Connecting Dots

What Connecting Dots does

Connecting Dots Globally (CDG) is a Troy, Michigan-based nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship and small business development through an integrated portfolio of programmatic services. Founded in 2000, CDG delivers four primary pathways — Idea to Launch, Growth and Development, Capital Readiness, and Global Readiness — alongside the flagship Global Trade Mission (GTM), an immersive high school simulation of global business, entrepreneurship, STEAM innovation, and international trade. The organization serves four primary personas: youth and students, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and underserved communities, with the stated thesis that "talent exists everywhere; opportunity should too."

CDG positions itself as an ecosystem builder rather than a single-program provider, maintaining partnerships across nonprofits, schools, universities, governments, economic development leaders, and private companies. Its most significant formal strategic partnership is with International Strategic Management (ISM), which supplies expertise in program design, funding readiness, small business development, global trade, and ecosystem building. ISM personnel, notably Phillip Gaskin (Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development Ambassador), sit on CDG's board of directors.

The organization operates on a donation and sponsorship funding model with three publicly disclosed tiers: general programming support (any amount), sponsor-a-participant ($500+), and sponsor-a-program ($50,000+), processed via PayPal. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the organization maintains a lean 1–10 employee footprint under founder/chairman Faris Alami's leadership. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, app, or API offering is described; distribution is overwhelmingly in-person through community, school, and university engagements across Michigan.

Name

Connecting Dots

Legal name

Connecting Dots Globally

Website

https://connectingdotsglobally.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connecting Dots Globally is a Troy, Michigan nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship support programs — including a flagship youth Global Trade Mission simulation and four entrepreneur pathways (idea, growth, capital, global readiness) — funded via donations and sponsorships, serving youth, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and underserved communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Youth entrepreneurship programs
• Small business development
• Nonprofit education services
• Global trade simulation
• Entrepreneurship mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: CDG generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting general programming, as well as structured sponsorship tiers for participants ($500+) and full programs ($50,000+). This is a nonprofit funding model reliant on philanthropic contributions and mission-aligned sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Connecting Dots Globally (CDG) is a nonprofit that delivers entrepreneurship education and small business development programming across four structured pathways: Idea to Launch (business planning, customer discovery, branding, financial foundations), Growth and Development (coaching, systems, leadership support), Capital Readiness (funding preparation and pitch support), and Global Readiness (cross-border relationship building). The flagship offering is the Global Trade Mission (GTM), an immersive simulation that engages high school students in global business, STEAM innovation, and international trade. Programs are delivered directly through partnerships with schools, universities, nonprofits, governments, and companies.

Product overview

Connecting Dots Globally is a nonprofit organization offering an integrated portfolio of entrepreneurship support programs and services. The flagship offering is the Global Trade Mission (GTM), a youth program that immerses high school students in global business simulation. The organization delivers a structured pathway of services including Idea to Launch (business planning and early-stage support), Growth and Development (coaching and scaling strategies), Capital Readiness (funding preparation), and Global Readiness (cross-border market expansion). These programs collectively support youth, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and underserved communities through entrepreneurship, global readiness, and ecosystem-building support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Trade Mission (GTM) Flagship youth entrepreneurship program that engages high school students in an immersive simulation of global business, entrepreneurship, STEAM innovation, and international trade. Students build business concepts, solve real-world problems, work with mentors, and pitch solutions to leaders.
• Idea to Launch Entrepreneurship support pathway offering business planning, customer discovery, branding, financial foundations, and early-stage entrepreneurship support for entrepreneurs at the startup stage.
• Growth and Development Entrepreneurship support pathway providing coaching, systems development, leadership support, and strategies designed to help small businesses stabilize and scale their operations.
• Capital Readiness Funding preparation program that strengthens business models, provides pitch support, develops financial materials, and enables investor-ready planning.
• Global Readiness Programs and partnerships that prepare entrepreneurs to build cross-border relationships and explore new international markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ individuals assisted with IT job placement
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Strategic Management (ISM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM is CDG's strategic partner providing expertise in program design, funding readiness, small business development, global trade, and ecosystem building. This partnership enables CDG to connect participants and communities to international entrepreneurship expertise. ISM personnel, including Phillip Gaskin as Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development Ambassador, serve on CDG's Board of Directors.
• TechTown – Wayne State University's Research and Technology ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaris Alami partnered with TechTown while managing over 45 start-ups and playing a role in planning entrepreneurial training, talent, and international initiatives. This is referenced as past experience of CDG's founder rather than an active partnership.
• Kauffman FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhillip Gaskin serves as Senior Director of Entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which is also referenced as the organization behind the FastTrac Facilitator certification program that Faris Alami holds. This represents personnel overlap rather than formal organizational partnership.
• Wayne County Community College DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerrance Campbell designed the Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity Degree Program at Wayne County Community College District. This represents program design collaboration rather than formal organizational partnership.
• Wayne State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeremy Peters is Assistant Professor of Music Business in the Department of Music at Wayne State University, and Faris Alami mentors University of Michigan MBA students. These represent academic affiliations rather than formal organizational partnerships.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused entrepreneurship hubs offering incubation, programs, and ecosystem support. Comparable in mission, ecosystem-building model, and connection to Phillip Gaskin (former COO) who serves on CDG's board.
• BUILD: National nonprofit providing entrepreneurship education to youth from underserved communities. Directly comparable on the youth entrepreneurship pathway (akin to CDG's Global Trade Mission) and on the inclusive economic opportunity mission.
• Echoing Green: Global nonprofit identifying and investing in emerging social entrepreneurs through fellowships and leadership programming. Comparable in social entrepreneurship focus, fellowship-style talent engagement, and ecosystem building.
• NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship): Nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship education programs to young people from underserved communities. Closely comparable on the youth entrepreneurship and STEAM/career-readiness pathway similar to CDG's Global Trade Mission.
• SCORE: The largest U.S. nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors providing free small business advice, education, and resources. Directly comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit offering structured small business coaching and entrepreneurship education.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global nonprofit supporting social entrepreneurs and ecosystem building through fellowships and programming. Comparable in mission (inclusive entrepreneurship) and ecosystem-based operating model, though at materially larger scale.
• Endeavor: Global nonprofit supporting high-impact entrepreneurs through mentorship, networks, and funding access. Comparable on the high-growth entrepreneurship pathway, ecosystem approach, and global readiness dimension.
• SBA Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Federally funded network providing free small business advising, training, and capital readiness support. Overlaps with CDG's coaching, business planning, and capital readiness programming at a national scale.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Major U.S. foundation focused on entrepreneurship education and ecosystem research, including the FastTrac program. Directly relevant as a curriculum-credentialing counterpart and funder, with overlapping youth and small business programming.

Regional players

• TechTown Detroit: Wayne State University-affiliated startup hub where CDG's founder managed 45+ startups. Comparable as a Michigan-based entrepreneurship support organization with overlapping talent networks and program philosophies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecting-dots-globally

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connecting Dots