Sherpa Partners - Resources for Entrepreneurs

Building a Business Plan
Raising Venture Capital
Start-ups
Online Resources for Entrepreneurs - General
Online Resources for Entrepreneurs - Minnesota
Services Available for Entrepreneurs
Business Research Sites
Local Entrepreneurial Education Resources
Networking for Minnesota-based Entrepreneurs
Venture Capital  Information

 

 

Building a Business Plan

Business Plan Guidelines:
Alliance Technology

Raising Venture Capital

Business 2.0 - 7 Keys to the Perfect Pitch:  Click here for printable .PDF

Marco Rochat and Keith Arundale of PricewaterhouseCoopers - View on the Venture Capital Industry:  Click here for printable .PDF

Golden Rules to attract Angel investors - Guy Kawalski's ten tips to raising capital:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/02/09/BU40334.DTL&type=tech_article

The Ten Commandments of Raising Venture Capital:   David V. Ahladeff wrote this piece for Angel Investor News. Given current conditions in the venture marketplace, it's particularly timely for entrepreneurs: 
http://www.nasvf.org

Advice for Entrepreneurs Seeking Funds:
It's common knowledge that raising capital of any kind has been very tough during the past 18 months. Even if you're a start-up or emerging company with the hottest new gadget on the market, finding the capital you need can be next to impossible. Jim Lewin of Entrepreneur offers some valuable suggestions:

http://www.nasvf.org/web/allpress.nsf/pages/4393

How to Be Prepared For a VC Call Back:  Enticing a VC with your business proposition is one feat, but properly treating the call back is entirely another. Bill Snow of Chicago-based vcapital provides tips you should commit to memory to land the funding you're seeking.
http://www.eprairie.com

Back to top

Start-ups

John Doerr's Startup Manual - Fast Company
http://www.fastcompany.com/online/07/082doerr.html

Fresh Start 2002: Starting Over ... and Over ... - Fast Company

The Disruptive Startup: Clayton Christensen On How To Compete With The Best
http://www.inc.com/search/23854.html

John Cook, who writes on venture capital for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, takes a humorous, but all too true, look back at the bubble's excesses:
Top 10 Lessons from the Nasdaq Meltdown

Back to top

Online Resources for Entrepreneurs - General

BizPathways:  Connecting entrepreneurs with resources in their area that will help them grow at all stages of business development.

http://www.bizpathways.org

Branding:  A high level discussion of Branding, written by MN native, Graeme Thickens
Darwin Magazine

Private Equity Online:
http://www.privateequityonline.com/Default.asp

Good Books and Publications for Entrepreneurs:
http://www.atv.com/dynamic/recommended_reading.php3

The Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership:
www.eventuring.org

Red Herring:
http://www.redherring.com

Fast Company Magazine:
http://www.fastcompany.com

News.com:
http://www.news.com

VentureWire:
www.venturewire.com

ceoexpress.com:
http://www.ceoexpress.com

Inc.com:
http://www.inc.com

garage.com:
http://www.garage.com

Midwest Technology Venture News:
http://www.eprairie.com

National Association of Seed and Venture Funds
http://www.nasvf.org

Venture Capital Resource Library:
http://www.vfinance.com

Back to top

Online Resources for Entrepreneurs - Minnesota

Adventium Labs - Source for R&D or technology development 
http://www.adventiumlabs.org

Minnesota Employment & Economic Development Department
http://www.deed.state.mn.us

Minnesota Rural Partners
http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org

BizLinks - Links new and existing businesses to MN and federal regulatory and tax information
http://www.bizlinks.org

MinnStats - Connects businesses and individuals to the latest publications, data and statistics produced by MN    state agencies.
http://www.minnstats.org

ISEEK - Information about educational, career, employment and business growth opportunities in the state of MN.
http://www.iseek.org

MN WorkForce Center - Wide range of information designed for employers
http://www.MnWorkForceCenter.org

 

Local Entrepreneurial Education Resources

James J. Hill Library:
http://www.hillinfo.org

University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management:
http://www.csom.umn.edu/

University of Minnesota - Center For Entrepreneurial Studies:
http://www.csom.umn.edu/Page1248.aspx

University of Minnesota - Kommerstad Center:
www.kommerstad.org/journal

University of St. Thomas - John M. Morrison Center for entrepreneurship
http://www.stthomas.edu/entrep

Back to top

Services Available for Entrepreneurs

Upstarts - Start-Up Services:
http://inc.com/resources/startup

vCapital.com:
http://www.vcapital.com

Back to top

Business Research Sites

Hoovers.com - This site contains lists of pending IPOs and companies by industry segment:
http://www.hoovers.com

Statmarket - Technology related Business Statistics:
http://www.statmarket.com

NetB2B - This site contains strategies and techniques for Web Marketers:
http://netb2b.com

Business Wire:
http://www.businesswire.com

Market Watch:
www.marketwatch.com

PR Newswire:
http://www.prnewswire.com

PR Web:
http://www.prweb.com

Wall Street Research Net:
http://www.wsrn.com



Back to top

Networking for Minnesota-based Entrepreneurs

MN High Technology Association (MHTA):
http://www.mhta.org

The Collaborative:
http://www.collaborative-online.com


Back to top

Venture Capital Information

AltAssets
www.altassets.net

Broadgate SmartBrief on Private Equity
http://www.smartbrief.com/broadgate/

Institutional Investor Newsletters - Alternative Investment News
http://www.iinews.com

National Venture Capital Association
www.nvca.org

Private Equity Online
http://www.privateequityonline.com

Venturewire Alert
http://www.venturewire.com

Venturewire Economics
http://www.ventureeconomics.com

Venture Reporter
http://www.venturereporter.net