Milestone Markers - January 13, 2025

As we kick off the new year, we’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our entrepreneurial community. From groundbreaking funding rounds and high-profile partnerships to prestigious recognitions and international collaborations, our Milestone Makers and Milestone Circles alumni continue to redefine success and inspire us all.

We’re also spotlighting key resources and insights from our corporate partners, alongside an exciting lineup of upcoming workshops designed to empower you with the tools, strategies, and connections to achieve your next big milestone.

Finally, don’t miss the chance to apply for the Spring 2025 Milestone Makers cohort or explore the inspiring story of Morgan Smith, founder of minnow, in this month’s Faces of Entrepreneurship.

Let’s make 2025 a year of bold milestones, innovative breakthroughs, and collective impact. Thank you for being a vital part of our community!

Updates from our Entrepreneurial Community?

Milestone Maker Angel Rich 's CreditRich opened their $100 million Series B Round at a $1 billion valuation?More

Milestone Maker Adeola Ayoola , Co-Founder at Famasi Africa , was profiled by Business Day More

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognized Milestone Circles alum Pallavi Pande 's Dtocs LLC as one of the Top 100 Businesses in America More

Milestone Maker Prasoon Sharma 's WUS Ap?( Pradivya Software Pvt Ltd (Brand-WUS) ) signed a Letter of Intent with RKW Baden-Württemberg More

Milestone Maker Chanel Power ???? 's Mentor Me Collective is partnering with 谷歌 's Tech Equity Collective (TEC) to provide first-generation techies access to Top Tech Events & Conferences More

Center Advisory Board member Weilyn Chong 's swsh was featured in The Webby Awards 2024's Staff Picks "What to Download"?More?

Corporate Partner Resources?& Opportunities

Nasdaq

Defining CSRD Benchmarks: An AI-Driven Global Analysis: This report provides a global view into company readiness for the Corporate Sustainability and Reporting Directive (CSRD). The goal is to uncover trends across sectors, geographic regions, and market cap bands to help companies understand CSRD readiness and compare efforts with peers.

毕马威

AI Adoption Across US Finance Functions Reaches Highest Levels, with ROI Exceeding Expectations: The use of AI in the finance function has reached its highest levels yet, with 62% of US companies using AI to a moderate or large degree, according to a new report released today by KPMG.

BPM LLP

Understanding ESG: What it is and why it matters: Discover what ESG is and how the framework drives business value through environmental, social, and governance practices.

HubSpot

Implementing AI in Your Marketing Tech Stack — Expert Tips and Tricks You Need to Know: From chatbots to campaign automation — an expert playbook for building an AI-powered marketing infrastructure.

Upcoming Classes & Workshops

Startup Mindsets: A Blueprint to Thrive with Earl Valencia Jan 14 (TOMORROW): Discover strategies to lead with agility, embrace innovation, and succeed in today's rapidly evolving global landscape with Earl Martin Valencia .

Profit-Driven Productivity: Maximize Time and Revenue Jan 15: Learn how to prioritize high-impact tasks and build systems that drive growth and revenue without burning out with Jamila Payne .

KPI Driven Innovation Jan 16: Join us for a conversation on the Venture Equity Project's 2024 report with State of Illinois DCEO, NC IDEA Foundation!

People First: Lessons from a Refugee-Turned-Unicorn Founder Jan 16: Explore strategies for entrepreneurial resilience, people-first leadership, and impact-driven decision-making with Payam Zamani .

Networking for Fundraising and Market Access Jan 21: Learn how to strategically expand your network, build authentic relationships, and unlock funding & market opportunities with Marion Siboni .

The Power of Community: How to Build a Values-Aligned 7-Figure Business Jan 23: Learn how to build a profitable bootstrapped business that aligns with your values and unlocks the power of community with Gesche Haas .

How to Transition to Entrepreneurship Full-Time Jan 28: Navigating Down Round Financing with Partners from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Just a few weeks left to apply!

ICYMI: The Spring 2025 Milestone Makers cohort is supporting entrepreneurs building businesses focused on Clean and Affordable Energy (UN SDG #7), Innovation, Industry, and Infrastructure (UN SDG #9), Responsible Consumption and Production (UN SDG #12), and Climate Action (UN SDG #13). Express interest now! Once we receive your expression of interest, we will send you the application. Applications are now open and due by January 27th, 2025 @ 11:59pm PST

Faces of Entrepreneurship

Morgan Smith is the founder of minnow , a family lifestyle brand inspired by her upbringing in Laguna Beach and her love of the ocean. The idea for minnow was sparked during a family trip to the Amalfi Coast, when Morgan struggled to find stylish, well-fitting swimwear for her 14-month-old son. Determined to fill this gap, she created a swimwear collection defined by timeless design, thoughtful details, and high-quality craftsmanship. In this profile, Morgan reflects on her path to building minnow, the challenges she’s faced, and the values that guide her work. Read More

Community Voices

Inc. Magazine 20 Easy Ways to Get Organized in Your Business in 2025 Start the new year on the right foot with a tidy workspace. This list of 25 tasks will help you get organized in your business - Rashelle Isip

O'Reilly Radar Trends to Watch: January 2025 Developments in Security, Programming, AI, and More - Mike Loukides

Fast Company Fun is essential to thriving. This question will help you prioritize it Speaker and science journalist Catherine Price on silencing the inner critic that inhibits play, strengthening our relationships through humor, and making decisions to prioritize fun.

Crunchbase AI for Small Businesses: Benefits and Tools to Drive Growth Artificial intelligence has become vital for small businesses. This guide to AI for small businesses shares tips and tools for your company - Rebecca Strehlow

TechCrunch Here are the five best pieces of founder advice I learned as a host of Found After more than two years — and nearly 100 episodes — as a host of TechCrunch’s recently ended Found podcast, I have learned a lot about how founders approach building their startups. - Rebecca Szkutak

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 inclusion, 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.