Everything on this page is free to use. These are the 83 startups entries I keep in the library, grouped so you can start with the one that fits where you are right now instead of reading the whole list.
Alpha backs highly technical students and new grads with up to $250K to start a company, and connects exceptional engineers with opportunities at breakout startups.
Why I recommend it: For technical students and recent grads with a startup idea, Alpha is one of the most direct paths to funding and mentorship. Even reading the portfolio is a masterclass.
An in-person networking event in New York City for engineers, product managers, and technical professionals navigating layoffs or searching for their next opportunity, co-hosted with 645 Ventures portfolio startups that are hiring.
Details: I love the bell-ringer format: every 10 minutes you meet someone new. If you are a recently impacted tech worker in NYC, this is one of the warmest rooms to walk into.
Build a lender-ready business plan section by section, for free.
In plain terms: This free government guide helps you research, structure, and write a business plan from start to finish. You can use downloadable templates and federal market data to calculate startup costs and create a plan for lenders.
From the site: Plan to make your great idea into a great small business using SBA’s data and trend resources, business plan templates and startup cost calculator. Market research and competitive analysis Write your business plan Calculate your startup costs Establish business credit Fund your business Buy an existing business or fra…
Why I recommend it: If you want a loan or a grant, you need this document. Start rough, refine later.
Four free courses, 20+ short classes, roughly three to four hours in total, explaining how venture capital works: where it sits among other investments, how funds and deals are structured, and what the shift toward private markets means. Built by Alumni Ventures, no payment or account required to work through it.
Why I recommend it: free and clearly taught — useful if you are about to raise money and want the vocabulary before the meeting. The catch is who wrote it: Alumni Ventures sells access to its own funds, and the site says outright that the Academy is not personalized advice. Take the mechanics from it, not the conclusion that you should invest.
Amazon's $30 million accelerator for pre-seed founders from underrepresented backgrounds, offering equity-free cash, AWS credits, hands-on technical architecture support, mentorship, and introductions to venture capital networks.
In plain terms: This program supports early-stage startups led by Black, women, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ founders. Eligible entrepreneurs can apply to receive cash funding, cloud credits, technical guidance, and mentorship to grow their businesses.
Why I recommend it: Equity-free money plus cloud credits is rare. Best fit if you already have a working prototype and a small amount of traction.
A nine-week, no-equity incubator run by the College of Staten Island Innovation Hub (CUNY) for early-stage tech startups preparing to raise a Seed or Series A. Includes a business development and digital strategy curriculum, one-to-one work with mentors, investors and subject matter experts, access to office space and CUNY facilities, plus events and discounted resources — applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are open on F6S.
Why I recommend it: No equity taken and it is CUNY-backed, so this is about as low-risk as incubators get — worth applying even if your fundraise is a year out.
Explore a wide range of perfect names and purchase your dream domain instantly.
Why I recommend it: If you are naming a business, side project, or personal brand, a strong domain is part of the first impression. Atom is a clean marketplace for finding available names without the auction drama.
A reputation and vouching tool for the startup ecosystem — founders, investors and operators vouch for people they have actually worked with, so warm intros carry more weight.
Why I recommend it: Pricing is not published on the site, so treat the free tier as unconfirmed until you sign up. A vouching network is only as good as who else is on it.
LLC formation, taxes and bookkeeping in one place. Start a business, stay compliant, and get US banking and Stripe payments — even for non-US owners.
Why I recommend it: A streamlined way to form an LLC and handle ongoing business admin. Useful if you want a legal entity and US banking without juggling multiple services.
Official federal directory for finding your state's Economic Development Districts and Economic Development Organizations (EDOs/EDCs) — pick a state and get the local contacts.
Why I recommend it: Your local EDO often knows about grants, incubators, and lender contacts long before they show up online.
Startup building a way for different AI models to exchange knowledge directly, without translating everything back into text prompts.
Why I recommend it: Early-stage and unproven, but worth watching: model-to-model communication is the kind of shift that quietly changes which technical skills matter.
A daily list of new tech products, voted on by the community — a quick way to spot new AI and startup tools.
Why I recommend it: Free to browse. Rankings reflect launch-day campaigning as much as quality, and many listed products are paid. Its site blocked my automated check.
Roundup of free business plan templates with guidance on which format fits your type of business.
In plain terms: This guide reviews five free business plan templates for different industries and business stages. You can use it to find the right format to map out your startup ideas, seek funding, or update an existing company plan.
Why I recommend it: Use this to choose a template format before you start writing.
Two pitch decks compared side by side: Airbnb's 10-slide deck that raised $600K, and Fyre Festival's deck, whose company later faced fraud charges, plus sample GitHub work to use as a model for your own portfolio.
In plain terms: This guide compares successful and failed pitch decks from Airbnb and Fyre Festival alongside real GitHub profiles. You can use these examples to learn how to present business ideas clearly and structure your own technical portfolio.
Why I recommend it: One idea per slide. Problem, solution, evidence. Decoration never closed a round.
Julie Bort's 22 September 2026 report on The Horowitz Andreessen Academy: a one-year, in-person San Francisco programme for people straight out of high school, about 50 places, no tuition in year one, selected on "proof of work." Raised $42m, for-profit, not accredited, so no degree or transferable credit; a two-year paid version at elite-private-school prices is floated for 2028. Free to read.
Why I recommend it: Read the unaccredited part twice before anyone in your family applies: you finish with projects, contacts and no credential, and you pay your own San Francisco housing. That can be a good trade for someone who already builds and ships; it is a bad trade for someone hoping the name will substitute for a qualification later. The company's own announcement and The Verge's write-up name the partner firms and the perks, and both are worth reading next.
Independent daily reporting on India's startup and internet economy: funding rounds, filed company financials, fintech regulation and shutdowns. Useful if you are job-hunting, selling into or investing around Indian tech, because it reports revenue and profit numbers straight from regulatory filings rather than press releases.
Why I recommend it: Free to read and ad-supported, with a paid newsletter sold alongside it. Coverage is India-first, so treat it as a regional source, not a global one.
A World Economic Forum story on how early-stage green startups are creating accessible jobs and what that means for founders and job seekers in climate work.
Why I recommend it: WEF is a business-backed forum, so its stories lean optimistic about corporate and startup solutions.
Section-by-section walkthrough of a business plan: executive summary, market analysis, operations, team, and financial projections.
From the site: Learn the essential elements of writing a business plan, including advice and resources for how to write and conduct each section of your business plan.
Why I recommend it: Write the plan even if no bank ever reads it. The act of writing exposes the assumptions you have been avoiding.
TypeSafe AI announcement from founder Diogo Almeida (formerly OpenAI) introducing System One models and Jev, aimed at cheaper automation rather than better chat.
Why I recommend it: Worth skimming to track where new AI labs are placing bets — useful context for interviews at AI companies.
Early-stage venture firm investing in diverse founders, with public portfolio information, programs, and fellowship opportunities.
Why I recommend it: Read their portfolio and thesis before pitching anyone. Knowing what a firm actually funds saves you months of mismatched conversations.
Hue is the community-powered media company building a more connected future. Brands partner with us to sponsor events and content (podcast, email newsletters, digital mag, and social media) to build relationships with an engaged audience of leaders.
From the site: Hue is the community-powered media company building a more connected future. Brands partner with us to sponsor events and content (podcast, email newsletters, digital mag, and social media).
Why I recommend it: Community-powered media platform for leaders, creators and culture-makers.
Mentor-driven program for early-stage deep-tech and science startups run out of NYU Stern.
Why I recommend it: Best fit if you have real technical IP. Read the mentor list before applying and shape your application around who is actually in the room.
Talent network connecting engineers and operators with fast-moving startups.
In plain terms: This free talent network connects engineers and operators with early-stage startups. You can sign up once to get direct introductions to founders who are actively hiring.
From the site: Join the speedrun talent network. One signup. Warm intros to founders. Hundreds of placements across the portfolio. Free for candidates, always.
Why I recommend it: Startup networks like this move fast. Keep your profile current so you are in the batch when they source.
Founder-turned-investor writing a widely-read AI newsletter covering new tools, launches, and what is actually useful.
In plain terms: An exited founder and investor sharing what he learns about AI tools, products, and startups. A low-effort way to keep up with a fast-moving space.
From the site: Exited founder turned investor. Sharing what I see and learn along the way.
Why I recommend it: The fastest way to stay current on AI tools without living on social media. Skim it weekly, try one tool.
Free video shows made by and for developers, including series like The Build Log and The Full Stack, where founders and teams build real products on camera.
Why I recommend it: Free to watch. Episodes are sponsored, so treat them as behind-the-scenes stories rather than neutral reviews, and check whether the tooling fits your own stack before following along.
Co-founder & CTO, HubSpot. Shares insights on startups, software development, and AI, with a focus on community-driven business growth.
In plain terms: This is the LinkedIn profile of HubSpot co-founder Dharmesh Shah. You can read his articles and updates to get advice on starting a business, building software, and using artificial intelligence tools.
Why I recommend it: Practical founder thinking on growth without a big budget.
Actionable insights from world-recognized founders, for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs.
In plain terms: This education platform provides free training, podcasts, and guides for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs. You can learn how to launch an online store, run digital marketing campaigns, and build a business using advice from experienced founders.
Why I recommend it: Practical founder interviews rather than motivation for its own sake.
Video channel with founder interviews, fundraising breakdowns, and venture capital explainers from the Harlem Capital team.
Why I recommend it: A free education in how funding decisions actually get made. Watch a few founder interviews before you write your first pitch deck.
Writer and ecosystem lead at a16z, publishing on startups, founder communities, and early-career paths into venture and tech.
Why I recommend it: A good window into how venture and startup ecosystems actually hire and connect people. Useful if you want a non-engineering way into tech.
Workplace and tech news site covering AI, careers, startups and hiring, with a focus on the Indian tech industry.
From the site: OfficeChai is India’s top platform dedicated to the workplace, office buzz and Indian business. We profile interesting startups, feature inspiring career stories, break news from the corporate world, and provide a glimpse of the work culture at top organizations. - See more at: https://officechai.com/about/#sthash.deB…
Why I recommend it: Useful for AI hiring and workplace stories that Western outlets skip. Short posts, so treat them as pointers.
A free YouTube channel of short business advice and street interviews where founders and would-be founders get their ideas questioned and tested in public.
Why I recommend it: Good for the earliest stage, when you have an idea and no idea what to do with it. Treat it as encouragement plus pitch practice, not a business plan.
Startup and technology news covering product launches, funding rounds, and trends. Hosted by TechCrunch.
In plain terms: This video channel shares news about startups and the technology industry. You can watch reports on new product launches, funding rounds, and emerging market trends.
Why I recommend it: Skim it to spot which companies are hiring and growing.
Free Entrepreneur session on validating a business idea before spending money building it.
Why I recommend it: Validation before building is the single cheapest business lesson available. Bring one real idea and test it against what they lay out.
A long-running free listing of technology events, meetups, talks and job fairs in New York City, updated continuously.
Details: The most reliable single place to find what is happening in NYC tech this week. Most listings are free to attend; a few charge, so check each one.
An in-person New York evening (Tue 13 Oct 2026, 6:30–9:30 PM) of drinks and candid talk with ex-consultants from Accenture and McKinsey who moved into AI startups — no panels, just stories about going from advising companies to building one.
Details: Registration needs host approval and the address is shared after you're accepted. No ticket price is shown.
Oct 21, 2026The Startup StationRegister by Oct 15, 2026
The fifth edition of The Startup Station's Speed Pitch in New York: 36 startup spots, each matched into guaranteed one-to-one meetings with investors instead of the usual keynote-and-mingle format. Confirmed funds include New York Ventures, New York Bay Capital, Hexa-AI, Vamos Ventures, Gaingels, Yan Ventures, Lightscape Partners, Valued Ventures, BuenTrip Ventures, Zavo Ventures and Ensemblex Venture. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 4:30–8:30 PM; registration is by host approval and closes October 15. Investors apply through a separate link.
Details: Guaranteed meetings are rare — come with a two-minute version of your pitch and a clear ask, because 1:1 slots here are short.
An in-person tech social hosted by Supermoon with Avahi and Concord Visa: casual networking for founders, operators, and technologists. September 22, 2026, 5:30-8:30pm.
Details: Show up with one sentence about what you are working on and two questions. That is the whole prep.
A free four-week online business competition starting 24 October 2026, with over $1 million in prizes, live expert support, tools and business playbooks for people starting or growing a business.
Details: Free to enter and the four weeks of playbooks and live sessions are worth it even if you never place. Sign up early so you get the pre-work.
Yes. Every entry in the Launchpad Library is free to use. Anything that starts charging, or hides the useful part behind a paywall, comes off the list.
Where should I start with startups?
Start with the first section on this page. Those are the entries I hand to people most often, because they change something the same week you use them.
