Business

• 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.

• 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

• 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

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:

• The National Bike Dealers Association offers a startup checklist and business planning advice.
• In Canada, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) conducts a survey of salaries and billing practices in the communications design industry.
• The North American Retail Hardware Association commissions original research on the retail hardware market. 
• The Maine Association of Nonprofits provides a wealth of information about starting up, management, fundraising, marketing, and more.

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