Contact Us!
Email cmclibrary@kellogg.northwestern.edu with any questions.
Do you have feedback for us? Please let us know!
Business Plans & Models
- Bank of America: How to write an effective small business planIncludes downloadable & editable business plan workbook.
- BMI: Business Model CanvasUsing this canvas will lead to insights about the customers you serve, what value propositions are offered through what channels, and how your company makes money.
- Canvanizer: Business Model CanvasPost your ideas, share with your team, and choose from many pre-structured canvas templates.
- Miro: Business Model Canvas TemplateThe Business Model Canvas template, designed by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur, provides a strategic and powerful way to understand your business. Use this business model template collaboratively with your team to clearly explain and visualize your business.
- Sheda - How To: Business Model Canvas ExplainedUse this tool to quickly and easily define and communicate a business idea.
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Write your business planLearn how to write a business plan quickly and efficiently with downloadable business plan templates.
Resources
- Startup Genome: The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024
Provides insights into the world’s leading startup ecosystems, emerging trends, and key challenges facing entrepreneurs, based on extensive research and analysis of data from 4.5 million startups across 300 global ecosystems. - StartupBlink: Global Startup Ecosystem Index ReportExplore the world's top 100 countries and 1,000 cities ranked by startup ecosystem strength, accompanied by focused analysis of the current state of the startup ecosystem.
- PitchBook’s VC Ecosystem Rankings Dashboard - The World’s Top Startup Cities
PitchBook’s VC Ecosystem Rankings compare global cities based on the size and maturity of their startup networks. The framework helps founders, operators and investors assess locations when deciding where to expand or invest.
- Framework & Gusto: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Employee EquityA crash course in offering equity to your employees.
- How To Identify And Build Your Startup's "Unfair Advantage" with Troy HenikoffInterview with entrepreneur and investor Troy Henikoff.
- International Trade Administration (ITA) Export SolutionsProvides practical advice and business tools to help U.S. companies expand in global markets.
- LighterCapital: The Startup Finance BlogInformation about funding, growing, and scaling your startup.
- Skoden Ventures: Valuations Made Easy GuidebookDesigned to help you navigate through valuing your company, ensuring alignment with investor expectations.
- Startup Legal Stuff: Simplifying The LawThis site is for those learning about, creating, and investing in startups--particularly those startups that have the goal of receiving venture capital financing and having an exit.
- Student Business FormationNorthwestern University website in support of students who are working on entrepreneurial projects in classes or other University programs that may or may not turn into businesses.
- TriNet: Startup HR Survival Guide and ChecklistIncludes HR policy, documentation and performance guidance, tips for sourcing and attracting great talent, and interviewing best practices.
- USA.Gov Small Business ResourcesLearn the steps to start a small business, get financing help from the government, and more.
- Y Combinator: Startup LibraryVideos, podcasts and essays created by Y Combinator over the past 15 years as resources for startup founders.
Pitch Decks and Tips
- Airtable: The Early Pitch Decks of 21 Startups Before They Became Billion Dollar CompaniesCollection of publicly available pitch decks from startups. See how other companies sold themselves!
- Founder Shield: De-Risking the Fundraising JourneyFree downloadable eBook that takes you through the exciting but complicated journey of VC fundraising, from defining your company mission to vetting investors, from writing the perfect pitch deck to negotiating your term sheet.
