eduardo Uriarte Ruiz ’17 / Kairos Rachel Xanttopoulos ’17 / Daybreak |
Healthcare Track Barath Anandakumar ’17 / ActiWit Gal Ben Dor ’17 / Getoo Todd Cruikshank ’17 / Surgical Innovation Associates Smit Naik ’17 / Actualize Therapy Eloy Vinuales ’17 / PrediCare |
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2015-16 Cohort Jordan Hollander ’16 / Citykey Nidheesh Patel ’16 / Carvnient Blair Pircon ’16 / The Graide Network Bobby Powers ’16 / SharEd Justin Saeheng ’16 / IFM Technologies Beth Santos ’16 / Wanderful Asaf Segev ’16 / Syteful Rebecca Sholiton ’16 / Wise Apple |
2014-15 Cohort Jeremy Bolian ’15 /Acentive Jesse Chang ’16 / MDAR Technologies, Inc. Michael Jung ’15 / UroProx Stephen Lane ’16 / FlyHomes Priya Mathew ’15 / Practico Luciana Silva De Oliveira ’15 / New Hope Ecotech Kieren Patel ’16 / Opticent Health Gaurav Shenai ’15 / Touchtrail Tyler Wanke ’15 / Innoblative |
2013-14 Cohort Christopher Chon ’14 / Leonard & Church Mathew Elenjickal ’14 / Four Kites Vaibhov Goel ’14 / Tuplee Travis Granger ’14 / Arbyl April (Yong Kyung) Kim ’14 /Chatting Cat Daniel Klein ’15 / REPP Jeremy O’Briant ’14 / License Buddy Jason Sandler ’15 / Innoblative |
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Track
The Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition track is designed for students whose path to becoming an entrepreneur involves acquiring a small to medium sized company rather than launching one. There are several ways to achieve this:
- a traditional search, in which the entrepreneur raises capital from investors to find, acquire and run an existing company
- a self-funded search, where the search itself is self-funded and the acquisition is identified before the financing is determined
- an incubated or funded search, in which the entrepreneur works with an investment firm experienced in acquisitions and succession.
- the apprenticeship model, which pairs an aspiring entrepreneur with existing company leadership
- a CEO-in-training program that provides development and operating experience
- supporting a family business with the goal of encouraging expansion
2020-21 Cohort
Asad Berani ‘21
Edgar Blanco Company ‘21
Dylan Ketcham ‘21
Elwin Ng ‘21
Alexis Osborn ‘21
Adam Root ‘21
Jaison Thomas ‘21
43 Zell Fellows ETA track alumni since 2016
Zell Fellows Alumni - ETA Track
2019-20 Cohort
Alex Biegler ‘20
Caroline Haid ‘20
Erica Hauser ‘20
Jason Luo ‘20
Monte Malhotra ’20
Matthew O'Neill ‘20
Jessica Palfrey ‘20
Juan Reyes ‘20
Spencer Springer ‘20
Dan Violi ‘20
Alex Biegler ‘20
Caroline Haid ‘20
Erica Hauser ‘20
Jason Luo ‘20
Monte Malhotra ’20
Matthew O'Neill ‘20
Jessica Palfrey ‘20
Juan Reyes ‘20
Spencer Springer ‘20
Dan Violi ‘20
2018-19 Cohort
Ian Goldberg '19
Dan Kish '19
Isauro Reyna Valenciana '19
Fernando Ribeiro '19
Andro Rodriguez '19
Nick Seger '19
Robbie Sutkay '19
Blake Toll '19
Mayank Vijayvergia '19
Ian Goldberg '19
Dan Kish '19
Isauro Reyna Valenciana '19
Fernando Ribeiro '19
Andro Rodriguez '19
Nick Seger '19
Robbie Sutkay '19
Blake Toll '19
Mayank Vijayvergia '19
2017-18 Cohort
Jose Anguis Horno ’18
Nate Barajas ’18
Anthony Cardona ’18
Lauren Davis ’18
Russell Johnston ’18
Carr Lanphier ’18
Marcella Lobo ’18
Timothy Novick ’18
Charlie Pratt ’18
Richard Roman ’18
Jose Anguis Horno ’18
Nate Barajas ’18
Anthony Cardona ’18
Lauren Davis ’18
Russell Johnston ’18
Carr Lanphier ’18
Marcella Lobo ’18
Timothy Novick ’18
Charlie Pratt ’18
Richard Roman ’18
2016-17 Cohort
Ayu Djaputra ’17
Blair Kessler ’17
Matthew Dellen ’17
Matthew McGarry ’17
Stanley Rodos ’17
Ashish Rohil ’17
Jay Shah ’17
Ayu Djaputra ’17
Blair Kessler ’17
Matthew Dellen ’17
Matthew McGarry ’17
Stanley Rodos ’17
Ashish Rohil ’17
Jay Shah ’17
2015-16 Cohort
Shaun Currie ’16
Ray Fan ’16
John Griffin ’16
Tommy Jackson ’16
Elise Krieger ’16
Will Wright ’16
Margaret Yeager ’17
Shaun Currie ’16
Ray Fan ’16
John Griffin ’16
Tommy Jackson ’16
Elise Krieger ’16
Will Wright ’16
Margaret Yeager ’17
Zell Fellow Highlights
FourKites
Mathew Elenjickal ’14 / Consumer & Enterprise track
FourKites has completely transformed expectations for the shipping industry with their real-time tracking solutions. FourKites was named to Forbes Next Billion Dollar Startups 2019.
FourKites has completely transformed expectations for the shipping industry with their real-time tracking solutions. FourKites was named to Forbes Next Billion Dollar Startups 2019.
Surgical Innovation Associates
Todd Cruikshank ’17 / Healthcare track
Surgical Innovation Associates is developing innovative medical devices. They have received FDA clearance and have begun clinical use of their first product.
Surgical Innovation Associates is developing innovative medical devices. They have received FDA clearance and have begun clinical use of their first product.
Carbon Yield
Sam Schiller ’20 / Emerging Markets & Social Impact track
Carbon Yield won the 2019 Kellogg Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge and has received funding from an agricultural foundation which will help farmers become more resilient to climate change while returning carbon to healthy soil.
Carbon Yield won the 2019 Kellogg Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge and has received funding from an agricultural foundation which will help farmers become more resilient to climate change while returning carbon to healthy soil.
Saumya ‘17
Kheyti / Emerging Markets & Social Impact trackSaumya, founder of Kheyti, which helps small farmers in India with their “Greenhouse in a box”, was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs of 2019.
Will Wright ‘16
Peerless Events & Tents / Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition TrackWill Wright formed a search fund after Kellogg graduation and acquired Peerless Events & Tents for the purpose of building it into a major regional event rental business
Application Process
The Zell Fellows Program is open to any Kellogg full-time student in the second-year of the 2Y or MMM program, 1Y, JDMBA or MDMBA program or any student in the Evening & Weekend program who can be available for all of the activities.
Application to the program is in the fall of the year that you would participate. The program will officially begin in October, after all Fellows selected have been invited to join the program. As you prepare, there will be opportunities the previous spring to engage with the program.
To be a competitive applicant for the program, a student should be able to demonstrate a commitment to entrepreneurship, whether the eventual goal is starting a new venture or acquiring an existing one. For the new venture track, students should have performed research into a need/problem and be able to show traction with a proposed solution. Ideally, students will have taken a minimum of New Venture Discovery or an equivalent. For the ETA track, an understanding of and commitment to this path to entrepreneurship should be evident.
All Zell Fellows are required to be available all Wednesdays during the academic year beginning October 21.
Access the application.
Application to the program is in the fall of the year that you would participate. The program will officially begin in October, after all Fellows selected have been invited to join the program. As you prepare, there will be opportunities the previous spring to engage with the program.
To be a competitive applicant for the program, a student should be able to demonstrate a commitment to entrepreneurship, whether the eventual goal is starting a new venture or acquiring an existing one. For the new venture track, students should have performed research into a need/problem and be able to show traction with a proposed solution. Ideally, students will have taken a minimum of New Venture Discovery or an equivalent. For the ETA track, an understanding of and commitment to this path to entrepreneurship should be evident.
All Zell Fellows are required to be available all Wednesdays during the academic year beginning October 21.
Access the application.
Application Dates |
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September 18, 2020
12:15 PM |
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September 27, 2020
11:59 PM |
Program Application Deadline
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Weeks of :
October 05, 2020 October 12, 2020 |
Zell Fellows Interviews
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October 16, 2020
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2020-2021 Invitations Issued
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Faculty Leadership
David Schonthal
Faculty Director, Zell Fellows ProgramDavid founded the program in 2013 and has led the expansion of the program over the past several years as additional tracks, focus areas, resources, and experiences have been added to meet the specific needs of the students in the program.
New Venture TrackAdjunct Lecturer of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Track Co-Lead, Consumer & Enterprise Adjunct Professor of Social Impact, Track Co-Lead, Emerging Markets & Social Impact Track Co-Lead, Healthcare Adjunct Lecturer of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Development and Alumni Engagement |
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition TrackAdjunct Lecturer of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Track Co-Lead Track Co-Lead |
Program Staff
| Jennifer Herold
Senior Program Manager |
Tyler Seybold
Program Assistant |
Sam Zell
Founder and Chairman of Equity Group InvestmentsSam Zell is a global, opportunistic, often contrarian, investor. He specializes in identifying market anomalies and emerging trends, and has a long track record in turning around troubled companies and assets, leading industry consolidations, and bringing companies to the public markets. Much of his investment portfolio is in energy, logistics, transportation, manufacturing, communications and healthcare, but he is often best known for his pioneering role and stewardship in creating the modern commercial real estate industry.
Sam is the Chairman of Equity Group Investments, his private investment firm. He chairs five companies listed on the NYSE: Equity Residential; Equity LifeStyle Properties; Equity Commonwealth; Covanta Holding Corporation; and Anixter International Inc. He also chairs Equity International, a private equity firm he founded to focus on opportunities outside of the U.S.
Sam is recognized for his advocacy of corporate governance, particularly in real estate and in the emerging markets. He is an active philanthropist with a focus on entrepreneurial education. He holds a JD degree and a BA from the University of Michigan.
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