Funding Resources for Startups

You know you have a great idea, prototype, or product. But how do you get others to fund your vision? One way is to check out these capital resources for entrepreneurs and also visit our page on how to get funding for a startup business.

  • Fundera is a free startup tool that matches you up with the right lenders and helps you compare loan options. Just answer a few simple questions.
  • Grants.gov lets you search for small business grants by keyword and category. Grants are an excellent funding option because they don’t need to be paid back.
  • Wefunder is one of the largest equity crowdfunding sites. It connects you with investors who provide capital in exchange for a future equity stake.
  • StartEngine is another leading equity crowdfunding platform. The approval process can be complex, but with 1.7 million potential investors, it’s worth it.
  • Fundable is a crowdfunding site that lets you choose between rewards, like providing a copy of the product, or equity in return for an investment.
  • Foundersuite is a fundraising management platform where you can find investor information, contact investors, track your interactions, and stay organized.

Free Software Tools for Startups

Startups need software for everything from business management and operations to product design and testing. No matter what you’re looking for, you can find free resources for entrepreneurs that will help your new business succeed.

  • Product Development: SOLIDWORKS for Startups offers free access to industry-leading 3D product design and simulation, data management, and other advanced product development software from the 3DEXPERIENCE® Works portfolio.
  • Website builder: Wix has more than 800 free templates and an easy-to-use interface. Keep in mind that with most free website builders, you can’t use a custom website address. 
  • Marketing: If you need marketing help, check out Buffer and Canva for social media, and HubSpot’s Free CRM and Marketing Software for customer relationship management and lead generation. 
  • Accounting: Wave lets you send customized invoices, accept payments (with a transaction fee), and perform basic accounting as part of its free plan. 
  • Scheduling: Calendly connects with all the tools you use to streamline and automate meeting scheduling—an essential resource for entrepreneurs. 
  • Conferencing: FreeConferenceCall steps in with a six-hour maximum and up to 1,000 participants when Zoom’s 40-minute time limit leaves startups hanging.
  • Analytics: Google rules startup resources for Analytics and reporting. Use Google Analytics to collect data, BigQuery to store analytics and other marketing data, and Looker Studio to make sense of it.

 

Free Mentoring Resources for Startups

Don’t overlook the power of mentorship to help you build a successful business. Mentoring can not only provide you with valuable advice and expertise, but also connect you with other entrepreneurship resources.

  • LinkedIn is a great place to start networking. It also has plenty of resources for startups, including free educational courses, live streams, and a newsletter.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has been helping startups since 1953, with a variety of programs and resources, including help with business plans and funding. Also check out your area for SBA-run Small Business Development Centers.
  • Google for Startups is a resource page that can connect you with product experts, investors, and mentors. It also offers a variety of online programs.
  • SCORE is a well-known, U.S.-based mentoring program. Just fill out the form and they’ll match you up with an experienced mentor in your industry.
  • SOLIDWORKS Accelerator and Incubator Community is a group of organizations that provide support and resources to early-stage startups.
  • Masters of Scale is a renowned podcast that helps startup founders and entrepreneurs address their most pressing challenges and scale growth.

Legal Services for Startups

Having a patent on your product can help you get funding and grow your startup—but how do you get one? And what else do you need to do to protect your intellectual property (IP)? Check out these legal resources for startups to find out what you need to know.

  • The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office offers many free resources, including application assistance. You can also find information on expedited processes for first-time filers and products that help mitigate climate change.
  • Lawtrades can match you with lawyers at your budget specializing in corporate, IP, compliance, and contract law. It also has reviews, free consultations, and price quotes.
  • RocketLawyer has free legal templates for common documents, like noncompete and nondisclosure agreements, independent contractor agreements, and company policies. 
  • TermsFeed helps you stay compliant with the law by generating privacy policies, terms and conditions, end-user license agreements, terms of use, and more.
  • Startup Lawyer offers a comprehensive blog on common legal issues entrepreneurs face, plus a legal glossary with over 500 terms.

 

Best Events and Conferences for Startups

Events and conferences are essential for entrepreneurs to network and grow. But you might not have the thousands of dollars you need to attend some of them. Check out these event and conference resources for startups and new businesses. Some are free, while others are affordable.

  • The Small Business Expo is the country’s largest business trade show. It’s held throughout the year all around the U.S., and best of all, it’s completely free.
  • Techstars Startup Weekends are free, three-day educational events anyone can attend to learn about designing, prototyping, and pitching their product ideas.
  • Invention-Con is the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s annual conference, providing must-have info on intellectual property for inventors like you.
  • Startup Grind brings together thousands of founders and investors for workshops and panels on all things about the startup life. Tickets start at $249.
  • Unleash is a sales engagement conference offering top advice from companies like LinkedIn and Amazon. The earliest tickets start at $599.