Five years ago, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center recognized that entrepreneurship often feels like a solitary climb, especially for founders facing limited resources, unclear paths, and complex decisions without sufficient support. In response and made possible with the generous support of Wells Fargo, we launched Milestone Circles, the signature 12-week program helping U.S.-based founders build, scale, and lead with purpose.
Our expanded collaboration with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center establishes Wells Fargo as the official Banking Sponsor across all milestone-based immersive programs and technical assistance initiatives. Together, we are extending weekly learning opportunities that provide the education, resources, and mentorship founders need to accelerate toward $1 million in revenue and grow as owner-employer firms. This expansion now encompasses Milestone Makers, community classes, and late-stage Center programming.
In the coming year, we will scale Milestone Circles by 30% to reach 2,926 entrepreneurs, grow the mentor network to 215 cornerstone mentors, and deliver more than 26,334 hours of technical assistance. For the first time, half of participants will also have access to an asynchronous learning journey; advancing our understanding of digital support while strengthening the delivery of education, resources, and mentorship.
Structured for Sustainable Success
At the heart of Milestone Circles is an intentional and structured design that guides founders through a clear, measurable 12-week action plan focused on milestone achievement. Participants engage weekly with curated peer cohorts and receive targeted mentorship from experienced business leaders, turning ambitious plans into actionable steps. This format fosters accountability and consistent progress, critical elements for entrepreneurial success at any stage.
This participant experience reflects broader program effectiveness documented through comprehensive outcome measurement. Additionally, 94% of alumni report increased confidence in their entrepreneurial capabilities, while 92% remain actively engaged with the program community.
“Being a Milestone Circle Mentor is one of the most important volunteer roles I have participated in! Being part of my mentee’s journey is nothing but rewarding in every area—from business planning, marketing, financial resources to self-care and the highs and lows of embarking on the entrepreneur journey. This journey is rewarding for both of us on many levels; the most important, though, are emotional, mental, and soothing to the soul, just knowing that someone is there to help.”
— Helena Smolock, founder of Velocity Athletic Training
Thanks to Wells Fargo’s continued commitment to providing access and knowledge, Milestone Circles remains entirely free for every participating entrepreneur, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent qualified founders from accessing high-quality support and community.
Building Clarity, Confidence, and Leadership Capability
Beyond tangible business outcomes, Milestone Circles significantly enhances entrepreneurs’ internal confidence and clarity of purpose. This internal transformation proves essential for sustainable leadership and long-term growth, particularly as founders navigate the inevitable challenges of building and scaling businesses.
The program’s focus on holistic wellbeing and sustainable growth helps prevent entrepreneurial burnout, an essential but often overlooked aspect of long-term business success. Through structured milestone achievement and peer accountability, participants develop sustainable work practices and strategic thinking capabilities that serve them throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.
Comprehensive program evaluation reinforces these transformational outcomes. Beyond the 94% of founders reporting increased confidence, participants consistently demonstrate improved strategic thinking, enhanced leadership capabilities, and stronger connection to their core business values upon program completion. The ability to access these critical resources remains possible because Milestone Circles is provided free of charge, driven by the enduring collaboration between Wells Fargo and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
“Being part of Milestone Circles feels like cooking in a kitchen full of talented chefs! We are sharing recipes for success, taste-test each other’s ideas, and celebrate every win together. The communal connections spark collaborations I didn’t even anticipate, helping my mentees (and me!) grow faster and lean into dreaming so much bigger. Our huge, yet close-knit, community proves that with the right ladies in your corner, we can put the ingredients together and rise like fresh bread in a warm oven.”
— Chef Cassi, owner of ChefCassi.com
Amplifying Peer-Driven Growth and Community Impact
Milestone Circles is intentionally designed not only as a standalone experience but as an ongoing community fostering continuous peer-driven growth and mutual support. Founders who complete the program regularly return as mentors, creating a vibrant, self-sustaining network that extends far beyond the initial 12-week experience.
Peer-driven growth represents a central element of Milestone Circles‘ effectiveness, as evidenced by sustained alumni engagement and community building. An impressive 92% of alumni remain actively involved in the program community, and over 50% return as peer mentors, contributing their expertise and experience to support new cohorts of entrepreneurs.
This sustained ecosystem of mutual support and continuous learning is made possible through Wells Fargo‘s generous support, which ensures that high-quality mentorship, structured programming, and community-building resources remain freely available to all participants. The investment creates not just individual business success but community-wide entrepreneurship capability and economic development.
The Foundational Role of Wells Fargo’s Support
The continued accessibility and quality of Milestone Circles reflects Wells Fargo’s foundational commitment and strategic collaboration through sustained financial support and employee engagement. Since 2020, Wells Fargo & Company and The Wells Fargo Foundation has contributed over $5 million, ensuring that all participating entrepreneurs access the program at no cost while providing additional small-business resources and expertise.
Beyond financial resources, Wells Fargo employees contribute directly as mentors and Global Fellows, sharing operational insights and real-world expertise with participating founders. This employee engagement creates mutual value, providing Wells Fargo team members with leadership development opportunities while offering entrepreneurs access to corporate expertise and diverse perspectives.
“Supporting Milestone Circles empowers small business owners with access to knowledge, mentorship, and community. At Wells Fargo, we are committed to strategically and consistently uplifting entrepreneurs. Our support goes beyond funding, we’re focused on strengthening the small business ecosystem, leveraging expertise, and creating sustainable pathways that elevate entire communities.”
— Kimelyn Harris, Head of Small Business Growth Philanthropy, Wells Fargo
The collaboration’s success stems from shared values and complementary capabilities that create synergistic impact. Wells Fargo brings financial resources, corporate expertise, employee engagement opportunities, and extensive small business support infrastructure. The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center contributes program design expertise, entrepreneurship community connections, curriculum development capabilities, and outcome measurement systems.
Wells Fargo and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center share a long-standing commitment to supporting founders, ensuring the continued delivery of this essential program to entrepreneurs nationwide while demonstrating the power of strategic partnership in addressing complex social and economic challenges.
Looking Ahead: Year 5 and Continued Innovation
Entering its fifth year, Milestone Circles continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact while maintaining the quality and personal attention that distinguish the program from other entrepreneurship support initiatives. Year 5 goals include increasing entrepreneurs served while preserving the intimate peer connections and personalized mentorship that drive program effectiveness.
“As we step into Year 5, our promise holds true: Milestone Circles will always be accessible, results-driven, and rooted in community. We’re scaling with intention, widening our reach, deepening mentorship, and expanding digital learning so more founders across the country can turn bold ambition into measurable growth and success.”
— Nicola Corzine, executive director, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Upcoming initiatives include enhanced digital learning experiences, expanded mentorship resources through continued collaboration with Wells Fargo‘s Global Volunteer Mentors, and specialized support for entrepreneurs in high-growth sectors. These enhancements build upon the proven foundation while responding to evolving entrepreneur needs and market conditions.
Continuous feedback loops and outcome-driven data collection ensure Milestone Circles remains responsive to the changing landscape of entrepreneurship while maintaining its foundational promise: the program will remain completely free, thanks to the shared commitment to providing access and knowledge to all qualified U.S.-based founders.
A Shared Vision for Entrepreneurial Success and Economic Development
The five-year journey of Milestone Circles demonstrates what becomes possible when organizations align around shared values and complementary capabilities to address complex challenges. The program’s success reflects not just individual entrepreneur achievement but the power of community-driven support, strategic partnership, and sustained commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
To every entrepreneur who has participated in Milestone Circles: your milestones embody our mission and illustrate the transformational potential of structured support combined with peer community. Your progress demonstrates what becomes possible when ambition meets accountability, expert guidance, and collaborative learning.
To Wells Fargo, thank you for your enduring support and strategic collaboration. Your investment continues to empower thousands of entrepreneurs while demonstrating the mutual value that emerges from authentic partnership focused on shared impact rather than individual recognition.
For founders considering their next milestone and seeking structured support for their entrepreneurial journey, we invite you to explore how Milestone Circles can accelerate your growth and connect you with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs committed to mutual success.
Ready to make measurable progress? Apply to Milestone Circles Year 5 to set a clear milestone, get expert mentorship, and grow with a supportive founder community. Start your application at https://nasdaqcenter.org/milestone-circles/
