Links for Entrepreneurs
UNCG Resources for Entrepreneurs
North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center
The North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center (NCEC) is housed at UNCG's Bryan School of Business and Economics. The NCEC promotes entrepreneurship across the campus and in the community through public service and community engagement, education, and research. The NCEC houses a Feasibility Analysis and Business Plan library, and offers advice to entrepreneurs.
Small Business Technology Development Center
The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps small business owners (and those interested in starting a business) meet the challenges of today's business environment, manage that ever-changing world, and plan for the future of their business. SBTDC staff is associated with UNC campuses and provide multiple free services, including face-to-face consultations and seminars covering a broad variety of topics.
Local Resources
Greensboro Partnership Entrepreneurship Initiative
Provides a place for entrepreneurs to connect with the Greensboro news, events, and information sources just for them. Here, Greensboro entrepreneurs will find access to capital and investors, workshops and training, resources for sustainable business practices, and opportunities to connect with local colleges and universities.
Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation operating a business incubator in Greensboro and offering business counseling.
Council for Entrepreneurial Development
CED is an organization based out of North Carolina that ignites entrepreneurial success through know-how and networks. This organization has various programs and organizes events like biotech forum, Café, venture and biotech conferences, leadership series, mentoring program etc.
North Carolina Biotechnology Center
The General Assembly funds the Biotechnology Center as a private, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to biotechnology development. With regional offices around the state, NCBC serves as the statewide hub of life-science commercialization. Entrepreneurial support by NCBC includes grant funding and business loan opportunities, as well as the Business Acceleration and Technology Out-Licensing Network (BATON) program.
Resources on Starting a Business
Small Business Association (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
Counselors to America's Small Business
This website has information on how to start, grow, market, and finance a business, etc. This website also provides free online workshops on targeting the market, promoting a business, advertising a business, identifying the right sales strategy and many more.
About.com's Entrepreneurship Section
The website provides information on entrepreneurs, start ups, and how to manage and grow your business.
Thrive NC: Small Business Resources
This website, provided by the NC Dept. of Commerce, offers resources for starting a business, growing a business, and tips to help your business thrive. Also offers information on financing, raising capital, licensing, and permitting.
Small Business Resource & Referral Network: Frequently Asked Questions
This site list and answers common questions that may arise when starting a business.
Business Plan Development
Small Business Technology Development Center
A list of links to high quality business plan resources. The SBTDC provides advice on business plan writing.
Small Business Association
A comprehensive guide to business plan writing.
Bplans.com
A large collection of sample business plans.
The Business Plan Store
A large collection of sample business plans.
Center for Business Planning
A large collection of sample business plans.
Links on Intellectual Property and Licensing
Intellectual Property
Overview of Intellectual Property
Introduction to types of Intellectual Property.
An Extensive Introduction to Intellectual Property*
National Paralegal College's Syllabus on Intellectual Property
US Copyright Law
Definition of and laws related to Copyright.
US Trademark Laws
Definition of and laws related to Trademarks
IP Newsflash
News, notices and caselaw from the most important patent offices and courts.
Search the Patent Literature
US Patent & Trademark Office
Search US patents and trademarks. Try also the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system for retrieval of information regarding patent application status.
Google Patents
Search US patents via Google's user friendly interface.
Patent Lens
Search US and international patents.
International Intellectual Property Resources
A comprehensive list of links to national patent offices and organizations.
Professional Organizations
The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
AUTM is a nonprofit association with membership of more than 3,200 technology managers and business executives who manage intellectual property-one of the most active growth sectors of the U.S. economy. AUTM's members represent over 300 universities, research institutions, teaching hospitals and a similar number of companies and government organizations. Their Mission is to promote, support and enhance the global academic technology transfer profession through internal and external education, training and communication.
Licensing Executive Society International
LESI is an international organization for people interested in transfer of technology, or licensing of intellectual property rights - from technical know-how and patented inventions to software, copyright and trademarks.
National Technology Transfer Center
The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) is a full-service technology-management center, providing access to federal technology information, knowledge management and digital learning services, technology assessment, technology marketing, assistance in finding strategic partners, and electronic-business development services. The NTTC fosters relationships with federal clients, showcases technologies and facilitates partnerships between clients and U.S. industry.
American Intellectual Property Law Association
AIPLA represents a wide and diverse spectrum of individuals, companies and institutions involved directly or indirectly in the practice of patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition law, as well as other fields of law affecting intellectual property. The members represent both owners and users of intellectual property. The AIPLA was formed in 1897 in order to maintain a high standard of professional ethics, to aid in the improvements in laws relating to intellectual property and in their proper interpretation by the courts, and to provide legal education to the public and to its members on intellectual property issues..
Additional Useful Sites
Innovaro - Knowledge Express (subscription required)
A searchable database housing agreements, corporate profiles, clinical trials, deals, drug pipelines, drug sales, licensable technologies, patents, royalty rates and more.
NC Department of the Secretary of State: Corporations
Everything you need to know about corporations. Topics of interest include how to incorporate, IRS information, corporation search, and much more!
