Program: Széll Kálmán Public Policy Fellowship
Year: 2026 Summer
Host Institution: American Short Line and Railroad Association
Research Focus: Business and Government Relations
Quote: “Through the Széll Kálmán Fellowship, I hope to better understand how American public institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry organizations cooperate to support innovation and economic growth. During my time in Washington, D.C., I am especially interested in learning how public policy shapes the venture capital environment, how public–private partnerships can support startup growth, and how successful institutional models could later be adapted to Hungary.”
Read his introduction here: hungaryfoundation.org
Levente is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Corvinus University of Budapest, where he studies International Business Economics in English. His academic path has been shaped by a strong interest in the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and public policy. His studies have also taken him abroad: he spent an exchange semester at the Stockholm School of Economics, where he studied startup-related courses in an international environment. Alongside his university studies, Levente has actively sought practical experiences that connect business, innovation, and public affairs. He previously worked as a Finance Intern at Morgan Stanley in Budapest and currently works as a Business Development Associate at WiredSign Zrt., a Hungarian contract lifecycle management company, where he contributes to building the company’s financial model, advising on business strategy, conducting customer interviews, supporting fundraising activities, and coordinating external partners. He has also completed several startup, venture capital, consulting, and M&A-focused programs, including the Hungarian Startup University Program, Niveus Startup Valuation Course, Wolf Theiss M&A Course, and Deloitte Consulting Course, where he received a “Best-Performing Student” award.
Founded in 1913, ASLRRA proudly represents the entrepreneurial owners and operators of short line and regional railroads throughout North America. These approximately 600 small businesses play a vital role in the hub-and-spoke transportation network, often providing the first-mile/last-mile connection between farmers and manufacturers and the ultimate consumer.