Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but most share a common thread: the motivation to create something meaningful.

For Nina Rosete, co-founder of DataDesign Solutions, that drive was fueled by a deeply personal experience and a vision to transform educational technology. 

Today, DataDesign is owned by Banyan Software and Nina continues to lead the company she started as COO, ensuring it continues to grow in good hands.

Nina’s story begins not in tech, but in the high-stakes world of investment banking. It was a phone call from her friend and future business partner, Dawn Verdick, that set her on a new path.

“There are six billion people on the planet. Why would anyone feel so sad, lonely or hopeless?” Dawn asked, shaken by a news story about a young boy’s suicide. Nina’s response was immediate: “I have no idea what you’re up to. But I’m in.”

It lit a fire within Nina to use technology to address critical gaps in educational and emotional support for children. This spark led to the creation of Dare to Dream, a nonprofit organization that empowers children to pursue their dreams. Much more than a business, it was a cause. 

The program, established during the 2008 recession, provided workshops where children could create and publish books about their aspirations. “527 books later, not a single kid said they wanted to drop out of school,” Nina recalls. 

“Instead, they talked about helping their families, about their own dreams. It was clear that their goals were very real to them.”

The first group of Dare to Dream students, each publishing books that shared what they wanted to achieve if anything were possible.

The success of Dare to Dream revealed a gap in educational support systems, sparking the idea for what would eventually become DataDesign. During a local school district meeting, Nina and Dawn saw the inefficiencies firsthand.

They sketched out a dashboard on a piece of paper, a tool that would allow educators to instantly access student assessments. “If I had something like this, I would log into it, I’d buy it,” the superintendent said. That was the lightbulb moment.

Prior to starting DataDesign, Nina and Dawn had already ventured into the data intelligence field with their company, iResult. In 2018,  DataDesign was born – a K-12 data intelligence company that uses technology to make educational data accessible and actionable. Despite the challenges of a tough education market, Nina’s passion for solving real problems kept them pushing forward.

“We didn’t start with a business plan, just a piece of paper and a problem to solve,” Nina explains.

Founders Nina Rosete and Dawn Verdick, captured during their feature in Monterey County Weekly’s “40 for the Next 40 Years” issue. This marked the beginning of our journey in creating data tools for schools

DataDesign continued to grow, and while Nina and Dawn weren’t actively looking to sell, they began to attract interest from potential buyers. They were happy to run DataDesign for another decade, however, they were intrigued by Banyan’s “buy and hold forever” ethos and strategy. 

It was important for Nina that the company’s values and mission remained intact post-sale: “We built something special, and we needed any potential partner to share our vision and values.”

The decision to sell was still difficult. For Nina, selling the company felt like giving up part of herself. Banyan’s focus on long-term growth and cultural alignment made it easier. 

The acquisition by Banyan in 2021 marked a new chapter for DataDesign, yet much remained unchanged. “Not once has Banyan ever squashed our innovation,” Nina shares. Their commitment to growth and their business approach reassured her that they were partners who would nurture rather than overhaul the company’s legacy. 

Since the acquisition, DataDesign has not only sustained but expanded its innovative efforts, developing several new modules and diving deeper into the world of AI. “I’ve been wanting to build an AI product since 2017. That’s the next phase for us,” she said, detailing the increasing use of generative AI in the education sector.

With Banyan, Nina’s company gained access to resources that were previously out of reach. From enhanced financial capabilities to expert managerial support, Banyan provided the tools necessary for scaling operations while maintaining product quality and company culture. 

“I love meeting with a Finance Manager every other week,” Nina says, expressing her relief at being able to delegate administrative responsibilities and focus more on strategic growth and product development.

Nina was also able to rely on Banyan in her search for a sales executive, leveraging their expertise in recruiting. “It probably saved me 80 hours of work,” she says. “I couldn’t have identified and narrowed down the pool of candidates at the level that Banyan did, and we’ve hired a really great sales executive. That was really fantastic.”

For Nina, deciding to partner with Banyan was both complex and emotional. She draws a parallel to Walt Disney’s attachment to his creations when discussing the decision.

“There has to be a ‘why’ behind what you’re creating. If you think about letting go of it and it doesn’t hurt, maybe you’re not on the right path. You’re going to let go of it at some point,” she muses.

“Is it our Mickey? That’s the question Dawn and I asked ourselves,” Nina explains, reflecting on the difficulty of entrepreneurship and the emotional stakes of letting go. 

“Walt Disney sold Oswald, his first creation, for a minimal amount and then faced extreme hardships without compromising on Mickey. Mickey was like family, and he couldn’t let go,” she shares. 

“That resonates with every entrepreneur who has built something from the ground up. Finding a partner like Banyan, who understands that, is critical.”

For Nina, deciding to partner with Banyan was both complex and emotional. She draws a parallel to Walt Disney’s attachment to his creations when discussing the decision.

“There has to be a ‘why’ behind what you’re creating. If you think about letting go of it and it doesn’t hurt, maybe you’re not on the right path. You’re going to let go of it at some point,” she muses.

Staying on after the sale has allowed Nina to explore new projects and to find time for personal development, which was hard to prioritize during the hectic days of entrepreneurship. “I picked up running, and I’ve run three half marathons in just four months,” she shares.

Nina balances her leadership role at DataDesign with philanthropic initiatives. Each year, she assists families in navigating the complex college application process, ensuring students feel supported and set up for success. 

In fact, Nina has compared the experience of sending a child off to college to her experience of selling her business: “When you drop your daughter off at her dorm, you want to drive away knowing she’s in good hands,” she explains. 

That’s how she felt when she entrusted DataDesign to Banyan – confident that they would take good care of the business and continue its mission, while she maintained an important leadership role.

Nina Rosete’s journey with DataDesign demonstrates one of many paths of entrepreneurship – from the spark of an idea to leading a company to a successful outcome. 

Her story highlights the importance of aligning with partners who respect and carry on the original mission of the business, ensuring that even after a sale, a founder’s entrepreneurial spirit can continue to thrive.

Finding the right buyer was paramount. Nina needed a partner who not only valued the business but also the company’s mission. It wasn’t just about selling; it was about ensuring her ‘business child’ was in good hands. 

For Nina, partnering with Banyan wasn’t the end of the journey. It was a continuation of her vision on a larger scale, with the same passion and commitment that started it all.