# National Math Stars

> National Math Stars is a U.S. nonprofit that finds mathematically extraordinary second- and third-graders from all communities and commits to supporting them for up to a decade - through high school graduation. Each selected student receives more than $100,000 in mentorship, advanced coursework, STEM summer experiences, family advising, and community, at no cost to families. Founded in 2023 by former Bain consultant Ilana Walder-Biesanz and seeded with $16.5 million from Carina Initiatives and the Polynera Fund, the organization aims to build a diverse pipeline of talent capable of reaching the frontiers of math and science.

- **Founded:** 2023
- **Headquarters:** Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
- **Founders:** Ilana Walder-Biesanz (Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~30-35 employees
- **Products:** Math Awards, Pathfinder Stars, Voyager Stars
- **Notable:** Raised $16.5 million in seed philanthropy before graduating a first cohort (announced May 2024)., Founder & CEO Ilana Walder-Biesanz named a 2025 Bezos Courage & Civility Award recipient ($5 million)., Launched first cohorts in Texas and expanded into the Midwest, Iowa, and Southern states within roughly two years.

## Products & services

- **Math Awards** — A free program, offered in partnership with schools and districts, that identifies and honors the top ~2% of young mathematicians in grades 2-3 through broad universal screening.
- **Pathfinder Stars** — A selective, up-to-10-year enrichment program for roughly 1-in-1000 talent, offering coursework recommendations, mentoring, and a supportive community of peers.
- **Voyager Stars** — A fully funded, up-to-10-year program for 1-in-1000 talent students with the greatest need - providing math coaching, advanced coursework, STEM summer experiences, family advising, and financial assistance at no cost to families (more than $100,000 in resources per student).

## Achievements

- Raised $16.5 million in seed philanthropy before graduating a first cohort (announced May 2024).
- Founder & CEO Ilana Walder-Biesanz named a 2025 Bezos Courage & Civility Award recipient ($5 million).
- Launched first cohorts in Texas and expanded into the Midwest, Iowa, and Southern states within roughly two years.
- Commits more than $100,000 in resources per Voyager Stars student over up to 10 years, free to families.

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Announced a major expansion into Southern states, widening its search for mathematically extraordinary students.
- **2025-12** — Founder & CEO Ilana Walder-Biesanz recognized with a $5 million Bezos Courage & Civility Award.
- **2025-08** — Named its 2025 cohort of exceptional Iowa math students.
- **2025-01** — Announced Midwest expansion in support of mathematically extraordinary students.
- **2024-05** — Public launch and close of $16.5 million seed funding; began recruiting first Texas cohort.

## Links

- Website: https://nationalmathstars.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-math-stars
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxa4G7Tgzgg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalmathstars/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalMathStars

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/national-math-stars
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-03