🗺️

My Guide to New Hampshire’s Startup Ecosystem

Date Published
February 1, 2025
Topics
BusinessNew Hampshire
Type
Long-form
  • 🌿 Introduction: Why This Guide Exists
  • 🔹 How to Use This Guide
  • 🌱 II. Building With and For Community
  • 🗓️ III. Showing Up: Events and Networking in NH
  • 🚀 IV. Accelerators, Incubators & Residency Programs
  • 🧠 V. Mentorship, Advisors, and Making Connections
  • 📍 VI. Regional Hotspots and Startup Hubs
  • 🏛️ VII. Key Institutions & Ecosystem Builders
  • 💰 VIII. Capital, Grants & Funding Opportunities
  • 🏦 Private Venture Capital & Angel Investment (Biggest Checks, But Traction Required)
  • 🚀 Pitch Events & Competitions (Validation + Visibility)
  • 💡 Government & University-Linked Grants (Smaller Checks, No Dilution)
  • 🎓 IX. Higher Ed & Startup Synergy
  • 🛠️ X. Bonus Resources Every NH Founder Should Know
  • 💬 XI. Final Thoughts

🌿 Introduction: Why This Guide Exists

I was born and raised in New Hampshire, and I grew up helping my dad take care of our family garden. That meant hauling wheelbarrows, chopping wood, and learning how to work with care and persistence. That foundation of grit, patience, and pride in progress stayed with me as I started building companies from scratch.

I’ve founded three businesses here:

  • Triumph Software (Loggit): My first venture, launched in high school, provided a simple yet powerful tool for hundreds of New Hampshire educators to track and manage their professional development more effectively, streamlining compliance and saving valuable time.
  • ecoText: Born out of a college initiative, ecoText tackled the rising cost of education by making textbooks more affordable and classrooms more collaborative. We raised early-stage funding locally through Millworks Fund II, aiming to democratize access to course materials and enhance student engagement.
  • Wild Capital: A real estate investment company rooted in the belief that housing should be equitable, transparent, and community-driven. Beyond providing stable housing, Wild Capital focuses on educating new investors on sustainable property management and fostering long-term community well-being.

As the oldest sibling coming of age in the early internet era, I had to figure a lot of this out the hard way. There was no clear roadmap, no central hub of resources. Just a lot of digging, cold emails, and showing up.

That’s why this guide exists. I want to share what I’ve learned to make the path easier for the next generation of dreamers and doers.

People often overlook NH. But beneath the unsuspecting exterior, it’s brimming with ambition, creativity, and good-hearted builders. This guide is a tribute to that spirit—a living, growing resource for anyone eager to build something meaningful here.

🔹 How to Use This Guide

Think of this as your Swiss Army knife for building in New Hampshire. It’s designed for:

  • Founders at any stage
  • Students and recent grads
  • Remote workers seeking connection
  • Builders thinking about launching their next thing here

You can skim it all or jump to what you need:

  • Looking for events? Head to Section III
  • Curious where to set up shop? Check out Section VI
  • Need funding? Section VIII has you covered

Feel free to bookmark this guide! Share it, and come back often. I’ll keep it updated as the ecosystem grows.

🌱 II. Building With and For Community

New Hampshire has a distinct social rhythm. It’s a place where people deeply respect independence but show up when it matters.

Community takes intention here. Plant the seed, water it, and it will grow. That’s why I started casual networking nights in Portsmouth—simple gatherings where people share stories and spark new ideas. But you don’t need an event to build community in NH. It happens in coffee shops, coworking desks, and on local trails. If you show up and care, you can build something lasting.

If you’re new, the best advice I can give is to just show up. Say yes to the coffee invites. Offer to help at events. Talk about what you’re building. You’ll be surprised how fast your circle grows here.

🗓️ III. Showing Up: Events and Networking in NH

Plugging into the ecosystem starts with showing up. Here are key places to connect:

Recurring Meetups:

  • eBrew (Portsmouth, Manchester, and the Upper Valley): A laid-back monthly tech hangout over beers—a great entry point for casual networking.
  • ebrew - New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    For the last 25 years, ebrew has been NH’s premier creative/technical after-work networking event on the Seacoast. It is the place to meet peers, share stories and opportunities, and relax after a days work.

  • Young Professional Networks (YP): Active groups in Concord, Nashua, Keene, Manchester, and the Seacoast regularly host events geared toward rising talent, often blending business with socializing.
  • Events - Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce

    Events People want to do business with people they know. Attend our popular events and grow your client base. We offer monthly networking opportunities, award events, trade shows and more. We’re proud of the upbeat atmosphere our events are known for, and encourage you to attend our next event! CommunityCalendar ChamberEvents Submit an event You

    Events - Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
    Manchester Young Professionals

    The Manchester Young Professionals (MYP) is an initiative of the Greater Manchester Chamber to engage, educate and empower young professionals and emerging leaders. We create opportunities for connectivity, education, and involvement in our workforce and community. MYP welcomes individuals 21 – 39(ish).We foster an environment where young professionals lead, create, innovate and influence their surroundings. We are the next generation of leaders who impact Greater Manchester's future. You can't tell us you don't want a piece of that!

    Manchester Young Professionals
    Event List | Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

    Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce | Events Calendar

    Keene Young Professionals Network | Events

    Events calendar of things to do in Keene

Annual Flagship Events:

  • Speed Venture Summit: Rapid-fire investor meetings, keynotes, and startup demos.
  • Speed Venture Summit - New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    Bringing together early-stage growth companies and regional investors.

  • TechWomen Power Events: Celebrating and connecting women in tech statewide.
  • 🟪TechWomen Connect & Awards

    The NH Tech Alliance will be celebrating the 10th Annual TechWomen Connect and Awards on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at Fidelity Investments. This event serves as an exciting, once-a-year networking opportunity, featuring interactive sessions, raffle prizes, and ample c...

    🟪TechWomen Connect & Awards
  • Tech Socials (Manchester/Concord): Friendly mixers organized by the NH Tech Alliance and community leaders, often hosted at local breweries or coworking spaces.
  • Tech Social - New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    The Tech Showcase is open to tech companies that are NH Tech Alliance Members. You will be provided with a table and are welcome to bring any materials, banners, monitors, etc. to highlight your tech company and products. Applications are now closed.

    Tech Social - New Hampshire Tech Alliance
  • TechOut: A live pitch competition awarding startups with $100K+ in equity investments from the Millworks Fund. Unsure if these are continuing.
  • Startup Shindig: A spring showcase and celebration featuring Accelerate NH graduates. Unsure if these are continuing.

How to Stay Updated:

  • Subscribe to the NH Tech Alliance event calendar
  • Check Eventbrite and Meetup regularly
  • Join a local Slack, Discord, or Facebook group (some are region-specific)
    • Ask me to invite you to the NH Entrepreneur’s Slack group
  • Sign up for newsletters that interest you for curated news and opportunities

🚀 IV. Accelerators, Incubators & Residency Programs

New Hampshire offers a wide mix of startup support programs, from accelerators and incubators to coworking residencies. These are designed to nurture founders at all stages.

  • Accelerate NH: This is the state’s most visible accelerator program, hosted by the NH Tech Alliance. It runs for three months and provides workshops, mentorship, free office space, and culminates in the Startup Shindig pitch event. If you're an early-stage tech company, this is a great way to get plugged into the ecosystem fast.
  • Accelerate NH - New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    Accelerate NH is New Hampshire’s startup accelerator. The application period for Accelerate NH 2020 coming soon. We built Accelerate NH with one simple goal in mind: help great people with great ideas build great companies. NH Tech Alliance is building an ecosystem supporting the next generation of innovative, growth-oriented companies in New Hampshire.  We have built an infrastructure and community to support, nurture, and fund early stage startups. Accelerate NH will take a small batch of startups through an aggressive program to iterate through their business and product hypothesis to identify what works, and grow. Accelerate NH Will Provide Coaching: 1-on-1 mentorship with leading entrepreneurs with experience in related industry. Connections: introductions to successful entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, and other appropriate parties. Curriculum: A weekly seminar series and regular check-ins with your Mentors and NHTA staff. Community: Peers who will become lifelong friends/colleagues. Showcase: the culmination of the program where you will present your polished idea with a pitch to a group of investors, media, business leaders, and the public. We take no equity in return though many startups offer us a very small potion of equity at the end of the program to support our work and nonprofit organization. Program Schedule: Applications period not yet open. Who should enter: Early-stage startups. We’ll be choosing the applicants based on the people, product, and of course the plan. Applicant must be a NH resident or the startup must be headquartered in NH. Applicant must be a founder of the startup. Startups must be for-profit. Startup should have product available in beta testing or general public release. Have raised under $500k in outside funding.

  • Hannah Grimes Center (Keene): A deeply rooted incubator in the Monadnock region supporting small businesses and rural entrepreneurs. They offer co-working, pitch competitions, workshops, and cohort-based business labs. It’s a powerful example of a community-first approach to entrepreneurship.
  • Home - Hannah Grimes Center

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  • York IE Labs (Manchester): A venture studio and early-stage investor that co-founds and supports B2B SaaS companies. They take a hands-on approach to building startups and are particularly interested in NH-based ventures.
  • York IE Labs

    TechWomen Invest is a York IE initiative to support female investors in the technology industry and facilitate more advisor opportunities.

    York IE Labs
  • Dartmouth Regional Technology Center (Lebanon): A nonprofit incubator offering 60,000+ sq. ft. of lab and office space ideal for biotech and advanced tech startups. Partnered closely with Dartmouth College.
  • Events & Programs — DRTC

    Events & Programs

  • UNH ECenter (Durham): The Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center at UNH supports students and alumni with pitch coaching, competitions, startup funds, and mentorship. Even if you’re not a student, many of their public events are worth attending.
  • Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center | University of New Hampshire

    UNH Entrepreneurship Center is open to all students from any college and major

  • GoodWork (Portsmouth): A nonprofit incubator that supports mission-driven startups and nonprofits. They provide capacity-building programs, co-working space at Carey Cottage, and rich community engagement.
  • Goodwork Seacoast | Nonprofit Incubator in Portsmouth, NH

    Goodwork Seacoast supports local nonprofits in & near Portsmouth, NH via our nonprofit incubator and also offer meeting & event space.

  • Genuine Local (Laconia): A specialty food incubator with a commercial kitchen, packaging facilities, and a built-in food entrepreneur community. Perfect for anyone launching a product like hot sauce, granola, or craft beverages.
  • Local Makers, Small Batch Co-Packing, Shared-Use Kitchen

    Genuine Local is a shared-use production facility for local makers & farms; provides small batch co-packing, helping you make more for less and grow!

    Local Makers, Small Batch Co-Packing, Shared-Use Kitchen

These programs are as diverse as the state itself! Whether you’re prototyping a hardware product in Nashua, pitching a SaaS play in Manchester, or running a community venture in Keene, there’s likely a support structure nearby.

🧠 V. Mentorship, Advisors, and Making Connections

New Hampshire may be small, but that’s its superpower when it comes to mentorship. In a place where relationships matter and everyone is a warm intro away, it’s surprisingly easy to connect with experienced founders, domain experts, and community champions who want to help you win.

  • SCORE (NH Chapters): Backed by the SBA, SCORE offers free, confidential business mentoring. With chapters across the state (Seacoast, Merrimack Valley, etc.), they can pair you with mentors in your field—whether you’re building a food company or scaling a SaaS platform.
  • NH SBDC (Small Business Development Center): The SBDC offers no-cost one-on-one business advising, workshops, and e-courses. Their advisors often become trusted guides throughout the startup journey, and they can introduce you to other resources, grant programs, and potential partners.
  • CWE (Center for Women & Enterprise): This SBA-backed organization offers training and mentorship for women entrepreneurs—but their programs are open to all. They run business planning cohorts, networking events, and can help with capital access.
  • NH Tech Alliance Expert Office Hours: The NHTA hosts regular office hours with specialists in marketing, fundraising, legal, product, and more. These short, focused sessions often lead to long-term mentor relationships. I’ve met incredible people this way.
  • University Networks: If you're near UNH or Dartmouth, you can tap into their extended mentor networks. Dartmouth's Magnuson Center and UNH's ECenter often host public events, competitions, and advisory panels where local founders can engage directly with seasoned professionals.
  • Peer Mentorship: Sometimes the best advice comes from someone who’s just a few steps ahead. Groups like 1 Million Cups (formerly in Upper Valley and Nashua), Young Professionals Networks, and Founder Series events hosted by NHTA are built for this kind of peer-to-peer exchange.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned early on: don’t be afraid to ask for help. People in NH want to help. They’re just waiting for you to make the first move.

📍 VI. Regional Hotspots and Startup Hubs

Different corners of New Hampshire each offer something unique to founders. Here’s a tour of the key regions and what they’re known for:

Portsmouth & the Seacoast:

  • Known for its creative energy and dense community of remote workers, nonprofits, and mission-driven startups. Coworking spots like CoWerc and GoodWork provide physical hubs, while events like eBrew and TechWomen breakfasts help keep the spark alive.

Manchester & the Millyard:

  • The beating heart of NH tech. With deep roots in engineering and biotech (thanks to DEKA and ARMI), and growing SaaS activity fueled by York IE and Accelerate NH, this is a prime spot for founders who want to go fast. The Millyard offers great office space, startup meetups, and access to investors.

Concord:

  • NH's capital is rising in the startup scene. HRKNSScowork anchors the ecosystem downtown, and events like the Launch NH Pitch Competition have added serious momentum. This is a great city for policy-minded founders or community-focused ventures.

Nashua & Southern NH:

  • With close proximity to Boston, this region is becoming a hub for hardware, robotics, and manufacturing-forward startups. NashuaHUB and MakeIt Labs provide space and tools, and the region benefits from strong tech talent and young professionals.

Keene & the Monadnock Region:

  • A shining example of rural innovation. The Hannah Grimes Center is the anchor here, offering programs and co-working for small businesses and nonprofits. Keene blends community spirit with entrepreneurial grit.

Upper Valley:

  • With Dartmouth at its core, this region is a biotech and medtech powerhouse. The DRTC provides space for R&D-heavy startups, and Dartmouth Ventures connects founders with capital and expertise.

Lakes Region & North Country:

  • More rural, but full of opportunity. Meredith-based Genuine Local supports food entrepreneurs, and co-working is emerging in towns like Plymouth and Littleton. If you’re looking to build where life is quieter and support is tight-knit, this is fertile ground.

Whether you want city vibes or country calm, there’s a pocket of NH ready for you to grow roots. And the best part? None of it is too far from a hike, a lake, or a good local beer.

🏛️ VII. Key Institutions & Ecosystem Builders

New Hampshire's entrepreneurial landscape is supported by a tightly knit group of institutions that punch far above their weight. These are the backbone of our startup scene—from advocacy and funding to hands-on support.

  • NH Tech Alliance (NHTA): The state's go-to convener for everything tech. NHTA runs events, supports Accelerate NH, publishes job boards, hosts investor forums, and serves as a central calendar and connection point for the whole state. If you're building in NH, you should be on their radar (and vice versa).
  • Welcome to New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    New Hampshire Tech Alliance is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by building partnerships, enhancing knowledge, and shaping public policy.

  • Stay Work Play NH: Focused on making the state attractive to young professionals and remote workers. They spotlight community stories, host networking events, and work closely with YP groups in every major city. They're not startup-exclusive, but they play a critical role in talent retention and lifestyle advocacy.
  • Stay Work Play New Hampshire

    Ideal for those seeking the more rugged and remote expanse of nature and all it has to offer, the Great North Woods encompasses the northernmost landscapes of NH as it borders Canada.

    Stay Work Play New Hampshire
  • NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC): The backbone of small business advising across NH. They offer free, 1-on-1 advising and online courses, and help with everything from writing your first business plan to preparing for investor meetings.
  • NH Small Business Development Center | University of New Hampshire

    Homepage for the NH Small Business Development Center

  • Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE): A regional SBA Women's Business Center offering support, workshops, and community for women founders and allies. They help founders across industries with capital access, strategy, and peer circles.
  • Homepage - Main

    We lift up the women who lift up the world ®

    Homepage - Main
  • Business Finance Authority (BFA): The BFA is a quiet powerhouse when it comes to funding NH ventures. They back key investment vehicles like the Millworks Fund and Vox Fund and provide loan guarantees that de-risk early-stage capital. If you win TechOut, you're working with BFA-backed dollars.
  • Welcome to the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority

    The NH Business Finance Authority is local, accessible and responsive. We offer a variety of easy-to-use lending tools to help New Hampshire companies grow.

  • UNH Innovation / NHIRC: The bridge between research and business. UNH Innovation administers NH's top non-dilutive grant program (NHIRC), helping companies fund R&D in partnership with NH universities. They also offer SBIR support via the FOSTER program.
  • UNHInnovation | University of New Hampshire

    UNHInnovation (UNHI) advocates for and manages the transfer of UNH-derived ideas to the public to maximize their social and economic impact. UNHI protects, promotes, and manages UNH's innovations, supports start-up companies based on UNH’s intellectu

💰 VIII. Capital, Grants & Funding Opportunities

Fundraising is a core part of any startup journey. New Hampshire offers a mix of venture capital, angel groups, pitch events, and non-dilutive grants to help entrepreneurs move from early traction to scale.

🏦 Private Venture Capital & Angel Investment (Biggest Checks, But Traction Required)

These groups write the largest checks but expect to see an MVP, early customers, and strong momentum. If you’re getting ready to scale and want to take your venture to the next level, this is your arena.

  • 10X Venture Partners: A key early-stage VC group in the region, 10XVP invests in scalable, high-growth startups across New England.
  • 10x Venture Partners

    NH's most active angel group

    10x Venture Partners
  • eCoast Angels: Based in Portsmouth, this group funds early-stage tech and innovation-driven startups in NH and the broader Northeast.
  • Angel Investing | ECoast Angels

    As one of the most active and oldest angels groups in the US, eCoast Angels invests in a variety of nascent technologies and work with dynamic startup teams to effectively scale new companies. We have long track record of providing financial and intellectual capital to early-stage entrepreneurs.

  • York IE (Manchester): Focused on B2B SaaS, York IE combines investment with operational support and go-to-market expertise.
  • HomePage

    Founders, operators, and investors at all stages rely on York IE to help build, scale and monetize their business.

    HomePage
  • Borealis Ventures (Hanover): This venture capital group targets healthtech and life sciences startups in NH.
  • HOME | Borealis Ventures
  • Millworks Fund II (Manchester): A BFA-backed angel syndicate under the NH Tech Alliance umbrella. Actively invests in NH startups, especially those emerging from accelerator programs and pitch competitions.
  • Portfolio — Millworks Fund
  • Boston Area Connections (esp. Techstars): Many NH companies find traction with Boston investors. Techstars is a standout for its accelerator program, early funding, and strong alumni network—worth looking into if you’re raising.
  • Techstars Global Startup Network | Better for Founders

    Techstars helps founders succeed. Through our global accelerators, we invest in early-stage startups led by founders building a better future for everyone.

    Techstars Global Startup Network | Better for Founders

🚀 Pitch Events & Competitions (Validation + Visibility)

These are great mid-stage opportunities to sharpen your pitch, gain traction, and often walk away with funding: sometimes equity-based, sometimes not.

  • Speed Venture Summit (October): Think speed dating for startups and investors. Early-stage founders meet with multiple investors in quick-fire rounds. No deals on the spot, just quality intros that lead to real follow-ups. Applications for the 2025 event open in September.
  • Speed Venture Summit - New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    Bringing together early-stage growth companies and regional investors.

  • Accelerate NH: Select startups join an intensive accelerator and may receive investment from Millworks. A solid zero-to-one launchpad.
  • Accelerate NH - New Hampshire Tech Alliance

    Accelerate NH is New Hampshire’s startup accelerator. The application period for Accelerate NH 2020 coming soon. We built Accelerate NH with one simple goal in mind: help great people with great ideas build great companies. NH Tech Alliance is building an ecosystem supporting the next generation of innovative, growth-oriented companies in New Hampshire.  We have built an infrastructure and community to support, nurture, and fund early stage startups. Accelerate NH will take a small batch of startups through an aggressive program to iterate through their business and product hypothesis to identify what works, and grow. Accelerate NH Will Provide Coaching: 1-on-1 mentorship with leading entrepreneurs with experience in related industry. Connections: introductions to successful entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, and other appropriate parties. Curriculum: A weekly seminar series and regular check-ins with your Mentors and NHTA staff. Community: Peers who will become lifelong friends/colleagues. Showcase: the culmination of the program where you will present your polished idea with a pitch to a group of investors, media, business leaders, and the public. We take no equity in return though many startups offer us a very small potion of equity at the end of the program to support our work and nonprofit organization. Program Schedule: Applications period not yet open. Who should enter: Early-stage startups. We’ll be choosing the applicants based on the people, product, and of course the plan. Applicant must be a NH resident or the startup must be headquartered in NH. Applicant must be a founder of the startup. Startups must be for-profit. Startup should have product available in beta testing or general public release. Have raised under $500k in outside funding.

  • MYPN Startup Challenge: A long-standing statewide competition. Cash prize plus in-kind services with no equity taken.
  • Manchester Young Professionals in Manchester, NH

    Click here to read and learn more about the Manchester Young Professionals in Manchester, NH.

  • Launch NH Pitch Night: A newer competition based in Concord that puts emerging founders in front of real investors and supporters.
  • New Hampshire | Launch NH

    Launch NH is building the entrepreneurial ecosystem to support NH startups.

  • Granite State Growth Competition: Offers a $25K prize with an emphasis on high-impact, NH-rooted startups.
  • 2019 Granite State Growth Competition
    2019 Granite State Growth Competition
  • University Competitions: The Holloway Prize (UNH), Dartmouth Ventures, and the NH Social Venture Innovation Challenge all offer non-dilutive funding and excellent visibility. You must be a student or partner with a student to qualify.
  • Cultivating Student Entrepreneurs

    This multi-track competition takes students out of the classroom and into the real world. It challenges students to develop products or services and present their plans to bring them to market.

    NH Social Venture Innovation Challenge

    The Social Venture Innovation Challenge (SVIC) is an idea-stage competition with the goal of inspiring a large and diverse group of students and community members to develop innovative, solution-orientated thinking.

💡 Government & University-Linked Grants (Smaller Checks, No Dilution)

These are ideal for early teams, part-time founders, and R&D-heavy concepts. The checks are smaller but come with zero equity dilution—making them a great foundational step.

  • NH Innovation Research Center (NHIRC) Grants: Up to $125K in matched funds for R&D done in partnership with NH universities. Best for science and tech ventures.
  • Research Partnership Opportunities

    Cutting edge research is key to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship. At UNH, “research” encompasses exploration in all academic endeavors, from science and math to the humanities and arts.

  • SBIR/STTR Grant Support via FOSTER: Free support from UNH to help apply for federal SBIR/STTR funding—ideal for deep tech or research-driven startups. Microgrants also available to cover application costs.
  • FOSTER Program Business Grant Funding

    UNHInnovation is leading a U.S. Small Business Administration initiative for business grant funding to increase proposals for SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grants in the state of New Hampshire.

  • State Incentives: Take advantage of NH’s R&D Tax Credit, Economic Revitalization Zone (ERZ) credits, and the Job Training Fund to save money while scaling.

Funding in NH takes hustle, but the opportunities are real. Stack grants early, win a pitch or two, and build toward those investor conversations. With customers and momentum in hand, you’ll be ready to unlock the bigger checks that can take your startup to the next level.

🎓 IX. Higher Ed & Startup Synergy

New Hampshire’s colleges and universities are more than just places of learning. They’re vital engines for entrepreneurship, innovation, and workforce development.

  • University of New Hampshire (UNH)
    • Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter): Offers idea coaching, summer seed grants, and the i2 Passport Program. Hosts the NH Social Venture Innovation Challenge (SVIC), which is open to anyone in NH.
    • Paul College of Business: Home to the Holloway Prize, a prestigious innovation-to-market competition open to all University System of NH students.
    • UNH Innovation / NHIRC: Supports technology transfer, SBIR coaching, and university-industry collaborations.
    • UNH Manchester: Offers programs and internships with Millyard-based startups, contributing talent to the Manchester ecosystem.
  • Dartmouth College
    • Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship: Hosts Dartmouth Ventures, summer accelerators, and an active mentor network.
    • Thayer School of Engineering / DALI Lab: Provides opportunities for startups to work with students on tech prototyping.
    • Tuck School of Business: Offers student consulting teams and business resources, often engaging with local ventures.
  • Plymouth State University (PSU)
    • Hosts the Enterprise Center at Plymouth (in partnership with Grafton RDC) which provides office space and startup support for regional entrepreneurs.
  • Keene State College (KSC)
    • Offers entrepreneurship programming and partners with Hannah Grimes Center to connect students with real-world ventures.
  • Community Colleges
    • Offer small business management programs and sometimes co-locate with local business support centers.
    • River Valley Community College (RVCC) has a small business center and coworking in Claremont and Keene.

Universities here welcome collaboration. Whether you’re seeking student interns, co-founders, research partners, or just a place to test your ideas—start with these institutions. They’re woven into the ecosystem and eager to engage.

🛠️ X. Bonus Resources Every NH Founder Should Know

Here are a few final tools, programs, and directories that don’t fit neatly elsewhere but are crucial to building in NH:

  • Business Formation: NH QuickStart is where you officially form an LLC or corporation.
  • Legal Help: Many firms offer free startup legal consultations through various business launch initiatives.
  • R&D Tax Credit: Up to $50K in refundable state tax credit for R&D expenses.
  • Job Training Fund: NH will match your employee training investments 1:1.
  • Coworking Directories: Many regions have informal lists. NHTA maintains a directory pointing to active spaces.
  • Press Outlets: NH Business Review, Union Leader, and Business NH Magazine regularly feature startups.

💬 XI. Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I hope you found something here that gives you clarity, confidence, or inspiration.

New Hampshire is where I learned the value of hard work. It’s where I found the courage to try, fail, and try again. It’s where I still choose to build because I believe in what this place can become.

The Granite State is small enough that your impact will be felt, but mighty enough that your vision can stretch far beyond it.

Please:

  • Share this guide with other builders.
  • Reach out if you’re looking for help or introductions.
  • Send in new resources or updates so we can improve this together.

Because if you want to go fast, go alone.

If you want to go far, go together.

And if you want to go far with beautiful landscapes, New Hampshire’s calling.