Resources
We offer many resources to help you write business plans, to provide samples for how to pitch your ideas, and to assist you establishing network with venture capital and business related organizations. Please see the links below for more information.
IDEAS Club at San Jose State
The IDEAS Club at San Jose State University focuses on fostering student-led innovative ideas and
bringing them to fruition. Through the use of our incubator and accelerator space,
our student-led leadership team has created an environment that facilitates ideation,
intercollegiate team building, and collaboration, as well as networking with local
communities.
Namecheap
For almost 20 years, Namecheap has been dedicated to making the internet accessible and affordable. In 2014, after years of championing this mission, leaders within the company came upon a unique opportunity to help spread innovation and creativity to the business leaders of tomorrow. This discovery led to the Namecheap University initiative, a program that has now helped more than 200,000 students by offering free domain names paired with complimentary website tools.
500 Startups
The mission at 500 Startups is to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create
successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. We believe that
great founders come in all shades, genders, and nationalities. Since our inception,
we’ve made it our mission to find and empower talented founders, whether they’re across
the world or overlooked in our own backyard.
Angel Capital Association
Angels and entrepreneurs need each other. Although Angel Capital Association is not a source of capital itself, it is the source for critical information and
data that aligns the needs of angels, entrepreneurs, and the startup support community.
Astia
Astia was founded in Silicon Valley in 1999 as a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying
and promoting best-in-class women high-growth entrepreneurs. Astia is transforming
the way businesses are funded in the here and now, providing capital, connections,
and guidance that fuel the growth of highly innovative, women-led ventures around
the globe.
Churchill Club
The Churchill Club is Silicon Valley's premier business and technology forum. The 5,000-member, nonprofit
organization has built a reputation for dynamic, in-the-news programs featuring Silicon
Valley CEOs, up-and-coming executives and national business leaders.
Founder Institute
The Founder Institute is the world's premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program. Through
a challenging curriculum and strong post-program support, we provide aspiring entrepreneurs
with structure, mentorship, and a network to start an enduring company.
Golden Seeds
Golden Seeds is an early stage investment firm with a focus on women leaders.
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is a non-profit organization that provides small business training and support services
to help women and men throughout the Bay Area start or grow their own business. Renaissance
works to initiate and promote lasting economic development for individuals and communities
that traditionally have not had access to capital and business support.
SCORE Silicon Valley
We are a chapter of a nationwide organization called SCORE, which operates under the auspices of the Small Business Administration of the federal
government. SCORE's mission is to grow successful small businesses across America,
one business at a time. We do this through mentoring and education. There is no charge
for consulting and mentoring; our classes, workshops and seminars are modestly priced.
Silicon Valley Forum
The Silicon Valley Forum connects people and organizations from around the world to the knowledge and networks
of Silicon Valley. We facilitate connections and provide resources for entrepreneurs
and innovators to build and grow a successful company. Our events, customized programs,
Startupedia, and strategic partnerships provide the necessary tools to thrive in today’s
fast-paced digital economy.
Silicon Valley SBDC
The Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a nonprofit organization that provides expert no-cost advising, low cost workshops
and small business trainings, to guide small businesses to success and accomplishment.
Techstars
Each year at Techstars, we choose over 300 companies to join our three month mentorship-driven accelerator, investing $120K and providing hands-on mentorship and access to the Techstars Network for life.
TIE - The IndUS Entrepreneurs
The IndUS Entrepreneurs is a global, not-for-profit organization created for the advancement of entrepreneurship.
The founders of TiE, themselves successful entrepreneurs, senior professionals and
corporate executives with roots in the Indus Valley, came together in Silicon Valley
in 1992 to create a forum for informal exchange of ideas.
Watermark
Watermark is the Bay Area's largest membership organization dedicated to increasing the number
of women in leadership positions. We support the success of our senior executives,
emerging executives and entrepreneurs via our three pillars: Connect, Develop and
Advocate. Representing all fields and functions, we host at least 50 events a year,
including our Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley, Innovation Conference,
Leadership Conference and Entrepreneur Conference, along with numerous workshops,
panels and networking receptions.
Y Combinator
Y Combinator provides seed funding for startups. Seed funding is the earliest stage of venture
funding. It pays your expenses while you’re getting started. Some companies may need
no more than seed funding. Others will go through several rounds. There is no right
answer; how much funding you need depends on the kind of company you start. At Y Combinator,
our goal is to get you through the first phase. Then we can introduce you to later
stage investors—or occasionally even acquirers.
Other Resources:
White Paper: Raising Initial Funding for High Tech Companies in San Francisco [pdf]
