SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 29, 2016) - The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, which supports entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds with free education, resources and mentorship, today announced its inaugural class of 12 'Milestone Makers.'
Through a competitive application process, this first-of-its-kind program is awarded to a cohort of entrepreneurs representing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, company sizes, stage of development, capital and industry -- from consumer to technology to social impact and more.
Foundational to the program is a network of support: each founder will have a coach, acting as a sounding board, and 3-4 business mentors. Each Milestone Maker receives a customized set of rigorous classes and state-of-the-art resources -- with an approximate value of $250,000. In the pay-it-forward spirit of Silicon Valley, graduating entrepreneurs will also return to the Center to teach future classes of Milestone Makers.
The goals of the 12-week program are:
1. Help entrepreneurs define and attain success on their own terms, for the long-term,
2. Support the growth of individuals as lifetime entrepreneurs, rather than the growth of a single business, and
3. Recognize and amplify the important business milestones that fall outside traditional measures of success.
The inaugural 2016 class of Milestone Makers includes:
- Ming Zhao, AMMO
- Trevor Cobb, Bramble Outdoor
- Ty Walrod, Bright Funds
- Umesh Tibrewal, BuzzBoard
- Mariana Frese, Hellotracks
- Tiffany Pham, Mogul
- Ibrahima Wagne, Petel
- Justin Wright, Qotient
- Matthew Lock, Raddish
- La Donna Higgins, The Startup Admin
- Jean-Philippe Emelie Marcos, SignifAI
- Justin Oberman, Till
"We're thrilled to be launching this inaugural class of Milestone Makers, alongside our own first anniversary," said Nicola Corzine, executive director, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. "During the past year, the Center has supported more than 3,000 entrepreneurs in 200 programs, and we've learned that in order for entrepreneurs to succeed they need a personalized learning path and network of support to overcome challenges and achieve their business goals. We can't wait to see what these entrepreneurs achieve over the next 12 weeks and beyond."
"Joining the Milestone Makers this fall couldn't come at a better time for my company," said Ming Zhao at AMMO. "I feel as though the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center will support my company growth through its tremendous network and the caliber of its coaching. But most importantly, it will support me, as a leader, as a founder, and as a member of the startup community. The Center's holistic approach to supporting founders is extremely valuable at this stage in my growth."
Upon completion of their milestones, the inaugural class will take the Nasdaq stage in San Francisco to ring the Closing Bell on Wednesday, January 11. The program runs quarterly; applications and nominations for the next cohort will be available Tuesday, October 4. For more information, please visit http://thecenter.nasdaq.org/.
About the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization designed to educate, innovate and connect aspiring and current entrepreneurs. Established in 2014 with support from the Nasdaq Educational Foundation, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center serves the greater Bay Area community through differentiated events, meaningful entrepreneurial education and a prominent mentorship program. For further information, please visit http://thecenter.nasdaq.org/.
About The Nasdaq Educational Foundation
The Nasdaq Educational Foundation, Inc. was established in 1994 and is supported entirely by contributors from Nasdaq. The mission of The Nasdaq Educational Foundation, Inc. is to promote and provide opportunities through collaborations and initiatives that support and deliver innovative educational programs and charitable activities.