Business Capital & Government Contracting Resources

The Small Business Administration (SBA)
http://www.sba.gov/
A government agency geared primarily for service to new and existing small businesses. Provides a wide variety of low interest loan programs, which you can inquire about through your local bank. Below are specific loan program titles - one or more may suit your needs.

The LowDoc (Lower Documentation required) Program
A popular loan guarantee program for loans under $100,000.

The MicroLoan Program
Business loans under $25,000.

Caplines
Guarantees lines of credit. The Caplines program can guarantee up to 75% for up to $750,000.

SBA Equipment Loans
"504 loans" through Certified Development Companies (financing companies certified by the SBA). Loans may be up to $1,000,000 and up to 10 years (20 years for real estate). Requires collateral and personal guarantees (as on every SBA loan), and the creation of at least one job for every $35,000 (or at least retention of that job).

DELTA (Defense Loan & Technical Assistance Program)
Helps small defense industry businesses.

The SBA 8(a) loan program
SBA contracts directly with other government agencies, then guides the contracts to minority and women owned businesses without going through the bidding process.

SBA 7(j) Assistance
Accounting and consulting advice for minority and women owned businesses.

Other Specialized Loan Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business-Cooperative Service SBA International Trade Program

Government Contracts
GovCon
An information resource for the Government Contracting industry
http://www.govcon.com/

FedBizOpps
Federal Business Opportunities
http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

Government Contract Services, Inc.
http://www.gcswin.com/

The Office of Government Contracting
http://www.sba.gov/GC
The Office of Government Contracting (GC) makes efforts to involve small, disadvantaged, and woman-owned businesses in federal government contract awards and large prime subcontract awards.

Venture Capital

The Technology Capital Network (TCN)
http://www.tcnmit.org/
A not-for-profit organization whose mission is to "Make money flow between investors and entrepreneurs".

Small Business Investment Companies Program
http://www.sba.gov/INV

ACE-Net
http://www.sba.gov/services/acenet.html
Angel Capital Electronic Network, sponsored by the SBA's Office of Advocacy, helps small companies looking for investors and investors looking for promising opportunities.

AAA National Directories
http://www.dirs.com/
US directories for everything from business opportunities to mental health professionals

The Capital Connection
http://www.capital-connection.com/
Great information for entrepreneurs seeking venture capital. 250 venture capital companies were asked what they look for in a business plan, critical factors in their investment decisions, and to list common mistakes entrepreneurs make in their business plan.

Commercial Finance Online
http://www.cfol.com/
Provides commercial finance education, resources, and sources in banking, leasing, financing, factoring, venture capital, real estate and business investors, mergers and acquisitions, import/export, and financial consulting.

EntreWorld
http://www.EntreWorld.org/
Information, news and advice to start a business and grow a business.

Infon Venture
Capital Directory
http://www.infon.com/
Comprehensive directory of venture capital firms on CD-ROM. 2000 investors searchable by industry preference, investment size, geographic location, career background, and education.

Investors Choice Website
http://www.venturecapital.org/
Provides wide-ranging information addressing venture capital, venture capitalists, conferences, entrepreneurship, and investment.

MIT Entrepreneurs Club
http://www.mit.edu/:8001/activities/e-club/e-club-home.html
Works to make the process of starting a business easier.

MoneyHunter
http://www.moneyhunter.com/
Tools and information to help entrepreneurs raise money.

National Venture Capital Association
http://www.nvca.org/
Represents the interests of the venture capital and private equity industries

NVST Academy
http://www.nvst.com/academy
A free self-paced course of study into the realm of mergers & acquisitions and venture capital.

Oppedahl & Larson
http://www.patents.com/
Law firm that offers patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, and other intellectual property services. Site provides information about intellectual property and about the firm.

Secrets of a Former Banker, Confessions of an Entrepreneur
http://www.findingmoney.com/
Insider secrets on funding your company, and a large directory of venture capital sources

Software Patent Institute
http://www.spi.org/
Nonprofit corporation that provides courses and a database of software technologies to help improve the patent process.

The Potomac KnowledgeWay
http://knowledgeway.org/
Fosters the growth of new and existing companies in the knowledge industries; information on producing, recruiting and retaining a skilled work force capable of competing in a global environment.

Upside.com
http://www.upside.com/
A financial news and information site, including a large collection of related links.

Venture Associates
http://www.venturea.com/
Information on initial public offerings, business plans, venture capital and sources, financing and entrepreneurial books

Venture Capital Online
http://www.vcapital.com/
A service dedicated to providing information, networking and capital-raising opportunities and serve as an "exchange" among entrepreneurs and investors.

Venture Capital Resource Library
http://www.vfinance.com/
Tools, reference materials and resources to raise working capital for businesses.

VentureOne - Investment research
http://www.v1.com/
Serves the venture capital community.