B. DÖRNYEI
Global Affairs & Statistics / Data Science — Yale

Bendegúz
Dörnyei

I close loops — in food systems, in education, in the nonprofits I build. Currently studying how data and policy can make that closing systematic instead of one-off.

NEW HAVEN, CT BUDAPEST, HU YALE COLLEGE ’26 · MPP ’27

The journey

2016 — 2027

A rough chronology. The loop icon marks the points where the throughline — closing a circular system instead of running a linear one — is most literal.

c. 2016

National canoe conference, age 16

Organized Hungary's first national canoe conference — the first time Bende ran an event from scratch.

age 15

Co-founded a household food-waste initiative

Worked to cut household food waste — commonly $150+/month per US household — partnering with major European wholesalers including Tesco and Metro.

⟲ closing a physical supply loop
2016

Selected, Templeton Program

Chosen from roughly 20,000 applicants to a program nurturing exceptional cognitive talent.

2018–2020

Built Skeebdo

A platform teaching English vocabulary at any level using clips from 200,000+ movies and TV shows, compatible with Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu, and more.

2019–2021

Founded Startup Maffia

Built Hungary's leading business-support nonprofit for early founders — 43 free educational events, 165,000+ participants during his presidency. Graduated secondary school with the highest national distinction, then handed the association to a new board and stayed on as a supervisory board member so it would outlast him.

2021

Co-director, "Cápák között"

Preselection and mentoring board for Hungary's Shark Tank — evaluating projects and preparing founders to pitch in front of roughly 1M TV viewers.

2022

Matriculated at Yale College

Began a double degree in Global Affairs and Statistics & Data Science. Elected a full member of Mensa the same year.

2023–2024

Coordinator, Planetary Innovator Speaker Series

Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY), focused on circularity, environmental innovation, and nature-based solutions. Also served as a student representative at Morse College.

⟲ circular economy, at institutional scale
Summer 2024

Internship, UNICEF

Contributed to work aimed at data-driven social change and non-profit leadership.

2025

Policy intern, UN DESA · Research assistant, Yale

Public Administration and Policy Intern at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Research Assistant at the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2025–2027

Joint B.A./M.P.P., Jackson School of Global Affairs

Accepted into Yale's selective five-year joint degree program, pairing the ongoing B.A. with an accelerated Master in Public Policy.

Selected work

06
Circularity

Fridge & Pantry Management

Household food-waste reduction, built with European wholesalers Tesco and Metro. Co-founded at 15.

EdTech

Skeebdo

Learn English from 200,000+ movies and shows, across every major streaming platform.

Nonprofit

Startup Maffia

43 free events, 165,000+ participants — built to run without its founder.

Media & Mentorship

Cápák között

Preselection & mentoring for Hungary's Shark Tank, pitching to ~1M viewers.

Environment

Planetary Innovator Speaker Series

Coordinated CBEY's series spanning circularity, clean energy, and nature-based solutions.

Public Policy

UN DESA

Public Administration & Policy internship focused on data-driven, systemic approaches.

Education & honors

Yale University — Jackson School of Global Affairs

2025–2027

Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.), accelerated joint-degree track.

Yale College

2022–2026

B.A./B.S., double degree — Global Affairs, and Statistics & Data Science.

University of Cambridge — Summer Study Abroad

2023

Industrial Organization; Economics of Growth & Development; Moral Philosophy.

© 2026 Bendegúz Dörnyei Internal