Best Small Business Resources in the San Jose Area

Description

ActionSpot is both an incubator and a coworking space. Their advisory panel includes scientists, engineers, and businesspeople. Though they can and will assist any kind of business, they specialize in data science, artificial intelligence, deep learning, virtual reality, and data security. 

Restrictions

Must be a technology oriented business. 

Description

Women's Business Centers are nationwide programs established by the SBA to assist women in starting small businesses. Some of these centers are combined with other local organizations and use that relationship to offer even more services. Each Women's Business Center has counselors who can provide mentorship and assistance with business planning. Women’s Business Centers also provide a network of other businesses, and some have loan programs available

Restrictions

The Women's Business Centers are, as the name implies, meant for women primarily.

Description

BioCube offers a coworking space that includes lab spaces with such amenities as a cell culture room, virus room, bacteria room, walk-in cold room, etc. as well as plenty of lab equipment. 

Restrictions

This resource is restricted to emerging businesses in the fields of life science, nanotech, and cleantech. 

Description

BootUP's accelerator aims to help existing businesses that want to scale up, but it also offers coworking spaces with benefits open to anyone. Depending on your membership level, amenities include conference rooms, monthly mentorship sessions, and monthly pitch events. 

Description

The SJPL has a wide array of online and in person books, articles, and databases helpful for entrepreneurs who want to do research for their business. It also offers collaborative workspaces as well as events such as professional headshots, entrepreneur club meetings for teens, etc.  

Restrictions

Library card needed for most resources. 

Description

SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) is a leading, nation-wide organization that has assisted millions of entrepreneurs over its 50+ years of operation. SCORE is a resource partner of the SBA that offers access to a network of experienced business leaders who donate time to mentor entrepreneurs and small business owners. They also host free or inexpensive workshops online and at 300 local chapters around the United States. Mentoring can be conducted either in person or remotely and is always free and confidential, no matter how often you take advantage of this service.

Description

The greatest strength of the SBDC is their free, confidential, 1-on-1 business mentoring for anyone who seeks it. Sometimes in order to be considered for mentoring from one of their professional business advisors, you may have to attend a class/workshop or at least present your business plan. SBDC's are located all throughout the state and you should use the SBDC closest to your location if possible, but you can often transfer to a different location if they do not fit your needs.