Sharpen Your Skills: Back-to-School Classes for Entrepreneurs from Nasdaq

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is bringing you expert-led classes for entrepreneurs designed to strengthen every part of your business and sharpen your skills—from building communities that scale to mastering financial strategy. Explore our upcoming sessions below and reserve your spot today.

In the world of consumer-packaged goods (CPG), having a great product isn’t enough—you need a story that grabs attention, connects meaningfully with your buyers, and moves them to purchase. Whether you’re pitching to retail buyers, launching in-store, or connecting with customers online, your brand story plays a powerful role in driving go-to-market success. Laura Nespoli, Founder and Strategic Storyteller at Meshin Movement and Executive Strategy Director at Article Group, will join us for a session specifically designed for product-based founders looking to break into retail and scale their CPG brand. We’ll dive into how to craft and adapt your go-to-market story for the retail landscape.

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Having a recognizable brand is a business imperative. Brand consistency doesn’t just make you look good; it builds trust, drives recall, and directly impacts your bottom line. Companies that maintain a consistent brand across platforms see increased revenue— without any spending on ads or funnels. Natalie Nicole, CEO and Brand Strategist at Impackedful Creative, will share tools and strategies that will help entrepreneurs create a brand that earns trust, drives growth, and scales with confidence. You’ll learn why consistency across your messaging, visuals, and tone is one of the most overlooked growth levers— and how to activate it across every customer touchpoint.

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For product-based founders, understanding your numbers isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a non-negotiable skill for building a sustainable business.From pricing and production to forecasting and fundraising, the decisions that drive your growth all trace back to your financials. But if you’re unsure how to read a balance sheet, interpret a cash flow statement, or connect the dots between your margins and your marketing spend, you’re not alone—and you’re exactly who this session is for. Lindsay Kruit, CFO at LumiQ, will be leading a session on interpreting financial statements for product-based entrepreneurs. This session will break down the core financial reports every founder needs to understand and show you how to use them to make smarter, more strategic decisions.

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Growth isn’t just about having a great product, it’s about getting it into the right hands, through the right channels, with the right partners by your side. Strategic partnerships can open doors to new markets, increase brand visibility, and accelerate traction without the overhead of going it alone. But not all partnerships are created equal—and knowing how to identify, structure, and activate the right ones is essential for sustainable success. Samantha Carroll, CEO and Principal Consultant at Once Upon a Brand LLC, joins us for a session on strategic partnerships for product-based founders.

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Standing out in a crowded market isn’t just about having a great product; it’s about creating a digital experience that turns interest into sales and browsers into loyal customers. In this powerful session designed specifically for CPG entrepreneurs with Ari Krzyzek, CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalopia, you’ll learn how to create synergy between clear brand positioning and high-converting digital experiences across platforms. Plus, you’ll get access to CPG-specific templates and real case studies from health, wellness, and consumer product brands that’ve built ecommerce success from the ground up.

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Understanding where your business is headed isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Whether you’re planning inventory, preparing for retail partnerships, or seeking funding, a clear financial forecast gives you the roadmap to grow strategically and sustainably. Some early-stage entrepreneurs find forecasting intimidating or don’t know where to begin, but with the right tools and guidance, creating a forecast can be simpler—and more impactful—than you think.  Designed for product-based founders, Heather Tuason, Founder and CEO at Arena, will lead this session on financial forecasting for your business and help you create a practical, easy-to-use forecast.

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