Entrepreneurial Resources | Biotech Startup Resources |NC Biotech

Incorporate and Register your NC business

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 Planning Checklist

Business Link North Carolina
Step-by-step checklist and guide for developing a business plan
Business Tax Information

Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Overview of small business taxes and employer requirements
Write Your Business Plan

U.S. Small Business Administration
Online guide for creating new business plans
Financing Workbook: The Business Plan and Executive Summary

MaRS
Workbook for developing a business plan, designed for life science and technology companies
Business Model Design

MaRS
Guide and template for designing a business model

Developing a Financing Strategy for your Company

MaRS
Workbook for creating an execution plan, task list, financial plan, and financing strategy roadmap
Understanding Valuation and Options

FastIgnite
Calculators for “true” pre-money valuation, option vesting, and option exercise
Balance Sheet

SCORE
Template for current and projected balance sheet
Profit and Loss Projection

SCORE
Three-year P&L projection template
Cash Flow Projection

SCORE
Three-year cash flow projection template
Sales Forecast

SCORE
Twelve-month forecast template

NCIDEA

Awards grants of up to $50,000 to high-potential, technology-based NC startup companies. Two grant cycles per year.
North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Offers low-interest loans to emerging NC-based life science companies
North Carolina Angel & Venture Funds

List of venture capital and angel investor groups in North Carolina
One NC Small Business Program

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.
Pitchbook

Searchable venture capital and angel investor database available through Life Science Intelligence at NCBiotech
SBIR and STTR Programs

U.S. Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offering grants for small, innovation-driven businesses.
Ag Biotech Entrepreneurial Showcase

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.
Small Business Loans: How to Research, Apply for and Get Financing

MoneyGeek
Guide to determining when and how to apply for small business loans
Small Business Administration Loans: How to Secure Financing through a Government Guarantor

MoneyGeek
Guide to determining whether SBA is the right partner for your financing

Identifying, Targeting and Engaging Potential Investors

MaRS
Workbook for developing an investor target list and creating an elevator pitch
Developing and Delivering a Winning Investor Presentation

MaRS
Workbook for investor presentation
Preparing a Venture Capital Term Sheet

Morgan Lewis
Explanation of the venture capital term sheet
Model Legal Documents

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:
- NCBiotech BATON Referral Network
  Searchable database of prequalified life sciences-related service providers and CEO candidates who have pledged to provide special pricing to R&D companies registered with the program.
- Exchange Groups
  Thematically-linked communities of academic and industry professionals which periodically meet for educational and networking purposes. Groups support a variety of scientific disciplines as well as industry-specific interests (e.g., Bioprocess Development, Women in BIO, Jobs Network, Clinical Research).
- NCBiotech Strategic Partnering
  Invitation-only opportunities for company representatives and academic investigators to meet with technology scouts and/or business developers representing external R&D groups within life sciences corporations.
- Life Science Intelligence
  Expertise and resources for conducting life sciences market research, competitive analyses, business development, investor targeting and other activities.
- Incubators, Research Parks and Labs
  Research laboratory facilities suitable for life sciences companies for lease in North Carolina
- NCBiotech Emerging Company Development staff is available on an ad hoc basis to provide investor pitch review and feedback to entrepreneurs in advance of an upcoming investment or partnering meeting.

Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network

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.
Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)

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:
- The annual CED Venture Connect conference brings together entrepreneurs, investors, multinational pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology company representatives, and other industry stakeholders for two days of presentations, partnering meetings and networking.
- Venture Mentoring Service is a program licensed from MIT that matches entrepreneurs with skilled volunteer mentors to gain practical, day-to-day professional advice, coaching and action plans.
NC IDEA

NC IDEA fosters economic development in North Carolina by helping young startups commercialize their innovations.
- NC IDEA offers grants to young companies that are commercializing clearly differentiated innovation in the areas of IT, medical devices and diagnostics, material sciences or green technologies, which have growth potential in a market of significant size. NC IDEA has a close strategic partnership with IDEA Fund Partners, a seed-stage venture investor with a similar investment profile.
- Idea Pitch – Entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to present to the IDEA Fund Partners team and other attendees. Each pitch will be followed by Q&A and a feedback session with both company and pitch-specific advice.
Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)

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).

Business Link North Carolina (BLNC)
Free resource from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina that provides access to an extensive network of business experts.
NC Life Sciences Organization (NCLifeSci)
Trade association for North Carolina’s life science community.
North Carolina Secretary of State
State office that promotes economic development.
NC Office of Science, Technology & Innovation
A division of the Department of Commerce that supports communities and businesses by advancing science, technology and innovation.
NC Small Business Center Network
State resource that offering an extensive range of programs and services for existing and prospective business owners.
SCORE
A non-profit association dedicated to helping small businesses grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
Carolina Small Business Development Fund
A statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans and financial training to start-ups and existing businesses.
U.S. Small Business Association
An independent agency of the federal government that helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The USPTO website offers information and search tools relating to patents, trademarks, IP law & policy, application procedures, guidances and the America Invents Act.
Google Patent Search
Google's patent-specific search engine.
Patent Scope
Search international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.
The Lens
Patent Lens is a worldwide, open-access, free full-text patent informatics resource.
University technology transfer offices in North Carolina
Below are some key tech transfer offices in North Carolina:
- Appalachian State University - Grants Resources & Services (GRS)
- Duke University - Office of Licensing and Ventures (OLV)
- East Carolina University - Office of Innovation and New Ventures
- NC A&T State University - The Office of Technology Transfer
- NC Central University - Research
- North Carolina State University- Office of Research Commercialization (ORC)
- UNC at Chapel Hill - Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC)
- UNC Charlotte - Office of Research Commercialization and Development (ORCD)
- UNC - Greensboro - Innovation Partnership Services
- UNC at Pembroke - Research
- UNC Wilmington - Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC)
- Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center - Wake Forest Innovations
- Western Carolina University - Office of Research Administration
Association of University Technology Managers
AUTM supports and advances academic technology transfer globally by providing resources relating to public policy, professional development, networking, licensing best practices and industry partnerships.
Licensing Executives Society
An association for intellectual property, technology, and business development professionals which promotes standards development, education and certification in promoting IP commerce.
NCBiotech BATON Referral Network
Database includes numerous IP, licensing and business development professionals available to support your business.
Intellectual Property Overview
Authored by Dr. Rob Lindberg, Vice President, Science and Technology Development at NCBiotech, with editorial contributions by Drs. Jamie Cuticchia and Scott Forrest

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
  - Device Advice
    Helpful information regarding medical device regulation & compliance
- Office of Combination Products (OCP)
- Office of Orphan Products Development
- Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)
- ClinicalTrials.gov
  A registry and results database provided by the NIH of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world.
Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
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.
North Carolina Regulatory Affairs Forum
An association of regulatory affairs professionals based in the Research Triangle area, focused on professional development.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
European Medicines Agency (EMA)
The regulatory body overseeing market approval in the EU for human, animal and herbal medicines.
NCBiotech BATON Referral Network
Database includes numerous regulatory affairs, quality and compliance professionals available to support your business.

Incubators and Research Parks
Academic, industrial and corporate research parks suitable for life sciences companies for lease in North Carolina.
Core Laboratory Research Facilities
Listing of academic and nonprofit research facilities open to researchers outside their home institutions.

Alert Banner

Watch the Boston Globe Today’s video on why North Carolina is an attractive place to grow a life sciences business, including lower business costs and highly skilled workforce.

Biotechnology Entrepreneur & Startup Resources

NCBiotech wants entrepreneurs and startups to thrive in North Carolina.

University technology transfer offices in North Carolina

News Sources and Blogs

Events Calendars