🗺️

My Guide to New Hampshire’s Startup Ecosystem

Date Published
February 1, 2025
Topics
BusinessNew Hampshire
Type
Long-form

🌿 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:

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:

Annual Flagship Events:

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.

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.

💰 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.

🚀 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.

💡 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.

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.