Funding will enable NMS’ continued educational support of high-performing math students, as well as expansion into new states and programs
HOUSTON, November 5, 2025 – National Math Stars (NMS), the non-profit that supports high-performing math students across the country, has received a generous grant from Astera Institute, whose mission is to “catalyze scientific and technological efforts that drive long-term progress.” Astera has provided NMS with $1.33 million in support.
Launched in 2023, NMS identifies mathematically extraordinary second- and third-graders and provides long-term, individualized support to help them make the most of their talents. NMS’ Voyager Stars program offers each student more than $100,000 in academic mentorship, enrichment opportunities, and other resources over the course of 10 years, or until high school graduation.
“We see our work as an investment in the future, fostering incredible STEM talent beginning with early education,” said Ilana Walder-Biesanz, CEO of National Math Stars. “Astera shares our excitement for bold experiments. Together, we can pioneer new approaches to education – and cultivate the talent that will drive innovation in science and technology. We’re extremely grateful for Astera’s investment.”
“Astera invests in areas that need innovation,” explained Seemay Chou, co-founder of Astera Institute. “Education is one of those, especially right now. We’re at a moment in history when AI is radically reshaping what we can achieve and how we go about it. Building a generation of innovators with exceptional quantitative and statistical thinking skills is increasingly essential as we move into the future. We’re excited to support National Math Stars, given their dedication to this area and willingness to take risks and try new things.”
National Math Stars recently inducted 102 exceptional young students as part of its 2025 Voyager Stars cohort, which for the first time includes learners from six additional states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The grant from Astera will accelerate NMS’ continued expansion and enable the launch of their new Pathfinder Stars program, with the overarching goal of supporting all of the country’s 1-in-1000 young mathematicians.
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About National Math Stars: Founded in 2023, National Math Stars is a nonprofit whose mission is to ensure mathematically extraordinary students from all communities have the resources they need to reach the frontiers of math and science. Learn more at www.nationalmathstars.org.
About Astera: Astera Institute is a nonprofit foundation based in Emeryville, CA focused on science and technology. Learn more at https://astera.org/.