Program Overview

Xfund Ethics Fellows Program

The Xfund Ethics Fellows program, formerly PEAK Fellows, offers 18 Stanford undergraduate and co-terminal students the opportunity to develop their personal principles for entrepreneurial leadership and leading high-impact organizations. These principles are designed to help guide each fellow as they shape teams and align their career decisions with their values.

Program Overview

• The program is part of the Ethics in Entrepreneurship Project through STVP.
• Over the course of a quarter, fellows build a values-based entrepreneurial toolkit and community within their close-knit cohort through honest discussions and mentoring from alumni and peers.
• Class guests, typically including Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, are invited to give talks about their personal experiences.
• Fellows are challenged to think about their behavior in situations including ethical dilemmas, raising capital, and valuing risk.

Current Cohort

The current cohort includes:

• Anavi Baddepudi: BS CS (AI) with a minor in Psychology, MS CS (HCI)
• Andrew Bempong: B.S. Computer Science; M.S. Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)
• Keira Cornwell: B.S Chemical Engineering
• Nubia Correa: B.S Electrical Engineering
• Shizhe He: B.S. Computer Science + International Relations; M.S. Computer Science
• Austin Ho: B.S. Symbolic Systems (AI)
• Isha Jain: B.S. Mechanical Engineering + Computer Science
• Michelle Jin: B.S. Computer Science + B.A. International Relations
• Andrea Kitahata: B.S. Symbolic Systems (Human-Center AI) & M.S. Sustainability Science
• Han Lee: B.S. Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) + Economics
• Steven Liu: B.S. Chemical Engineering; M.S. Management Science and Engineering (Energy and Environment)
• Obianauju Anita Mlemchukwu: B.A. Economics + B.A Political Science (International Economic Development)
• Gabriel Nagel: BA Economics + BA Philosophy + Minor Earth Systems
• Hakeem Shindy: B.S. Economics
• Anika Turcotte: International Relations
• Aarav Wattal: B.S. Electrical Engineering + Computer Science
• Michael Zhang: B.S. Computer Science (AI); M.S. Management Science and Engineering (TEM)
• Sasha Zhang: B.S. Symbolic Systems

Student Leaders

• Sofie Roux: BS Sustainable Architecture + Engineering
• Nico Zezza: Electrical Engineering

Student Co-Founders

• Brooke Martin: Management Science & Engineering
• Gopal Raman: Economics

Faculty Advisor

• Tom Byers: Professor, MS&E and Faculty Director, STVP

Mentors

• Jack Fuchs: Investor, Global Entrepreneur & Adjunct Lecturer, MS&E
• Mar Hershenson: Adjunct Lecturer, MS&E
• Brandon Farwell: General Partner, Xfund

Year-at-a-Glance

• Summer: Fellows are introduced to the program’s core ideas and themes through a curated set of readings. At the end of the summer, the cohort gathers to reflect on insights and prepare for in-person sessions that follow in the fall.
• Fall: Fellows engage further with entrepreneurs and trailblazers who have had to make difficult decisions. They are made to think about ethics in the real world to hone their own values and principles. Fellows enroll in the following course for 1 unit. The fall sessions will be held in person and are mandatory.

Program Information

What to Expect

The Xfund Fellows Program is an opportunity for 18 Stanford undergraduate and co-terminal students to explore what it means to develop and practice principles in the context of ethical entrepreneurship. The sessions act as forums for the cohort of students to debate business dilemmas, hear from real founders, receive guidance from relevant mentors, and meet peers with whom they might build future ventures.

Fellows Will:

• Receive 1 unit of credit for their completion of this program
• Benefit from access to faculty coaches and industry-leading guest speakers from Silicon Valley startups and venture capitalists
• Develop a close network of like-minded individuals from across Stanford’s campus to form relationships that carry forward for a lifetime
• Create a principles toolkit necessary for leadership in entrepreneurship to brave future ethical dilemmas.
• Have the opportunity to present at a “Pitch Day”

Eligibility

• Must be an active undergraduate or co-terminal Stanford student during the program

Who Should Apply?

• Students from any discipline or major are encouraged to apply
• Applicants do not need to have previous entrepreneurial experience or a background in ethics to apply

Testimonials

• "Come for the mission and stay for the community. This is the type of company culture that I aim to create as an entrepreneur and I have the [Xfund Ethics] fellows to thank for the building blocks of a principled entrepreneurship foundation." - Shreya Mantha
• "[Xfund Ethics] fellows envisions a future entrepreneurial ecosystem at Stanford that is as ethical, as it is inclusive. It dares to imagine a Silicon Valley with leaders whose success is as lauded as its principles. I’m proud to consider myself a part of this movement." - Jin Woo Yu
• "A lot of students graduating from college end up working at companies where their core values don’t align with the company’s set of principles. The [Xfund Ethics] Fellows program helped me formulate my own set of morals to go by in all the work I do, and now I strive to consider the ethics and social impact of my decisions in my daily life." - Athena Chang
• "The [Xfund Ethics] fellowship has brought value to my life beyond entrepreneurship. I developed a framework that consistently informs and benefits my individual interactions and evaluations of the world at large. I have been motivated to pursue a mission that enhances the global community because I feel confident in the preparation that [Xfund Ethics Fellows] provided. I look forward to continuing to grow and pursue that mission with the community I found at [Xfund Ethics Fellows]." - Cade Crow
• "I really enjoyed all of the readings and discussions we engaged in throughout the XFund Ethics Fellows program, and feel that I now have a stronger set of ethical principles and values to navigate both entrepreneurial and more established organizations." - Kana Cummings
• "As a XFund Ethics Fellow, I was able to interface with my peers and community leaders to enhance my knowledge in the importance of sound, ethical frameworks within the technology and venture landscapes." - Bryce Johnson
• "I’m grateful to the XFund Ethics Fellows program for showing me how differentiated principles embedded in concrete practices are core to building a successful, enduring organization." - Levi Lian
• "As a XFund Ethics Fellow, I had the privilege of having important discussions about personal values and principled entrepreneurship with a cohort of Stanford’s most thoughtful future founders. I gained valuable insights about leadership, unintended consequences, and organizational growth, and was even able to co-lead a session on navigating crises and competing values. I strongly recommend the XFund Ethics Fellows program to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to develop solid, principled roots!" - Annie Ma
• "The XFund Ethics Fellows program was a transformative experience for me as a student passionate about leveraging technology for positive social impact. The program’s intimate cohort cultivated an open and supportive atmosphere where I could freely explore ideas, share perspectives, and learn from the entrepreneurial journeys of my peers. Surrounded by a diverse group united in their drive to build responsible, future-focused technologies, I found inspiration at every turn. The XFund Ethics Fellows program equipped me with invaluable tools and insights, while bolstering my confidence to pursue socially conscious entrepreneurship as a means to create meaningful change. This formative experience solidified my dedication to developing innovative solutions that prioritize ethics and societal wellbeing." - Sou Min Shin
• "Getting to know my XFund Ethics cohort was incredible. Each person brought a unique perspective to the table, and seeing their drive to make an impact on the world was empowering." - Jessica Zhang
• "I have the XFund Ethics Fellows to thank for the confidence I have in making value-driven and ethical decisions. The lessons and relationships I’ve gained here will guide me throughout my career and life." - Mario Sumali

Alumni

• Class of 2024:
  • Ismail Mardin
  • Aaryan Shah
  • Analiese Bancroft
  • Juan Pablo Pacheco
  • Matthew Torre
  • Joey Chen
  • Aksh Garg
  • Muhammad Dhafer
  • Jamie Ullman
  • Asukuku Songolo
• Class of 2023:
  • Ezra Feleke
  • Emily Zhang
  • Estella Zhou
  • Pear Chotbunwong
  • Lily Loughridge
  • Jackson Kinsella
  • Lauren Owens
  • J Yim
  • Murtaza Hussain
  • Benjamin Gao
• Class of 2022:
  • Anna Edmonds
  • Mario Sumali
  • Nahum Maru
  • Aurora Feng
  • Zane Sabbagh
  • Jinyoung Kim
  • Zach Zafran
  • Shray Alag
• Class of 2021:
  • Sofie Roux
  • Jessica Zhang
  • Karetina Fekade-Tessema
  • Henry Hill-Gorman
  • Daryl Budiman
  • Kevina Wang
  • Sou Min Shin
  • Ecem Yilmazhaliloglu
• Class of 2020:
  • Michelle Schwartzman
  • Ezekiel Contrerras-Forest
  • Bera Demirbilek
  • Jason Ping
  • Colin Grant
  • Annie Ma
  • Roy Yuan
  • Abhi Desai

Acknowledgements

STVP extends its deep appreciation to Brandon Farwell, Partner at Xfund, for supporting this program for Stanford students.