Startup and Small Business
Resources
Our mission is to help accelerate your business’s through the connect with the resources, services, and opportunities you need.
Support
Delaware One Stop
Access information about licensing, registration, hiring, and withholdeing as well as information regarding starting a business in Delaware.
Delaware Division of Small Business
The Delaware Division of Small Business, part of the Delaware Department of State, is a service-focused agency committed to supporting businesses starting and growing in Delaware. Small businesses can reach out to the Division for assistance in connecting to the resources and advice to succeed.
SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide.
Delaware Small Business Development Center
The Delaware SBDC delivers training programs and FREE professional consulting services to help innovators, startups, and existing businesses (with 0-500 employees*) formulate and execute strategies to grow and succeed. The SBDC is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources.
Delaware Grants & Competitions
Swim with the Sharks
Swim With the Sharks Pitch Competition provides for-profit businesses within the New Castle County that have been in business fewer than five (5) years with the opportunity to gain exposure, win funding, prizes, and services to help their businesses launch and scale.
H.E.R. Business Plan Competition
The H.E.R. Business Plan Competition is an initiative dedicated to fostering the growth and success of women-owned businesses in Delaware. Organized by the Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital, this competition is designed to provide aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs with the tools, funding, and resources they need to launch, strengthen, and scale their businesses.
YElevate
In partnership with TJX Foundation Inc., YWCA USA, and supporters like you, YWCA Delaware and associations across the country hosted Pitch Competitions to support local entrepreneurs! This Pitch competition allowed entrepreneurs from across Delaware a chance to compete for funding to support their growing businesses.
Grow NCC Fund
New Castle County in collaboration New Castle County Council, Discover Bank and The Grow America Fund (an affiliate of the National Development Council) have partnered to launch the GROW NCC Fund. Together, we are working to help companies grow their businesses in New Castle County. With longer loan terms and below market interest rates, the GROW NCC Fund can help your business stretch cash flow and save thousands of dollars with lower monthly payments.
WilmingtonMADE
In 2020 Wilmington Alliance created WilmingtonMADE as an online directory of Wilmington small businesses, to promote a “shop local” movement for those that were suffering during the pandemic. To further our commitment and to deepen engagement with Wilmington based entrepreneurs, we have expanded WilmingtonMADE to provide direct support services to small businesses and to host networking and educational workshops throughout the year. We work to create solutions that strengthen and support growth for local small businesses.
Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (E3)
E3 helps entrepreneurs navigate through challenges within their landscape by providing guided decision-making and leadership coaching, as well as other technical assistance and targeted business resources, all while working within their timelines and schedules. Most notably, we connect entrepreneurs with valuable and appropriate connections – from funding partners to collaborative partnerships to new client relationships and champions for their businesses. We offer pro-bono marketing support, strategic planning, and other business resources.
SBIR and STTR
Through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, America’s Seed Fund awards non-dilutive funding to develop your technology and chart a path toward commercialization
Delaware Bioscience Center for Advanced Technology (CAT)
The Delaware Bioscience Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) program is to support and grow Delaware’s economy by fostering innovative research and development activities among its members. The Delaware Bioscience CAT program is successfully attracting and retaining life science businesses and creating new high-tech jobs for Delaware. The program supports this mission by sponsoring four grant mechanisms with funding by the State of Delaware.
EDGE Grant
EDGE is a competition for grant funding. STEM (Science/technology/engineering/math)-based companies and Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses are eligible for funding. The funds are provided as a $3 (state) to $1 (business) match.
Employee Benefits
Benefits Connection is an association plan that was established by Allen Insurance Group for the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce in 1980 for its members. Since then the Benefits Connection program is offered to many different Delaware Chambers and Business Organizations. Group coverage is available for Medical, Dental, Vision, Term Life, Short- & Long-Term Disability, Voluntary Health related products and Workers Compensation.
SizeUp Delaware
SizeUp Delaware is a free, robust business analytics tool designed to support small and medium-sized businesses in a variety of stages, from the entrepreneur looking to start their first business to a seasoned business owner looking to expand their customer base. SizeUp Delaware can assist in providing answers to:
- Where should I start my business in Delaware?
- Who are my competitors and how do I perform compared to them?
- How can I find more customers?
- How do I identify the best places to locate and advertise my business?
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