The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is thrilled to have these 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 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 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.
Find out more about the Milestone Makers program here. Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 Milestone Makers cohort which supports entrepreneurs 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). Applications close Monday, January 27th at 11:59pm PT. Express interest here.
Abdul-Kudus Alhassan
Enlight Education
MILESTONE: Develop a product pricing strategy to inform our go-to-market
Enlight Education provides sustainable access to relevant and engaging educational materials for individuals and communities that do not have reliable internet access. With an offline-first Learning Management System (LMS), Elight’s proprietary device, the Book of Everything, combines robust hardware and advanced software to deliver high-quality, interactive learning resources aligned with local curricula to empower students and educators globally. Enlight provides data-driven insights, personalized learning tools, and cost-effective solutions, enabling equitable access to education, regardless of geographic or financial barriers.
MILESTONE:Find new sales channels and partners to create recurring revenue instead of one-time sales.
MyTindy is an innovative marketplace transforming the artisan industry by empowering over 2,000 Moroccan artisans, predominantly women, to sell their handcrafted products globally. Founded in 2020, MyTindy bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and the digital world through cutting-edge AI solutions, making it accessible even for illiterate artisans. Shoppers can explore authentic Moroccan products and have them delivered worldwide, ensuring a seamless global shopping experience.
Partnering with global organizations like the World Bank, UNDP, and Royal Air Maroc, MyTindy has become a trusted platform for exporting Moroccan handicrafts. The company’s mission is to drive sustainability and empower artisans by digitizing their businesses, expanding their reach, and showcasing Moroccan craftsmanship on the world stage.
Blandine Umuziranenge
Kosmotive
MILESTONE: Develop a sustainable funding model for scale
Kosmotive is a social enterprise founded in 2014 to improve Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health in Rwanda and throughout Africa. Our goals include the provision of access to menstrual, maternal and child health information and products as well as sensitizing about breaking the stigma around menstruation to ensure that no one is held back because they menstruate. Through publishing Cosmos Magazine, running KosmoHealth App and Helpline, empowering parents and girls through KosmoWearables collections of maternity and nursing wear, as well as manufacturing and distributing KosmoPads reusable sanitary pads; Kosmotive promotes feminine freedom despite the flow.
At Kosmotive, we care deeply about ending period poverty because we believe in a world where every woman and girl has the right to dignity, health, and equal opportunity—regardless of their socioeconomic status.
MILESTONE:Reposition and refine products and offerings for B2B customers and partners
AlumUnite leverages innovative digital communities to solve Africa’s education funding challenges. We promote collaboration, transparency, and shared governance by connecting students, school leaders, and alumni. Our insights-driven platform unlocks sustainable funding and ensures lasting impact, empowering Africa’s youth with quality education and brighter opportunities.
MILESTONE: Sell Calificadas APP to 75 companies within the next 12 weeks
Calificadas APP is an innovative platform that enhances communication and leadership skills for women in the workplace. Using AI-driven feedback, live masterclasses, and tailored training tools, we empower teams to improve confidence, productivity, and impact. Our mission is to help organizations invest in their female talent through cutting-edge solutions that drive professional growth and promote inclusivity.
Dr Bolanle Adewusi
The Scholarship Whizz
MILESTONE: Automate The Scholarship Whizz’s sales process and create a comprehensive go-to-market strategy to scale.
At The Scholarship Whizz, we are dedicated to streamlining the educational funding application process for students worldwide, particularly those from developing and developed nations in Africa, Asia, and South America. Our mission is to enhance accessibility to higher education by dismantling financial barriers. With a strong commitment to fairness and openness, our consultancy is changing how students access scholarships.
MILESTONE: Refine my product, and onboard B2C users
FriendnPal is Africa’s first AI-powered, multilingual mental health platform, providing culturally relevant support to underserved communities. We bridge the gap in mental health care by offering personalized resources, peer support, and professional guidance through a user-friendly app. Our services include early detection tools, psycho-social support, and educational programs tailored to address stigma and empower communities. By leveraging innovative technology and collaborating with local and international organizations, FriendnPal is transforming how mental health is approached, ensuring accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity for all, while fostering resilience and well-being across Africa.
Esther M. Manthi
Brains For AI
MILESTONE: Develop a sustainable funding model, to secure long-term financial stability and support the scaling of our initiatives.
Brains For AI Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to democratizing AI education and driving innovation across Africa. Through AI development programs, we equip young Africans with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to excel in the digital era. Our work bridges the digital divide, fosters inclusion in technology, and addresses Africa’s unique challenges using AI-powered solutions. Collaborating with schools, universities, community organizations, and global tech partners, we provide cutting-edge resources and mentorship. Our mission is to empower youth to lead, innovate, and actively participate in the global AI revolution.
Kourtney Rincon, MS
The Missing Piece App
MILESTONE: Develop a scalable sales process that provides actionable insights to inform future growth and support fundraising efforts.
Revolutionizing the autism care industry by providing a centralized software application that simplifies access to diagnosis, treatment, and community resources for families with children on the autism spectrum.
MILESTONE: Develop a Digital Transformation Strategy to scale our training program’s and reach
Hopcyku transforms waste into valuable products like furniture, shoes, and bags while creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities. We empower unemployed women and youth with vocational training to upcycle waste, generating income and reducing pollution. Our sustainable model integrates product sales, skill development, and waste reduction, addressing poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation. By collaborating with schools, governments, and NGOs, we amplify impact, provide affordable eco-friendly products, and promote inclusion. Hopcyku’s replicable approach combines social and environmental solutions, fostering cleaner communities and sustainable livelihoods.
Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters
TechUp Africa
MILESTONE: Develop a comprehensive framework for a Data Talent Accelerator that will equip Africans with the technical skills needed to start a career in data and enhance their employability.
TechUp Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young Africans with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in the tech industry. We do this through a multi-faceted approach that combines scholarships, mentoring, and soft-skills development.
W. Leif Van Grinsven
Small Farm Cities Africa
MILESTONE: Expand product offering to drive new revenue streams
At Small Farm Cities, we build affordable agricultural communities for Africans living at the bottom of the economic pyramid. We construct eco-friendly homes for $1000 using innovative green technology and work with families to manage backyard farms around their homes. We’ve harvested over 1 million pounds of vegetables to date. We work with companies, non-profits and local communities to design, build, and manage environmentally friendly, self-sustaining communities, and create ways of paying back the homes and creating jobs through climate-smart agribusinesses.
Yasmina Benslimane
Politics4Her
MILESTONE: Establish diversified and sustainable funding streams that ensure long-term impact and financial stability.
Politics4Her is an intersectional feminist, youth-led organization empowering young women and girls globally to lead in politics, leadership, and decision-making. Through mentorship programs, advocacy campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives, we break barriers to political participation and amplify underrepresented voices.
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
