By Kamy Twiggs Taylor, Program Director, Milestone Circles — Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
If you joined our recent info session, you saw it happen in real time: founders from California to North Carolina dropped into the chat with the same three refrains:
- “I’m so busy working in my business that I never work on it.”
- “I know the goal—no clue how to access the right steps.”
- “I feel like I’m doing this alone.”
That’s exactly why we built Milestone Circles five years ago: a free, 12-week, milestone-driven journey where U.S.-based entrepreneurs commit to one business-critical goal and move it forward with structured accountability, targeted mentorship, and a national community that genuinely wants them to win.
What the 12 weeks actually look like
Here’s the inside track I shared live:
- Weekly onboardings year-round. When you’re accepted, you don’t wait a quarter—you can usually start within weeks.
- One clear milestone. In onboarding, you’ll articulate a 12-week business goal tied to what’s keeping you up at night. (Don’t over-engineer it beforehand—trust the process.)
- Your rhythm: ~4–7 hours/week. Most founders spend this time executing their plan: taking live classes (minimum five during the program), booking 1:1 sessions through Mentor Makers, tapping Cornerstone Mentors (alumni who’ve just solved what you’re tackling), and joining our optional Wednesday accountability sessions to set two-week sprint goals.
- Flexible, not fragile. Need to refine your milestone mid-journey? Great—business is iterative; we support smart pivots.
- Graduate, then keep going. We close with a virtual graduation where you share your milestone results, renewed vision, and a pay-it-forward commitment. Alumni join a vibrant national network, in-person convenings, and, yes, occasional media moments—including MarketSite tower features in Times Square for founders whose progress and impact stand out.
Who’s eligible: You must be U.S.-based and already launched (sole prop, LLC—stage varies). We run small, high-touch cohorts (often ~12 for core peer work). Seats fill quickly because we start new groups every week.
Why this works (and keeps working)
Entrepreneurship isn’t a mystery—it’s a sequence of milestones. The “unlock” is peer accountability: a circle that reflects your blind spots, celebrates progress, and shares playbooks you didn’t know existed.
Founders say it best:
- “Being part of Milestone Circles feels like cooking in a kitchen full of talented chefs… We share recipes for success, taste-test ideas, and celebrate every win together.”
- “I’ve gained referrals, found collaborators, and had people speak my name in rooms I wasn’t in… That support helped me scale and make a bigger impact.”
- “Peer connections… renewed resilience… wisdom, encouragement, and resources that helped me navigate challenges and accelerate our mission with greater strength and clarity.”
- “By exchanging real, authentic experiences… entrepreneurs focus more on self-care, and uncover opportunities that might have taken years to find on their own.”
Made free by design
Thanks to the Wells Fargo Foundation’s multi-year support, Milestone Circles remains 100% free to qualified participants. That means no tuition, no equity, no strings—just access to education, mentorship, and a community that keeps showing up.
What I heard in Q&A—and what I told the room
- “How many classes?” Minimum five live classes aligned to your milestone (many take more).
- “Matching with mentors?” Browse Mentor Makers, book directly with subject-matter experts; Cornerstone Mentors (alumni) add near-peer guidance.
- “Can my co-founder join?” Yes—note it on your application so we can cohort you together.
- “What happens after?” Alumni keep meeting, mentoring, and showing up at Center convenings. Your Circle doesn’t end at week 12; it expands.
If you’re on the fence
Two prompts I gave during the session:
- What’s the thing keeping you up at night?
- If you could meaningfully change it in 12 weeks, would you?
If the answer to #2 is “yes,” then your timing is right.
Applications for Year 5 are open now. If you’re a U.S.-based entrepreneur with a launched business and you’re ready to translate ambition into measurable progress—with peers, mentors, and a proven framework—I’d love to see you in a Circle.
Apply today: nasdaqcenter.org/milestone-circles
(P.S. Office Hours are Fridays, 12–1 pm PT. If you’ve already been accepted and are waiting on your start date, we’re on it—pop into Office Hours or email us and we’ll help get you placed.)
This program is free for entrepreneurs and made possible thanks to the generous support of the Wells Fargo Foundation. Wells Fargo is committed to supporting entrepreneurs as they continue to invest in the success and sustainability of small businesses.
