

Structure, fund and grow your business with the resources below.
North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration Division
Guidelines for drafting and filing Articles of Incorporation (NC corporation or LLC) or Certificate of Authority (non-NC business, e.g., Delaware C-Corp) in North Carolina
Business Link North Carolina
Step-by-step checklist and guide for developing a business plan
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Overview of small business taxes and employer requirements
U.S. Small Business Administration
Online guide for creating new business plans
MaRS
Workbook for developing a business plan, designed for life science and technology companies
MaRS
Guide and template for designing a business model
MaRS
Workbook for creating an execution plan, task list, financial plan, and financing strategy roadmap
FastIgnite
Calculators for “true” pre-money valuation, option vesting, and option exercise
SCORE
Template for current and projected balance sheet
SCORE
Three-year P&L projection template
SCORE
Three-year cash flow projection template
SCORE
Twelve-month forecast template
Awards grants of up to $50,000 to high-potential, technology-based NC startup companies. Two grant cycles per year.
Offers low-interest loans to emerging NC-based life science companies
List of venture capital and angel investor groups in North Carolina
Offers two funding programs available to innovation-directed, NC-based small businesses: the SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program and the SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds Program.
Searchable venture capital and angel investor database available through Life Science Intelligence at NCBiotech
U.S. Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offering grants for small, innovation-driven businesses.
Annual event to connect entrepreneurs, investors, tech scouts and others; facilitate partnership and capital deal flow; and inspire researchers to commercialize their most promising results.
MoneyGeek
Guide to determining when and how to apply for small business loans
MoneyGeek
Guide to determining whether SBA is the right partner for your financing
MaRS
Workbook for developing an investor target list and creating an elevator pitch
MaRS
Workbook for investor presentation
Morgan Lewis
Explanation of the venture capital term sheet
National Venture Capital Association
Model venture capital financing documents produced by group of leading venture capital attorneys
NCBiotech is a state-funded, private, not-for-profit whose mission is to promote job creation and other economic benefit to the State of North Carolina through biotechnology. The Center’s Emerging Company Development program offers low-interest loans to support NC-based life sciences businesses and entrepreneurs. Additional entrepreneur resources include:
The Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network shares connections and successful entrepreneurs-in residence to early-stage startups. Blackstone has created an alliance between North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development to identify high-potential leads.
CED is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to identify, enable and promote high-growth, high-impact companies and to accelerate the entrepreneurial culture of the Research Triangle and North Carolina. Important activities include:
NC IDEA fosters economic development in North Carolina by helping young startups commercialize their innovations.
SBTDC is a partnership between the Federal Small Business Administration and the UNC System. SBTDC offers management counseling and educational services to small- and mid-size businesses. The SBTDC team includes counselors specializing in supporting technology-driven entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors with one-on-one counseling and educational programs, such as the Becoming an Investor-Ready Entrepreneur and NxLeveL workshops. The SBTDC is also the designated NC resource for SBIR grant program education and assistance.
Many NC universities have, in addition to their respective technology transfer offices, programs that preferentially support the commercialization of university innovations, either as student projects run through the respective business schools (e.g., Launch the Venture (UNC-CH), TEC Program (NCSU)) or to nurture incorporated university startups (e.g., Carolina Kickstart (UNC-CH School of Medicine), Office of Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship (UNC-CH Eshelman School of Pharmacy), Chancellors Innovation Fund (NCSU), Wake Forest Innovations (WFU) Duke University Innovation and Entrepreneurship program).
Free resource from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina that provides access to an extensive network of business experts.
Trade association for North Carolina’s life science community.
State office that promotes economic development.
A division of the Department of Commerce that supports communities and businesses by advancing science, technology and innovation.
State resource that offering an extensive range of programs and services for existing and prospective business owners.
A non-profit association dedicated to helping small businesses grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
A statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans and financial training to start-ups and existing businesses.
An independent agency of the federal government that helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.
The USPTO website offers information and search tools relating to patents, trademarks, IP law & policy, application procedures, guidances and the America Invents Act.
Google's patent-specific search engine.
Search international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.
Patent Lens is a worldwide, open-access, free full-text patent informatics resource.
Below are some key tech transfer offices in North Carolina:
AUTM supports and advances academic technology transfer globally by providing resources relating to public policy, professional development, networking, licensing best practices and industry partnerships.
An association for intellectual property, technology, and business development professionals which promotes standards development, education and certification in promoting IP commerce.
Database includes numerous IP, licensing and business development professionals available to support your business.
Authored by Dr. Rob Lindberg, Vice President, Science and Technology Development at NCBiotech, with editorial contributions by Drs. Jamie Cuticchia and Scott Forrest
Global organization that provides education & training, best practices, news, career development, job postings and networking resources for those involved with the regulation of healthcare and related products.
An association of regulatory affairs professionals based in the Research Triangle area, focused on professional development.
The regulatory body overseeing market approval in the EU for human, animal and herbal medicines.
Database includes numerous regulatory affairs, quality and compliance professionals available to support your business.
Academic, industrial and corporate research parks suitable for life sciences companies for lease in North Carolina.
Listing of academic and nonprofit research facilities open to researchers outside their home institutions.
For additional help finding the right resources for your growing company, contact NCBiotech's life science intelligence team at research@ncbiotech.org.