Students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District will soon have new support for bold ideas thanks to technologist and entrepreneur Neel Somani, who has endowed a $2,000 annual scholarship through the San Ramon Valley Education Fund (SRVEF).
The perpetual fund is designed to support the next generation of leaders in science, technology, and entrepreneurship, with annual scholarships going to San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) students who show creativity, leadership and problem-solving skills.
“This fellowship is about giving young people the confidence and resources to innovate,” Somani said. “I want to help students push boundaries and explore their potential.”
Somani, a University of California, Berkeley graduate with degrees in mathematics, computer science, and business administration, has built a career at the intersection of technology and finance. He worked as a software engineer at Airbnb and a quantitative researcher at Citadel before founding Eclipse, a blockchain scaling company that raised $65 million. Alongside his professional achievements in machine learning and distributed computing, he has emphasized philanthropy and mentorship.
SRVEF, a nonprofit that supports excellence across SRVUSD schools through fundraising and endowments like Somani’s, will manage the fellowship. Each year, one student will be awarded the scholarship to encourage innovative thinking that can make a lasting impact.
“My hope is that this fellowship empowers students to take risks, think creatively, and pursue bold ideas,” he said. “Supporting education is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in the future.”