The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is thrilled to have these incredible entrepreneurs in our Spring 2024 Milestone Makers cohort, all working on companies focused on UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Spring 2024 cohort supports entrepreneurs focused on Responsible Consumption and Production (#12) Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (#9), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (#11).
Milestone Makers is the Center’s flagship program, providing individualized mentorship and 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 Spring 2024 cohort were hand-selected after a competitive application process, and all hope to improve the lives of and support communities across the globe.
Find out more about the Milestone Makers program here. Applications are now open for the Summer 2024 Milestone Makers cohort which supports women entrepreneurs focused on any UN Sustainable Development Goal. Applications close Monday, April 29th at 11:59pm PT. Express interest here.
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Arnold Ponçon MILESTONE: Refine the value proposition & support systems needed (why, what, how, who) to launch our collaboration programs and accelerate the growth of our mission-oriented network. By implementing and facilitating access to a wide range of regenerative technologies in real-life examples of farmland owners, we want to create a massive movement of landscape and marine regeneration amongst agriculture & aquaculture industry leaders and their local communities. |
| Ayo Sopitan Metalex Commodities Inc. Zambia MILESTONE: Develop growth through acquisition strategy We produce and process energy metals like copper and cobalt. We ensure that host communities sustainably maintain some of the value produced from their mineral wealth by procuring 30% of our input from local miners that we identify, train, and equip. We also develop large-scale forest conservation and new forest development to offset our emissions and supply carbon credits to other players in our industry. We ensure that our metals are used in emission-reducing applications by tracking provenance from mine to the point of consumption. |
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Chidalu Onyenso Earthbond USA, Nigeria MILESTONE: Improve targeting and onboarding to boost SQL conversion to 30% We’re a one-stop shop that leverages carbon accounting and climate finance to help business owners switch to solar. |
| Chinonso Okafor Raise Humanity Initiative Nigeria MILESTONE: Engage more partners, trainers and break into three new communities launching the program Raise Humanity Initiative (RHI) is a social enterprise that uses plastic waste incentives to provide skills training and educational support to underserved youths and school children. Since inception, RHI has made tremendous impacts providing vocational skills training to over 500 young people between 18-30 in programs like tailoring, catering, shoe making, and digital skills. Additionally, our school partnership initiatives have supported over 1000 students at local secondary schools through donations of educational materials and upcycling trainings. Over two years of operations, RHI has empowered underserved youths and school children through skills training and educational support funded by 250 tons of recycled community plastic waste. |
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Ejide Akinbiyi MaterialsPro Nigeria MILESTONE: Develop a Go-to-Market strategy to launch the mobile version of our platform. MaterialsPro is an on-demand eProcurement and supply chain logistic platform facilitating seamless procurement of bulk building materials for home builders and contractors in the construction industry. |
| Ignasi Ferrer Ocean Ecostructures Spain MILESTONE: Develop and execute a market development strategy for the US market, opening opportunities to set up pilots in some of our core industries (ports, offshore wind, offshore oil) We are a bluetech startup providing scalable solutions to restore marine life, offesting the impact of human activities. |
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Kelvin Steve Replast Engineering Nigeria Nigeria MILESTONE: Develop partnerships with a minimum of 2 new lending institutions to enable us provide more affordable financing options for our customers Replast Engineering is a Nigerian cleantech startup founded in 2021 that provides customized solar energy solutions combined with innovative financing to empower women-led small and medium enterprises to make the switch to affordable clean power. Our end-to-end renewable electrification model conducted in partnership with microfinance institutions sustains income growth while accelerating localized climate action. To date, we have installed solar systems enabling over 250 women-owned enterprises to become more productive, resilient, and technology-enabled leaders within their communities. |
| Kingsley Ibe CreditChek Nigeria MILESTONE: Expand pipeline funnel for pilots in new markets. We streamline credit assessment for individuals and businesses in Africa.
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Nick Arbuckle Viro Worldwide MILESTONE: Develop and execute a creative, out of the box enterprise outreach strategy Employee engagement platform to enhance corporate sustainability initiatives. |
| Patty Bollenbach RxPlace USA MILESTONE: Establish a scalable sales methodology that effectively transitions qualified prospects into committed customers. RxPlace redefines medication sourcing for pharmacies with a user-friendly marketplace. It connects them directly with a diverse network of vetted suppliers for streamlined access to necessary medications. This efficient platform enhances patient safety, mitigates the risk of drug shortages, and optimizes costs, empowering pharmacists to prioritize patient care and community wellness. |
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Tokunbo Arannilewa Eonsfleet Nigeria MILESTONE: Develop a Go-to-Market strategy to launch our upgraded version of our fleet management solution. Eonsfleet revolutionizes fleet management by leveraging visionary technology, AI-powered analytics, and intelligent tools, enabling businesses to optimize fleet operations, enhance safety, boost efficiency, and cultivate sustainable practices. Our innovative solution transforms the fleet management landscape, empowering businesses to thrive economically while contributing to a greener future. |
| Uyen Tran TomTex Inc. USA MILESTONE: Craft a comprehensive Business Development/ Sales Strategy Handbook, complete with off-take contracts structure and pricing strategy optimization. TomTex is a leading material science company dedicated to developing a cutting-edge platform technology for creating sustainable textiles sourced directly from waste materials, not fossil fuels. |
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Learn more about the Milestone Makers program here.
Do you have a unique perspective in your industry or field that you would like to share as a mentor? Apply to be a mentor for the Milestone Makers at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and pay it forward by emailing colin.mahin@thecenter.nasdaq.org
