Milestone Markers - February 6, 2025

A Community of Impact: Celebrating Big Wins & New Beginnings

Entrepreneurship is a journey—one fueled by bold ideas, resilience, and the right support at the right time. Today, we’re celebrating the incredible milestones of our community, from major funding rounds and acquisitions to groundbreaking partnerships and well-earned recognition on the global stage.

We’re also thrilled to introduce our Winter 2025 Milestone Makers Cohort—a group of visionary founders dedicated to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their businesses are poised to make a real impact, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish.

From exclusive insights on navigating the venture capital landscape to expert strategies on leveraging AI for business growth, this issue is packed with resources to help you scale smarter, lead with confidence, and connect with a community that’s redefining the future of entrepreneurship.

Let’s build, grow, and celebrate—together.

Read on and stay inspired!

Updates from our Entrepreneurial Community?

Two big announcements from Milestone Maker Erica Cole : No Limbits has acquired Buck & Buck one of the oldest adaptive apparel companies and?closed a $3M Series A.?More

Emerging Impact Insights featured Milestone Maker Sara Schmitt in?Bridging gaps for international students and workers?More

TANTV , from Milestone Circles sister Adedayo Fashanu ,?secures $50,000 Pre-Seed from Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition More

Milestone Maker Bisola Alabi was a panel speaker at?Tech Revolution Africa?More

ReBokeh Vision Technologies, Inc. assistive tech app, from Milestone Maker Rebecca Rosenberg , now available for free at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. More?Additionally, TEDCO invested $100,000 through the Pre-Seed Builder Fund?More

Milestone Maker Kingsley Ibe 's Creditchek announces partnership with CredPal (YC W19) to expand credit access across Africa More

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is thrilled to introduce you to the incredible entrepreneurs in our Winter 2025 Milestone Makers Cohort, supporting entrepreneurs building businesses focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Reduced Inequalities (#10), Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (#16).

Milestone Makers, the Center’s flagship program, provides individualized mentorship, executive coaching, and access to the Center’s vast network of industry experts to help each founder with his or her milestone. Entrepreneurs in the Winter 2025 Cohort were hand-selected after a competitive application process, and all hope to improve the lives of and support communities across the globe. Learn more about these founders here.?

From Growth to Impact – Coach G’s Journey with the Nasdaq Center

Glennetrius Neal, M.A. Professional Development , the founder of G-Style Coaching, LLC, knows that entrepreneurship is a journey—one that’s even more powerful with the right support. As a Circle Sister in Milestone Circles and a Cornerstone Mentor, she’s experienced firsthand how the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center has helped her grow as a leader, refine her business strategy, and build a strong network.

Now, she’s paying it forward—helping fellow entrepreneurs step into leadership, embrace accountability, and scale with confidence. READ ON

Corporate Partner Resources?& Opportunities

Nasdaq

Bold Economic Decision Making Can Lift All Boats | Adena Friedman : Bold economic policies that foster innovation ecosystems, streamline regulatory frameworks, and strengthen global capital markets can drive inclusive growth, unlock trillions in investment, and create a more resilient and competitive economy.

Connecting Capital to Opportunity – Unlocking Growth Across Public and Private Markets | Nelson Griggs : A balanced and efficient financial ecosystem—bridging public and private markets through smarter regulation, increased transparency, and broader investor access—can drive economic growth, fuel innovation, and create long-term prosperity.

毕马威

KPMG AI Quarterly Pulse Survey: As macroeconomic pressures, investor demands, and efficiency imperatives mount, business leaders are actively working to align their GenAI ambitions with practical execution, according to the latest KPMG AI Quarterly Pulse Survey.

State of the VC Market with Jules Walker Managing Director Emerging Technology practice at KPMG US: How do you plan for your future as a founder looking to raise capital? Jules Walker , who is Senior Director in the Emerging Tech practice of KPMG., gives his opinions on where things are headed.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

The 2025 Entrepreneur and Investor Life Sciences (E&I Summit): Early-Bird Registration Now Open for the 2025 Wilson Sonsini Entrepreneur and Investor Life Sciences Summit, Presented by BioUtah and the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office March 13-14, 2025

BPM LLP

Filing business taxes for your LLC for the first time: Learn how to navigate your first LLC tax filing with this comprehensive guide. Discover tips for compliance, tax-saving strategies, and avoiding common mistakes.

HubSpot

What is B2C Marketing? [+ New Data & Trends to Captivate Audiences in 2025]: Learn what B2C marketing looks like in 2025 and what trends and strategies you need to know to stay competitive

Nareit

Nareit’s Scales Joins Panels with IWBI and Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center: The two December 2024 sessions highlighted the importance of integrating social sustainability and new resources for women business owners in real estate.

Community Voices

Fortune There’s a $32 trillion reason to bet big on women entrepreneurs as your 2025 investment resolution: Female entrepreneurs, long underserved by VCs, often recognize opportunities that have been hiding in plain sight. Olivia Walton

Inc. Magazine How to Build a Company Culture Employees Will Love: Culture isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a vital, living aspect of any business, directly influencing employee engagement, retention, and even company performance. Marli Guzzetta

HR & People: Building Resilience for Entrepreneurial Leaders with Mike Miles

Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges, uncertainty, and high-pressure decisions. In this insightful session, Mike Miles , faculty lecturer and mentor at the University of Arizona, shares actionable strategies to strengthen your resilience, manage stress, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Learn how to develop a mindset that not only withstands challenges but grows stronger because of them. Whether you're navigating fundraising, scaling, or leadership hurdles, this session offers practical tools to help you thrive. Watch the replay and take the first step toward becoming an antifragile leader.

Upcoming Classes & Workshops

Top AI Marketing Tools for 2025 Feb 7: Learn how AI marketing tools can activate growth and drive impact for your business with Cliff Worley .

Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Open House Feb 11: Join us to learn about the Center's entrepreneurial resources available to you!

The Art of Elegant Conversion on LinkedIn Feb 18: Learn how to attract, engage, and convert your audience on LinkedIn into meaningful business relationships with Richard Moore .

Collaboration Powers Lasting Change Feb 20: Join us for a conversation on the VEP's 2024 report with Miami-Dade Innovation Authority and Invest Detroit !

2025 Winter M&A Bootcamp Feb 26: Join M&A experts from 毕马威 and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati !

Faces of Entrepreneurship: Tsvetta Kaleynska, RILA Global Consulting

For Tsvetta Kaleynska, entrepreneurship is about vision, resilience, and impact. As the founder of RILA GLOBAL CONSULTING , she leads a premier agency specializing in advanced consumer intelligence, helping Fortune 500 companies navigate the digital landscape. An immigrant entrepreneur, author, and TV commentator, Tsvetta has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, NY Post, and more, and is a passionate advocate for women in business and technology.

Read More

Sales: Boosting Sales with AI with Sonia Dumas

In this dynamic session, AI and sales expert Sonia Dumas shared how entrepreneurs can harness artificial intelligence to drive engagement, optimize their sales strategy, and predict customer behavior with greater accuracy. Covering everything from AI-driven lead generation to customer sentiment analysis, Sonia emphasized how startups—especially those with lean teams—can use AI to level the playing field and enhance sales efficiency. She also discussed the importance of strategic decision-making, personalization in outreach, and how AI can reveal hidden insights into customer behavior. In this replay, walk?away with actionable strategies to integrate AI into your sales process while maintaining an authentic human touch.

Thank you to our corporate partners

We partner with funders and leaders deeply committed to advancing equality and expanding access to opportunities through entrepreneurship. By activating powerful networks of support and expertise, we’re amplifying our impact and driving meaningful change. Thank you to Nasdaq , 毕马威 , Lehigh University , Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati , 富国银行 , NAREIT FOUNDATION , 沃尔玛 , 摩根大通 , HubSpot , BPM LLP , Google Cloud , and more! Learn more about becoming a partner of the Nasdaq Center.

Our mission as a nonprofit is to improve access and knowledge in entrepreneurship to advance economic progress for all.

By honoring the lived experiences of those dedicated to building a better world, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center delivers world-class education, global networks, and cutting-edge research—fueled by the largest real-time intelligence on entrepreneurship worldwide.