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Business

Worldwide Resources

  • Ashoka - global leaders in social innovation and entrepreneurship. Links to resource libraries.
  • TED - thousands of talks on design, creativity, business, technology, and more.
  • IDEO’s Design Kit - dozens of tools to spark innovation, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Also, check out  IDEO.com and IDEO.org for more on innovation.
  • Strategyzer - home of the Value Proposition Canvas and Business Model Canvas.
  • Abundance Cycle - designed by our own Jay Friedlander, a business framework to help unlock innovation. Check out the tactics to help inspire new opportunities.
  • The Solutions Journalism Network's Story Tracker - Well-researched, credible database of journalistic stories about responses to the world’s challenges.

Resources in the U.S.

  • Small Business Administration (SBA) - a cabinet-level federal agency helping small businesses start, grow, expand, and recover. Links to data and research tools. 
  • National Council of Nonprofits - the nation’s largest network of nonprofits. Links to various resource libraries.
  • Institute for Local Self Reliance - champions of locally-owned businesses and local banking. Fact sheets, case studies, reports, podcasts, and more.
  • RuralRISE - conferences, speaking series, and a national calendar of events focused on building rural entrepreneurial ecosystems, and supporting innovators in rural communities across America.
  • The Balance Small Business - an interactive online library that provides clear, practical advice on entrepreneurship and management

Resources in Maine

  • Small Business Development Centers - no-cost confidential business advising and training for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Links to lots of research resources.
  • Maine Startups Insider - a regular roundup of all the startup-related news in Maine. Great for inspiration and networking.
  • Maine Association of Nonprofits - a comprehensive resource for nonprofit tools, knowledge, and connections 
  • Institute for Family Owned Business - supporters of family-owned businesses throughout Maine. Great for inspiration and networking, and to learn about the unique challenges and opportunities of family business.
  • SCORE  - a network of volunteer business mentors with loads of experience. Click here for the nationwide network. 

Check for local versions of these resources in other places

Creating Abundance by Jay Friedlander

Trade and Professional Associations

Most professions have a trade association or other type of professional peer organization. These are great resources for starting up a new venture or innovating in the field. Here are a few examples of the resources they can provide:

Search for trade or professional associations in your field of interest to see what they have to offer.