The 2026 Perlman ETA Fellowship Finals brought together an exceptional group of Penn and Wharton graduate students for a full day of rigorous evaluation, thoughtful discussion, and high-caliber entrepreneurial vision at Tangen Hall. Finalists—comprised of both individual searchers and teams from Wharton MBA and Executive MBA programs—presented their backgrounds, acquisition theses, and target business profiles to a distinguished panel of alumni judges representing leading search funds, investment firms, and operating companies. Each candidate demonstrated a deepening sophistication in how they approach Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, from industry selection and deal sourcing strategies to financing plans and long-term value creation.
The interview format pushed finalists to articulate not just what they hope to acquire, but why they are uniquely positioned to succeed. Judges engaged candidates in detailed Q&A, testing their assumptions, probing their understanding of risk, and evaluating their readiness to transition from student to operator. Across the board, this year’s cohort reflected the continued maturation of the ETA ecosystem at Penn—combining analytical rigor with personal conviction, and increasingly nuanced “right to win” narratives shaped by prior professional and lived experiences.
Following a highly competitive selection process, the judging committee named Rebecca Abara-Azubuike (WG'26); Tanner Hale (WG'26) & Matt Orlandi (WG'26); Max Meyer (WG'26) & Paul Mewes (WG'26); and Josh Urquiaga (WG'26) as the 2026 Perlman ETA Fellowship recipients. These individuals demonstrated the strongest alignment with operator readiness, disciplined search thinking, and execution capability. As the program enters its fourth year, the Finals underscored the growing momentum behind the Fellowship and its role in preparing the next generation of searchers. With Fellows receiving up to $50,000 in financial support alongside programming, coaching, and community, the Perlman ETA Fellowship continues to build a strong pipeline of operators pursuing ETA immediately post-graduation—further establishing Venture Lab as a leading hub for ETA talent development.
Learn more about Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition at Venture Lab at Here
Recap by Xavier Stewart, Senior Associate Director
Photos by James Graves
