Resources for Entrepreneurs

  • The Claremont Advantage The City of Claremont has emerged as an important center of commerce in recent years. The Claremont Advantage is an initiative by the city to expand technological, healthcare, and manufacturing growth in the area by attracting innovative and fast-growing companies.
  • Newport Office of Economic Development Newport is a regional hub for a variety of industries including manufacturing, financial services, county government, and building construction. The Economic Development Office is committed to helping those interested in the town for business expansion, personal or business relocation, and anything else related.
  • The Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (UVLSRPC): The UVLSRPC has a staff of experts in a variety of services and serves as the networking organization between municipalities and state/federal agencies for grants and the allocation of funds across the state. The UVLSRPC can leverage grant funds to support your community through cost-share models and reduced contractual services.
  • The Upper Valley Business Alliance: The Upper Valley Business Alliance represents 460 businesses located throughout the Upper Valley. The mission is to serve as an advocate for its members with local and state government and promote and seize opportunities to better the economic climate in the region.
  • New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (NHSBDC): The NHSBDC understands that small businesses are vital to the state’s economic health. Its staff provides free, professional, one-on-one business management advice and educational programs to new and existing businesses.
  • Small Business Administration (SBA): SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States. The New Hampshire Regional Office offers a wealth of online resources for businesses and entrepreneurs, training seminars and loans through local banking partners.
  • New Hampshire Business and Economic Affairs DED: The Division of Economic Development (DED) is charged with ensuring the strength of the New Hampshire economy and is the single point of contact for businesses of all sizes and sectors looking to grow and prosper.
  • New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC): To assist businesses with the process of bidding on, and winning, government contracts, the NH PTAC provides expertise for contracting and subcontracting opportunities. This includes the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, as well as state and local governments.
  • The Center for Women & Enterprise: The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is a nonprofit organization which offers a variety of different programs and services to help women entrepreneurs, regardless of economic status. They are dedicated to helping women gain the proper confidence and competence to start their business.
  • REDC NH New Americans Loan Fund (NALF): In partnership with stakeholders throughout NH, the Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) is offering the NH New Americans Loan Fund, with the purpose of encouraging business development and job creation for new Americans (first generation immigrants) in New Hampshire. NALF was created following a successful pilot program in partnership with the Welcoming Concord Initiative.
  • Innovation Summit: The Innovation Summit highlights innovation in New Hampshire through all phases of growth. The Startup Showcase features early stage startups and is a great way to showcase the newest technology coming from New Hampshire. Mid-growth startups share lessons along the way and the annual Entrepreneur of the Year Award is given out at the event.
  • Speed Venture Summit: Startups can apply to participate in a 90-minute speed pitch session to investors representing angel groups, various funds and VC firms from all over New England. Participating startups represent bio tech, ed tech, diagnostics therapeutics, and software and consumer products. The event also includes a featured speaker and networking reception with more than 140 attendees. 
  • The PitchFork Challenge: The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship runs an annual pitch competition with the purpose of boosting startups in the Monadnock region. Over the summer eligible local entrepreneurs are coached to create a compelling pitch describing their business opportunity in pursuit of a cash award. Ultimately, one business winner is chosen to receive a prize of $10,000 in cash along with national print and digital media coverage. The final event is part of the Radically Rural Summit.
  • 10X Venture Partners: 10X Venture Partners invests predominantly in mobile, internet, wireless, security, med tech and green tech. A typical investment ranges from $50,000 to $500,000, but 10X is capable of larger investments. 10X invests in companies ranging from the idea stage through $5-10 million in revenue, for profitable companies.
  • Ecoast Angel Network: eCoast Angel’s focuses on early-stage companies involved with advanced technology, e-commerce, healthcare, and industrial products and services, principally located in the New Hampshire coastal region. The group is most interested in companies requiring $250,000 to $2 million at pre-money valuations of less than $6 million, who have a credible, multi-option exit strategy and are led by an experienced core management team.
  • Vested for Growth: A program of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, provides risk-tolerant capital up to $1 million, business education, and peer-learning opportunities to help owners of established small businesses increase profits and create higher-quality jobs. For investment needs greater than $1 million, VFG may be able to draw from other lending partners.