For Profit
Small Business Association (SBA)
www.sba.gov
5 Tips for Finding and Working with a Business Mentor
Online For-Profit & Non-Profit Funding, Product Development and Sales Platforms
arthomeonline.org
Fee for use: No
ArtHome’s mission is to help artists build assets and equity through financial literacy, home-ownership, self-sufficiency and the responsible use of credit. Its programs help low to moderate-income artist and independent workers get access to non-traditional loans for homes and business ventures. This site contains links to money managing tools and resources to help keep one on track finacially.
craftmba.com
Fee for use: Yes
At crafting an MBA, the goal is to help you polish those basic skills (like business planning and bookkeeping), develop a marketing plan (online and off), and help keep you up to date with trends in the business world – while also helping develop skills specific to a craft based business (selling online, craft shows, trade shows, and promoting your portfolio). This sites offers a workbook, how-to books, and one-on-one consulting services for a fee.
etsy.com
Fee for use: Yes
Etsy is an on-line marketplace of artists, creators, collectors, thinkers and doers. As a seller on Etsy, you join a community of helpful, knowledgeable sellers. This platform allows one to share ideas with fellow craftsmen through Etsy Forums, collaborations with other Etsians on an Etsy Team, events, and online workshops.
fracturedatlas.org
Fee for use: Yes
Fractured Atlas is a non-profit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations.The programs and services facilitate the creation of art by providing artists and art organizations access to funding, healthcare, education, and more.
indiegogo.com
Fee for use: Yes
IndieGoGo.com offers anyone with an idea – creative, cause-related, or entrepreneurial – the tools to effectively build a campaign and raise money.
kickstarter.com
Fee for use: Yes
Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers and more. It is a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands. Kickstarter is solely fro projects, it cannot be used to fund charity projects or causes.
quirky.com
Fee for use: Yes
Quirky currently focuses on developing consumer products that could retail for under $150 and don’t involve integrated software such as mobile applications, business ideas, and complex electronics. Innovators who submit product ideas will receive detailed analytics related to Quirky’s online community feedback and input on their ideas, which can be used as a form of market research. Once the idea has passed all phases, the product is marketed on Quirky’s website.
profounder.com
Fee for use: Yes
ProFounder is an online crowdfunding platform that provides tools for entrepreneurs to raise their investment capital from their communities. Your community is defined as people with whom you have a substantial, pre-existing relationship, this group may include your friends, family, and people you know. You have 30 days to reach your fundraising goal in order to receive the capital pledged.
startupamericapartnership.org
Fee for use: No
Startup America Partnership brings together a coalition of mentors, advisors, funders, major corporations and service providers to deliver strategic and substantive resources to help entrepreneurs start and scale companies. It is not a grant-making entity but rather achieves its goals by identifying private-sector partners that will commit resources to help entrepreneurial companies start or grow.
Innovation Daily
www.innovationamerica.us
This newsletter highlights selected innovation related articles from around the world on a daily basis. These articles related to innovation and funding for innovative companies, and best practices for innovation based economic development.
North Carolina
Small Business & Technology Development Center
www.sbtdc.org
Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad Film Commission
Have online resource you would like to recommend?