Inside the Zell Fellows Program: How Kellogg Founders Build Companies—and Themselves
- Cathy Campo
- Nov 23, 2025
- 3 min read
By: Aniruddh Singh, Staff Writer
On a Wednesday afternoon in late October, when most students hurried between classes, a small group of Kellogg second-years stepped into an improvisational theater in Chicago. They weren’t there for entertainment. They were there to learn how to show up like future CEOs: how to command a room, tell a story, read the audience's energy, and project conviction even when the stakes feel uncomfortably high. That session—equal parts uncomfortable and transformative—is the moment students first feel what it means to be a Zell Fellow.
The Zell Fellows Program, Kellogg’s flagship accelerator for both Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and New Venture founders, is built around a simple idea: entrepreneurship is a lonely, high-variance journey, and the right community, accountability, and mentorship can change the trajectory. The 2025–2026 Fellows—twenty students selected through a rigorous application and interview process—were announced in late October.
A Cohort, a Community, and a Global Lens
As Vimanyu Awal (2Y ’26) shared with The Kelloggian, one of the most valuable aspects of Zell is the global community-driven immersion the program creates. Over the course of the year, the cohort travels to Mexico City, Michigan, and Israel, meeting founders, operators, and acquisition entrepreneurs shaping their ecosystems on the ground.
“You’re learning from people actually doing this in the real world,” he said. “And you’re doing it with a group that becomes your support system.”
These global experiences it alongside weekly Wednesday programming where Fellows build leadership skills, learn from faculty, and deepen their understanding of both acquisition entrepreneurship and personal operating style. The combination of shared experiences and structured growth makes the Zell cohort feel less like a collection of individual founders and more like a team.
By the end of the year, what would have been a solitary search or venture journey becomes something far richer: a path walked with guidance, accountability, and true community.
The Power of Selectivity—and Signal
Within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Zell Fellows Program carries weight, and that signal matters.
“Being selected by Zell shows that you’ve put in the work,” said Gabi Wang (2Y ’26), a Fellow on the New Venture track. “Investors and founders recognize it. It tells them you’re serious.”
For ETA Fellows, that signal is particularly valuable when meeting search fund investors who already know the rigor behind the program. For startup founders, it opens doors to Chicago’s venture community and alumni operators who respond when a “Zell Fellow” lands in their inbox.
A Program Designed to Stretch You
Across both tracks, Fellows receive structured, high-touch support:
Faculty mentorship from a litany of Kellogg leaders including David Schonthal, Matt Littell, Alex Schneider, Rebecca Kahnweiler, and Tasha Seitz
1:1 coaching to sharpen goals and build accountability
Global Travel treks to Mexico City, Michigan, and Israel, offering exposure to founders, operators, and acquisition entrepreneurs around the world
Peer design reviews where New Venture founders present challenges and receive real, tactical feedback from fellow builders
Funding to support legal, diligence, conferences, or search-related needs
But beyond the programming, it’s the informal conversations that often matter most. “Other founders know exactly what you’re going through,” Gabi said. “Sometimes you just need encouragement from people in the same shoes.”
A Network That Lives Well Beyond Kellogg
The alumni ecosystem around the program is deep and active. ETA Fellows connect with Kellogg alumni actively searching or operating companies around the world. New Venture Fellows tap into alumni founders across industries—from healthcare to fintech to consumer packaged goods.
For many, Zell becomes the catalyst that continues long after graduation. As Vimanyu put it, “I wanted a community around the entire search process. Zell gives you that—and the skillset to actually do something with it.”
Why It Can Be Career-Defining
Zell is more than another Kellogg program. For some, it’s the foundation to acquire and operate a business. For others, it’s the launchpad to build something from scratch. For all, it's a rare opportunity to stretch, reflect, and step into the version of yourself capable of leading a company.
Entrepreneurship will never be easy—but it becomes a little less lonely when you’re doing it with a fellowship behind you.
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