This article was originally published in the Union Leader on June 24, 2024
Getting a business idea launched is tough work and usually does not happen alone. Entrepreneurs need support whether it’s advice and feedback or funding or office space. New Hampshire has a number of spaces, organizations and programs that can give you community as well as provide critical resources to get started.
Practical Advice
There are several organizations and communities in New Hampshire where you can find mentors, get advice, and get matched with experts in specific fields like law or marketing.
- Through the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) startups and any small business can get confidential, one-on-one business advice at no cost. NH SBDC also has over 30 free e-Courses on their website from How to Start a Business in NH to Digital Marketing to CyberSecurity to Understanding Financial Statements. NH SBDC business advisors can provide referrals to trusted attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers, and insurance companies. They can also provide access to tools like Vertical IQ, IBIS World Reports and Pitchbook that can help with market research.
- The New Hampshire Tech Alliance (NHTA) serves tech businesses and can match entrepreneurs with mentors or potential business partners. They also hold networking events throughout the year and the Founders Series specifically for networking among founders and c-suite execs at startups. The Innovation Summit each fall brings together the technology community from all over the state.
- The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship is in the Mondack region and provides 8-week labs where entrepreneurs can learn the basics of building a business and practice their pitch at the end of the session. They have a general business lab, but they also have labs focused specifically on food/beverage companies and farms.
- The Center for Women and Enterprise is a statewide organization offering consultations, workshops and networking opportunities to help you reach your entrepreneurial goals.
- The Grafton Regional Development Corporation (GRDC) supports entrepreneurs and local businesses in Grafton County through one-on-one business counseling, access to no-cost business workshops, and matching with business partners. They also have co-working spaces and an incubator in both Lebanon and Plymouth.
Incubators & Co-Working Spaces
- The Hannah Grimes Center offers an incubator with co-working space and staff mentorship. They also offer free co-working space to the community the first Friday of every month.
- Dartmouth Regional Technology Center (DRTC) is a nonprofit economic development incubator near Dartmouth College and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center that leases 60,000 square feet of laboratories and office space to growing businesses. DRTC offers flexible terms in its leases (no letter of credit, no security deposit, 90-day notice) and access to shared resources such as entrepreneurship programming, economic development programs, break rooms, conference rooms, internet access, lab appliances and phone service.
- HRKNSScowork in Concord offers the first Wed. of the month free hot desk space and has conference rooms and offices available for rent.
- Spark in Manchester supports solo entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, and even large enterprises on their unique journeys to establish strong brands, bolstered by a professional working space and collaborative, encouraging network.
Makerspaces
Many cities have makerspaces that offer shared tools, space for creating, access to expensive machinery, advisors, and community. Here are just a few.
- The Manchester Makerspace maintains 12 workshops in 7,000 square feet providing shared tooling and spaces as well as expert advice.
- MakeIt Labs in Nashua is the oldest and largest makerspace with a 20,000 sq.ft. facility which is divided into many distinct areas such as the electronics and computer lab, wood shop, machine shop, welding/fabrication shop, automotive garage bay, rapid prototyping areas, classrooms, meeting spaces, lounge, kitchen, etc.
- Port City Makerspace in Portsmouth offers an auto shop, CNC room, electronics lab, machine shop, metal shop, wood shop, soft crafts shop, and more.
Funding/Grants
- The 2024 MedTech Collaborative Pitch Competition is open to all innovative health startups (e.g., MedTech, HealthTech, DTx, Digital Health) that have raised less than $2 million through institutional investment.
- Speed Venture Summit matches investors with startups in a speed dating style format. Organized by the NHTA, it occurs in the fall each year.
- The FOSTER Program through University of New Hampshire (UNH) Innovation offers small NH businesses a variety of services including grant identification, training, advice and proposal support. For select companies, a competitive microgrant program is available to offer direct grant proposal assistance. All services are free.
- Launch NH organizes an annual fall pitch event at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord to feature the most exciting founders in and around NH as well as provide an opportunity for NH investors to come together. The first pitch event was in October 2023, featuring 10 startups pitching as well as four food and beverage startups. The next pitch event is Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Julie Glosner is the Southern Regional Director at NH SBDC. Since 2015 she has worked with startups in many industries in NH and serves on the NH Tech Alliance Startup Committee.